Bravo to the independent theatres outside the Stratford Festival that continue to produce the works of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare in Action is one such company.

Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Unchained Theatre Jack Burrill is pleased to continue presenting the Bard's plays.

Recently, I had the opportunity to chat via email with the Centennial College graduate about the Canadian theatre scene and, more specifically, what's happening in Toronto.   Burrill was pleased to discuss Unchained Theatre further.

The company is celebrating its fifth year this year. It strives to produce exciting, fresh productions in intimate spaces, specializing in classic works such as Shakespeare while exploring their modern relevance through innovative designs and passionate performances. Unchained emphasizes the importance of collaboration with the entire team, from production to actors, being creatively active in all aspects of the production.

The theatre company began when Burrill and artistic producer and co-founder Reuben Stewart were isolated together during the COVID-19 pandemic after a trip to the south. Within their containment, they watched, read, and even acted in works of Shakespeare to pass the time and decided to create the company. Unchained's first show 'Twelfth Night' during the pandemic, teamed up with the local community theatre to build an outdoor stage so that theatre could resume even with restrictions.

To celebrate the five-year landmark, Unchained will stage another production of 'Twelfth Night' with some of the original cast returning. Reuben and Jack continued producing shows through theatre school, though... not without warning from our instructors. Now, the company is excited about the road ahead!

The Canadian theatre scene continues to change and evolve.  I've posed that same question to many artists through their profiles.

Burrill says he will always feel confident about the theatre and performing arts industry in the future despite the changes. He says the fact there are so many changes and the art form is still here speaks to the longevity of the theatre. In the future, he further adds:

"The reason I am so excited about the state of the industry: there are so many small, young companies doing great work who are rehearsing three times a week after putting in 40-hour work weeks. [These companies] save every penny to rent the $2000 space to do four shows, pay the team, support the design and market only to break even and do it all again in a couple of months."

He's always had a unique connection and affinity with the plays of Shakespeare. Jack calls the Bard's works: "poetic examinations of the human spirit. What it means to be human hasn't changed; therefore, the plays are allowed to be anything." It is the allowance for Jack that Shakespeare's plays speak to audiences. The plays are a safe place for actors and audiences to feel and to think to the maximum of themselves. Sometimes, if actors and audiences are familiar with the plays (having studied them in school), they can become excited by a new interpretation. 

One of Jack's favourite plays is 'King Lear.' It's also a favourite of mine. Jack says he has seen the play at least ten times, and he still cries when Lear carries his beloved yet murdered daughter Cordelia in his arms one last time.

Recently, Unchained Theatre produced 'Romeo & Juliet' with the setting in Toronto. Jack's choice eerily spoke to the company of actors and crew. They discovered what Shakespeare said about fair Verona translated 'scarily' well with Old Toronto.

Collectively, what Burrill craves to see in the theatre is intimacy, passion and simplicity. The productions that excite him the most are the ones with three blocks as a set, an intimate space, and actors driving the play until the wheels come off:

"I love seeing actors work; I love seeing when the performances are raw. I love it when you listen to a line of dialogue, and it strikes with an immediate emotional response. Exciting intimate productions are what I aim to see always."

Jack takes great pride in being multi-disciplinary. Acting is his staple, but he also loves directing, crafting a show and being in rehearsal. He loves rehearsal and wishes he had the opportunity to do more directing. He also shared a touching personal element:

"I started wanting to be a playwright. I had major stage fright as a teenager, but I loved telling stories. Behind the veil of a glitchy HP laptop did I lair myself. But I do see myself changing careers one day. One of my big dreams is to be an acting teacher and to open my own studio."

Burrill is obsessed with the works of some of the great acting teachers, including Stanislavski, Meisner, Hagen, Chekhov, and Adler. He has read all their books and constantly re-watches their documented classwork films and clips.
Jack wants to keep the fire of acting alive, especially in the theatre, for the next generation to follow. He would consider that one of his life's work.

For this year's theatre graduates, Burrill advises creating your work and forming your own company. Do the plays you want to do and play the parts you want to play. Find the actors, directors, stage managers, producers and technicians. No one is going to do that for you. Theatre is a home, and everyone connected is a family. Go and make theatre with family. Don't let expensive theatres or heart-stopping light shows deter you from what you want to do.

Jack's also realistic as well. He knows he can't make a full-time living just yet. Currently, he is a server for a golf course (which he calls an artist's boot camp). Jack also tutors in English and drama for high school and college students, and he is trying to make steps into coaching, especially with Shakespeare's texts.

As we concluded our email conversation, I asked what was next for Jack.

He has experienced a good year and is grateful for the artistic opportunities. Recently, he completed his participation in the York Corpus Christi Cycle at the University of Toronto, where he was part of three of the 33 clusters and directed one of them. Although exhaustion loomed over him, he says it was a life-altering artistic experience.

 Starting July 19, he will appear in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in Lawrence Park, produced by Thaumatrope, playing the roles of Theseus and Titania.

Finally, from November 6 to 9th, Unchained Theatre will celebrate five years with a production of 'Twelfth Night' in which he will co-direct and play Sir Toby Belch.

Burrill has also written his first full-length that he hopes to share soon.
Ah, the love of live theatre. It is most heartening to see young people relish and revel in this beloved art form.

To learn more about Unchained Theatre, visit their Facebook page: Unchained Theatre Company. You can also visit their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unchained_theatre_company___/?igsh=em5lNWJ1Z2Zta2Jw#