From a single fateful phone call taken reluctantly from the toilet, a Shakespearean actor finds his world collapsing around him. As the story unfolds, the unforgiving realities of his shattered life intertwine with Shakespeare’s radiant, immortal text, while the man teeters dangerously close to the brink.

Written and performed by Justin Hay, known for his performance in the 2017 filmed adaptation “Richard III – Unto the Kingdom of Perpetual Night”, the play draws on some of the greatest and most powerful passages from Shakespeare to ask: Is it possible to find peace with the impossible paradoxes of life?

“My Own Private Shakespeare” has earned writer/performer Justin Hay critical and audience acclaim after successful runs in Toronto, New York and the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe. A veteran of the stage and screen, he trained at the Royal National Theatre in the UK.

The running time is approximately 55 minutes, with no interval. Recommended for ages 14+. My Own Private Shakespeare contains themes of mental health, suicide and trauma.

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