Theatre Stoogette to Bring DENMARKED to Toronto Fringe Festival

Clown meets Hamlet in this rare physical theatre adaptation of one of Shakespeare's iconic plays. The 2016 Toronto Fringe Festival showcases Theatre Stoogette's inaugural play Denmarked from June 29 - July 10. The Annex Theatre transforms into Castle Elsinore as Tweed the clown and her sidekick skull Yorick take on sonnets, songs and Shakespearean insults.

In a style kindled by Canadian clown duos Morro and Jasp and Mump and Smoot, Denmarked is a clown's unique perspective of tragedy. It's rare to have physical theatre paired with text, especially a classical one. Yes, the "To be, or not to be" soliloquy makes an appearance, but so do raps, character transformations, Ophelia-inspired songs, and brand new sonnets written by the cast.

"It's amazing what a red clown nose can do, " says performer and creator Carina Gaspar, "I can be 7 years old in one moment and 75 the next, innocent and playful or experienced and poignant."

Gaspar harnesses her years of physical theatre training under the tutelage of John Turner ("Mump and Smoot"), along with previous work with Byron Laviolette, Helen Donnelly and Adam Paolozza. The show blends British flavour with Canadian clowning traditions to create a unique hybrid-and celebrate an acting style exclusive to our country. Denmarked is all the tragedy, and all the fun, with no Shakespearean dictionary required.

About Theatre Stoogette: Theatre Stoogette is a physical-theatre based company that has been debunking clown stereotypes since 2012. Artistic Director Carina Gaspar spearheads the company, boasting her own track record of involvement with the Toronto Festival of Clowns, Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance, and 2014 Residency Award from the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. Be bardsy alongside this crew at thestoogette.com, or Twitter @BeBardsy #Denmarked #FringeTO.

Show location: The Annex Theatre, 730 Bathurst Street. Show running time: 60 minutes.

Tickets are $10 each (+$2 service fee), and go on sale June 9 at www.fringetoronto.com, 416.966.1062.

Advance ticket sales start June 29 at the Festival box office @ The Fringe Club, 581 Bloor St. West.

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