Mask & Madness

Over the past three years, Shakespeare in Action has joined with Workman Arts to develop a series of projects aimed to revolutionize the way we view mental illness in our contemporary world.

Our projects bring together professional company actors with emerging actors from Workman Arts who have received mental health services.

In 2008, Shakespeare in Action staged an acclaimed main-stage production of Mask and Madness in Macbeth at the Joseph Workman Theatre. In 2009, we continue the trilogy with continued workshop development of Mask and Madness in Hamlet.

The intriguing tale of Hamlet and the language of Shakespeare are primarily imagistic and poetical in nature, providing a rich opportunity to investigate notions of madness through mask. The world of Hamlet is a heightened world in crisis; so too, is the world of the mental health consumer. Through his actions and behavior, Hamlet thrusts Elsinore into a state of confusion, generating anxiety and panic. Ophelia’s madness acts as a foil to Hamlet’s antic disposition, creating further emotional disorder. Fear sets in, and violence and madness descend.

Mental health consumers have an intimate understanding about these states of being – anxiety, fear, insecurity and madness. By integrating the unique personal experiences of artists who have received mental health services in the creative process, we believe we can create a groundbreaking and poignant performance with lasting impacts for the Toronto community.

Phone: 416 703 4881
Email: shakespeareinaction@gmail.com