How is it that a small theatre company with a limited budget and small staff continuously delivers a quality Shakespearian experience AND an extension program that rivals any other arts programming currently offered in Manitoba? Like most people I came to know Shakespeare in The Ruins by attending shows at the St. Norbert monastery. The plays are engaging, the setting unique, and of course, the post show reflections with my wife made the price of admission well worth it. I’m willing to pay the price of admission for my own entertainment, but am I willing to support the company to
Read More

By Pamela Lockman – St. John’s Ravenscourt My love affair with Shakespeare In The Ruins has been going on for almost 20 years now. Since arriving in Winnipeg in 1997, I have seen every one of their spring productions and “stripped down” fall school shows. What SIR offers our community in terms of providing great theatre for public audiences is only one of the terrific things they do. Even greater than that, however, is what they offer to hundreds of students every year through their fall school tours. SIR performs a veritable repertoire of “Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits for Schools.” In
Read More

Moor of Stony Mountain By Claire Friesen – SITC Program Director In August 2015, three years after starting our initial inquiries, SIR gained institutional access and clearance for a new Stony Mountain outreach program to begin. In August 2015 we moved into the penitentiary school, and offered a grade 10 drama credit to any inmate who completed the program. We ended up with 11 participants ranging in age from early 20s to mid-50s. We spent most of our time in a unique exploration of Othello. We shortened the play to thirty pages and set it in Stony Mountain penitentiary. Amelia
Read More

Thanks to a mentorship grant through ACI Manitoba Shakespeare in the Ruins has been able to offer an intern position to Black Hole student Nickolas Petuhoff. Artistic Director Michelle Boulet sits down with Nick to find out what’s his story. Michelle: Where did you study? Nick: I am currently enrolled at the University of Manitoba in the Theatre Department; prior to that I attended Maples Collegiate. Michelle: What was your very first theatre production? Nick: In grade nine I was in a production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and I played Mike Teavee. Michelle: How did you land at
Read More

By Arne MacPherson IR’s current SITC program works with youth from Winnipeg’s inner-city. The program is directed by Claire Friesen, and offers them free drama workshops that culminate in the production of a shortened version of one of Shakespeare’s plays. As well as instruction, food, bus tickets (or rides) to participants, and complimentary tickets to SIR productions are provided. This program helps marginalized youth find their voice. It inspires them to dream, and to develop tools to express who they are as individuals. It is a powerful program that fosters empathy and expands horizons (as well as touching on many
Read More

Hello to all you fine Shakespeare in the Ruins supporters. And by supporters we mean all you theatrically savvy, stalwart people who, like us, equate spring with heading out to the Ruins and braving the elements in the pursuit of theatre of the adventurous. As we write this, we are still in the throws March`s swirling snowy landscape but it will not be long before we feel the sun on our face, the wind in our hair, and hear the words of William Shakespeare ringing out through the bucolic St. Norbert Ruins. We cannot wait to share what is sure
Read More

At the age of 7, Richard was a prisoner of war under the Lancasters, along with his mother, and siblings George and Margaret. Richard III was the last King of England to die in battle. He died August 22, 1485, at the age of 32, during the Battle of Bosworth Field, only two years into his reign. September 2012: a team of archeologists uncovered the remains of Richard III in a modern day parking lot, once the Grey Friars Church. Positively identified by DNA testing, research on his skeleton indicated that he suffered from stress-related bruxism or teeth grinding. There
Read More