Canadians’ knowledge of and appreciation for the Bard’s works began long before establishment of the world-renowned festival at Stratford, Ontario. Shakespeare arrived in the colonies with the militia and gentry, became a barrier against undesirable entertainments, a useful tool in setting moral standards and solidifying British values. Shakespeare provided wonderful star vehicles – plays reshaped to fit the lead performers’ abilities during lucrative tours.

Traveling Actors and Garrison Amateurs

In 1779, British garrison actors, not long out from England, produced a highly praised production of The Merchant of Venice in Halifax. In March 1786, a small acting troupe, ‘The First Eleven’, travelled from Albany, New York to Montreal with The Taming of the Shrew in its repertoire. Matters progressed with Canadian amateurs who performed with visiting troupes, and Seth Prigmore’s Montreal Theatre where he portrayed Prospero in The Tempest and Iago in Othello to appreciative audiences.

Shakespeare in French

In Quebec, Bishop Saint-Vallier’s 1694 decree banning all theatrical participation seriously delayed professional francophone development. The first known Shakespearean performance in French, Catherine et Petrucchio, a translation of Garrick’s popular adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew, occurred in 1824 at Québec City’s Hôtel Malhiot.