The County is not wanting in live theatre productions, now offered all year round. Across a wide variety of indoor and outdoor spaces (and some in between), there are dramas, comedies and musicals to be had from any number of professional, amateur, or blended troupes.

Actors James Fraser and Jean Parker have performed in a couple of County productions over the last few years, including the roles of Algernon and Gwendolyn, respectively, in the Marysburgh Mummers’ Importance of Being Earnest last year.

Mr. Fraser now lives in Milford, and sees an opportunity to enhance what is already a theatrical abundance by offering a repertoire drawn from Shakespeare and the classics.

Originally from England, and trained in classical theatre, he had a moment last year while doing Théâtre Roulant’s comedy Shakes-Beer Rides Again! 

“It was just enough Shakespeare to remind me it’s been way too long since I’ve done any Shakespeare and I was jonesing for Shakespeare!” says Mr. Fraser.

He met Ms. Parker in the same production. “We just connected as a creative team and really realized that we’re simpatico and so we’re doing writing projects together now — we just wrote a TV show pilot. We’re forming this creative partnership and I knew I wanted to put on some Shakespeare. 

So I’m putting on a play…and then it kind of grew and grew and I was like, OK, let’s do a Shakespeare Company! Let’s do two Shakespeares and make it season! And then one day we’ll have a rep theatre, because my dream has always been repertory theatre.”

Ms. Parker joined the Festival Players’ first two seasons (2007-8) and then returned to Toronto to pursue her career. Now she has come back to discover how the theatre scene has grown. 

“I was so delighted to discover that John Burns was still doing work through Théâtre Roulant. It was good back then, but I would say they were drawing a lot of Toronto actors, so it’s lovely now to see it’s being cultivated locally.”

The County Shakespeare Company wants to be a part of that cultivation. “If we come back to rep theatre, the idea is that you would have the opportunity to grow,” explains Mr. Fraser. “You start as a spear carrier and you work your way up a little bit and get your chops. I genuinely want all County theatre to be amazing. I want people to come to the County for its theatre. Since moving out here, the theatre community has really taken me by surprise—it’s really strong and healthy.”

Ms. Parker adds, “I do film and television as well, but I’m so drawn back to this. I think that collectively we are all looking for the live experience, especially with AI and all. There’s nothing quite like a live audience, meeting eyes with an actor and being present. It’s so exciting.”

The Company launches its first season with both a tragedy and a comedy. Before their Théâtre Roulant production of Much Ado About Nothing in August and September, Mr. Fraser directs Macbeth at the Mount Tabor Theatre on Friday night.

“It is ferociously dramatic, terrifying and deeply human,” says Mr. Fraser. “Macbeth’s unbridled ambition and hunger for power seems very relevant right now.” The Mount Tabor stage lends itself, he notes, to a “lean and mean” approach. “We want to keep it tight, keep up the pace, and focus on the core story of Macbeth. In this space, you’re right there in the room with Macbeth as he unravels.”

The cast features Mr. Fraser as the self-torturing King and Ms. Parker as the driven Lady Macbeth. An ensemble of fifteen features a mix of professional and amateur actors, including some making their debut.

Macbeth runs for two weekends at Mount Tabor, Jun 19-28. For information and tickets, visit countyshakespearecompany.ca