Island Shakespeare Festival
Accessible classical theatre realized for a contemporary audience.
We make our artistic home on the occupied land of Tscha-kole-chy, colonially know as Whidbey Island. We honor the speakers of Lushootseed and members of the Suquamish, Snohomish, Swinomish, Lower Skagit tribes, and other Coast Salish peoples, whose ancestors loved and cared for this land and shared waterways long before European settlement began. We celebrate the ongoing vitality of local Native communities, including the Swinomish and Tulalip, and the wisdom of those who have called this place home since time immemorial.
About Us:
We believe art is for everyone. Since our founding in 2010 by Susannah Rose Woods, we've remained committed to our mission and our Pay What You Will model, through our outdoor summer season and year-round Shakespeare Playground offerings.
By providing accessible classical productions in innovative and compelling ways, we ignite the power of theatre to illuminate, inspire, and foster our ability to live, locally and globally, in connection with each other.
Our values guide all that we do:
Anti-Racism: We acknowledge we have been complicit in the racism that exists in our society and in our field. We commit to work to dismantle systems of white supremacy, patriarchy, and oppression in ourselves, our work, our organization, and our community.
Accessibility: We believe in three pillars of accessibility. One, that art should be available to all, regardless of financial constraints. Two, that classic theatre should be engaging and resonant to a modern audience. Three, that we anticipate the needs of ability impaired audience members so everyone can enjoy the multi-sensory experience of live theatre.
Intersectional Inclusivity: We believe that classic theatre belongs to everyone, and we strive for inclusivity and representation of the scope of humanity in our audiences, in our company of artists, and in stories we share.
Excellence: We believe excellence is iterative. Never resting on our past accomplishments, we relentlessly strive to improve even in the smallest of ways.
Regenerative Sustainability: To us, sustainability is foundational. We seek to build a base so that we may persist with financial, environmental, and creative endurance in a relationship of symbiosis with our natural environment and community.
“Expect to be “transported into the Athenian woods with the capricious and spirited Puck as your guide.”