The Winter’s Tale and Julius Caesar
Albuquerque, NM — The New Mexico Shakespeare Festival returns this summer with two compelling productions: The Winter’s Tale and Julius Caesar. Presented by a nonprofit committed to offering high-quality, accessible theatre, all performances are free to the public and will be staged outdoors at Veterans Memorial Park.
About the Shows:
The Winter’s Tale is a timeless journey of jealousy, loss, and miraculous redemption – told in our NMSF production as if from the pages of a beloved bedtime story. It is a haunting, ancient fable where the line between myth and reality blurs. The play unfolds in a world fractured by a King’s sudden descent into poisonous jealousy, a tragic madness so extreme it feels like a dark curse has been cast upon the land. As the action shifts to the pastoral wilds of Bohemia, the events take on the whimsical energy of a fairy tale, complete with a lost princess and a legendary bear. Shakespeare’s tragi-comic romance builds toward a miraculous climax where the boundaries of time and death are defied … and winter’s tragic loss resolves into spring’s forgiveness and wonder.
In stark contrast, Julius Caesar is Shakespeare’s timeless political thriller for a contemporary audience. The play explores the themes of power, loyalty, and public perception, drawing striking parallels between ancient Rome and today’s charged political climate. Julius Caesar examines the cost of ambition and the consequences of collective action. Urgent, thought-provoking, and visually compelling, Julius Caesar invites audiences to confront the enduring question at its core: when does the defense of democracy become its undoing?
Performance Schedule:
Veterans Memorial Park
● The Winter’s Tale: June 12, 13, 14, 19, 21, 25, 27; July 3, 9, 11
● Julius Caesar: June 5, 6, 7, 18, 20, 26, 28; July 2, 5, 10
All performances start at 7:30 pm
All performances are free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and enjoy an evening of live Shakespeare under the stars.
The New Mexico Shakespeare Festival is proud to create theatre by and for the Albuquerque community, offering professional productions that are both thought-provoking and entertaining. As one of the few and proud free Shakespeare festivals in the country, our mission is to use Shakespeare’s legacy to enrich and unify the community through the power of theater.
Don’t miss this season’s powerful double feature of passion, politics, and redemption.