Calgary's Lougheed House welcomes Shakespeare play

Historic building is 'gorgeous' backdrop for theatre group

Image | Shakespeare at Lougheed House

Caption: Edmonton-based site specific theatre group Thou Art Here Theatre uses Calgary's Lougheed House as its set. (James Young/CBC)

Calgary's historic Lougheed House sets the stage for an interactive theatre production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
Audience members will move around the grounds and throughout the house over the course of the show — and some may be asked to participate in the play.
"The audience is immediately a part of the story. They are in the world, not everything is a stretch of the imagination," said Andrew Ritchie, artistic director of Edmonton-based group Thou Art Here Theatre.
Ritchie says being able to perform in the Lougheed House for its 125th anniversary is a real treat.
"It's gorgeous, you don't have to pay a set designer because you have this beautiful set that I could never possibly afford."

Image | Andrew Ritchie

Caption: Mounting Shakespeare play at Lougheed House an 'honour' says artistic director Andrew Ritchie. (James Young/CBC)

As long as the actors are very careful performing around antique art pieces, Ritchie adds.
Organizers expect tickets for the show to sell out and more information can be found on their website(external link).
Performances run from Aug. 31 to Sept. 11 with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Sept. 5 and 6.