Toby Hughes as Henry V in Henry V (2012)
Shakespeare Clinic
Shakespeare Clinics are a DROP-IN, pay-what-you-can education and training initiative for amateur AND professional actors interested in sharpening their classical acting skills.
Led by SIR Artistic Associate, Toby Hughes, these workshops are intended to support actors in their exploration of classical text, demystifying the adventure of “acting Shakespeare” while discovering joy in complex and lyrical language.
The next workshop is on September 21st from NOON to 4pm at PTE’s Imperial Studio (3rd floor of Portage Place). No registration required.
Email admin@sirmb.ca for more information (or just show up!).
Facilitator/Workshop Leader
Toby Hughes is an actor and improvisor from Winnipeg.
He has performed in 8 shows with Shakespeare in the Ruins as well as many other theatres in Winnipeg and around Canada. Most recently returning from a run of Clue at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario. Toby is a founding member of the musical improv company Outside Joke, and brings the spirit of presence and saying yes to all his acting, including Shakespeare.
Most of Toby’s experience with Shakespeare is practical rather than academic, in that he learned how to do it by watching other actors and trying it out in front of an audience.
This drop-in will focus on getting more comfortable with speaking Shakespeare (and any difficult text) by making it intuitive and really trying to figure out what you’re trying to communicate.
Don’t worry, we can get all nerdy about meter and punctuation and all that good stuff too!
Voice, Dialect & Text Coach
Tom Soares is a professional actor and a voice, dialect, and text coach with an MFA in Acting (voice specialization) from York University.
For over a decade, he has taught introductory to advanced courses in performance and voice for the Department of Theatre and Film at the University of Winnipeg. He recently performed in SIR’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and this fall he will work as the voice and dialect coach for Theatre Project Manitoba’s and RMTC’s co-production of The Recipe. Some previous coaching credits include Twelfth Night, The Winter’s Tale, Hamlet, Richard III (Shakespeare in the Ruins); among men, Trouble in Mind, The Rez Sisters, Jane Eyre (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); & Iceland, Mary’s Wedding (Theatre Projects Manitoba).
Tom has been a long-time lover of Shakespeare’s text with much of his professional development being focused in this area. As a coach or workshop instructor, he is always keen to share his experience in helping others to use their voice and text to the best of their ability.
Tom Soares as Flute as Thisby in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. (2024)