Freewill Shakespeare Festival

05/15/2026

Are you looking for a little drama in your life? Support Freewill by ‘adopting’ a squirrel.* Here are some little rascals still available for adoption. Get your fiends and friends together to 'adopt' a squirrel today!

Donate today: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/adopt-a-squirrel-fundraiser

*Please note: Squirrels are wild animals who live in the park. They cannot be held, hugged, or taken home. But, your support ensures we can continue to experience the squirrels at Freewill for years to come.

05/15/2026

The Freewill Shakespeare Festival is thrilled to launch "The Merchants of YEG," a curated artisan market running on Saturdays during our festival this summer! We are seeking local vendors, artists, and makers to bring their work to our vibrant festival grounds — connecting with hundreds of patrons attending both our matinee and evening performances.

We welcome a wide range of vendors, including:
• Handmade goods
• Art, crafts, and unique gifts
• Locally designed products
• And especially: Shakespearean, medieval, fantasy, or bard-inspired creations

There is a $50 refundable deposit required to secure your spot, which is returned upon your attendance at the festival. Space is limited — not all applicants will be accepted, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work, connect with the community, and be part of one of Edmonton’s most beloved summer events.

Apply today at: https://www.freewillshakespeare.com/vendor-apply

Be sure to tag your favourite local maker in the comments below!

05/14/2026

Looking for a fun place to work this summer and build up your resume? Check out our Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) positions, offering work placements for applicants between the ages of 15 and 30.

We are hiring for:
- Administrative Intern
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Festival Organizer
- Wardrobe Assistant

You only have until Friday to apply, so make sure you shine up your resume and cover letter, and send it our way!
https://www.freewillshakespeare.com/job-details

05/01/2026

Celebrate Freewill (and look just as stylish as our Freewill team) with a limited edition Fundraiser t-shirt!

This design is a little homage to the colours of 1970s tourism t-shirts, featuring the iconic Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park! Perfect for repping Freewill or giving to a Freewill fan. This design is availabe for order online and can be shipped right to your door! There will only be limited stock available during the festival, so we recommend getting your order in now to avoid dissapointment.

You can also customize it as your order for unisex or femme-cut t-shirts as well as in a crew sweatshirt.

Order yours today and support Freewill!
https://freewillshakespeare.printmachine.ca/freewill_shakespeare/shop/home

04/26/2026

Our deepest thank you to each and every one of you who've adopted a squirrel so far, and for the love you've had for our goofy little campaign. Other than supporting Freewill, your name(s) will be prominently featured on site, along with some other surprises to honour your unique contribution. Get together with friends, family, co-workers, or go solo to donate and 'adopt' a squirrel!*

We still have some beloved adoptees available! These swoon-worthy squirrels, lovers the lot of them, are sure to warm your heart.

Donate today! https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/adopt-a-squirrel-fundraiser

*Please note: Squirrels are wild animals who live in the park. They cannot be held, hugged, or taken home. But, your support ensures we can continue to experience the squirrels at Freewill for years to come.

04/24/2026

Happy World Shakespeare Day AND National Volunteer Week!

What an amazing week to be celebrating two of the most vital parts of Freewill! We give our thanks to the Bard, whose stories and words have inspired our modern productions, and to all our volunteers, from those on our board to every volunteer who’s made a mark on our festival. Thank you for making Freewill possible since our humble beginnings in 1989!

Though we’ve grown a bit from our first years in Hawrelak Park, we’re setting our sights to the grand return and we want your help. Volunteer applications are open and we want you on our team! If you’re looking for a great way to meet folks, experience the magic of live theatre, and do it all in the glorious outdoors, Freewill is the place for you!

Sign up today to reserve your spot in our community of beloved volunteers.

https://www.freewillshakespeare.com/volunteer

03/28/2026

Happy World Theatre Day!

Thank you to each and every one of you who have taken the time to experience Freewill over the years, and to the incredible community of you who experience the joy and beauty of live theatre in Edmonton and around the world!

When we are in the midst of international wars, increasing financial turbulance, hopelessness, and so many horrors that we cannot properly encapsulate in text, we hold steadfast in the value of theatre for developing community, human connection, and empathy. We appreciate every single one of you who speak up and speak out for the importance of theatre in your lives. You make our jobs possible and we appreciate you!

We'd also like to send our love to our amazing community of over 70 outdoor Shakespeare Festivals around the world. If you want to see all of them, check out the International Shakespeare page on our website: https://www.freewillshakespeare.com/int-shakespeare-festivals

Featuring photos from:
Twelfth Night (1989)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1993)
Taming of the Shrew (1996)
Twelfth Night (1997)
Richard III (2001)
Merry Wives of Windsor (2002)
Comedy of Errors (2009)
The Tempest (2012)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2013)
Coriolanus (2015)
Hamlet (2018)
Comedy of Errors (2018)
The Winter’s Tale (2019)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2022)
Twelfth Night (2023)
The Tempest (2024)
As You Like It (2025)

Photography: Marc J. Chalifoux, Ian Jackson, Lucas Boutillier, Ryan Parker, Erik Kozakiewicz, Brianne Jang, and Jenn Galm

Set Designs: Colin Winslow (2001), Bretta Gerecke (2002), David Fraser (2009), Cory Sincennes (2012, 2013), Megan Koshka (2015), Jim Guedo (2018), Alison Yanota (2022), Stephanie Bahniuk (2023, 2024), Emily Faith Randall (2025)

Costume Designs: Narda McCarroll (2001-2013), Hannah Matiachuk (2015), Megan Koshka (2018, 2019), Alison Yanota (2022), Stephanie Bahniuk (2023, 2024), Ami Farrow (2025)

Stage Managers: Betty Hushlak (1989, 1993), Gina Moe (2001, 2002), Allie Bailey (2009), Tracey Byrne (2012, 2013), Candice Charney (2015), Kerry Johnson (2018, 2019), Tim Yakimec (2022), Molly Pearson (2023-2025)

02/23/2026

Beware the ‘Film of March’ and join us at 6:30pm, March 12th for something a wicked(ly) awesome evening!

Summon your star-crossed spirit and join us for a night of revelry, special announcements, suprises, limited edition merch, and a gorgeous big-screen viewing of Baz Luhrmann’s iconic ROMEO + JULIET.

It’s romance. It’s tragedy. It’s poetry. It’s chaos. It’s March, and it’s exactly the vibe.

Come laugh, swoon, gasp, and celebrate—while supporting the stories Freewill Shakespeare brings to life.

Tickets are $17 and available now on Metro Cinema's website. You won't want to miss this!

https://metrocinema.org/event/romeo-juliet-1996/

Poster art by our spectactular Managing Director, Shannon Jones!

02/20/2026

It's that time of year again... AGM (Annual General Meeting) time!

Join us Monday, March 30, 2026 form 6:30PM-8:30PM on Zoom

You heard that right, we're going virtual, so you don't even have to leave your couch.

Curl up in pyjamas (or in your fanciest gown - the world is your oyster!) and your favourite mug while we review the year we've had and make plans for the next! Your attendance is incredibly valuable to learn more about what Freewill does, see the state of our organization, and elect our board of directors.

Click the link below to RSVP and we'll send the Zoom link and reminder a week before the meeting. We hope to see you there!

https://forms.gle/yFKzfhc64AyKfMnM9

02/11/2026

Are you wanting to be part of Freewill's return to Hawrelak Park? Well, we want you!

We are hiring for the following seasonal roles: Production Publicist, Head of Audio, Audio Assistant, Lighting Operator, Head of Scenic Carpentry, Scenic Carpentry Technician, Head of Scenic Art, Scenic Art Technician, Head of Wardrobe, and Wardrobe First Assistant

Learn more and apply today!
https://freewillshakespeare.com/job-details

📸: Aaron Goettell and Troy O'Donnell in Love's Labours Lost (1991)

02/06/2026

Do you love theatre... and numbers!? Have we got a role for you!

As we near our AGM in March, we are looking for new board members to join our team, especially a new individual to fill the role of Treasurer. This money-minded person will be mentored by our current Treasurer, so you can step into the role with confidence. If you have a background in numbers and a passion for theatre, this is the perfect way to support the Freewill Sheakspeare Festival and help us move into the future with confidence.

Are you interested? Learn more and apply today!

If you have a passion for numbers and theatre, consider applying to The Free Will Players Theatre Guild as Treasurer!