The Soliloquy Project

Artistic Director Karen Lee Pickett and Shakespeare scholar Dr. Erin Kelly chat about Jaques’ witty retelling of his forest encounter, the meaning of ‘fool’, and what lady fortune has to do with all of this.

You can listen to this educational deep dive either in preparation for your outdoor soliloquy adventure, or afterwards, as a thought provoking addendum to the performance in Season Two, Episode Five!

To donate to the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, please visit www.vicshakespeare.com/donateSound design and theme song by Taylor Lewis

Thank you to the CRD for their continued and deeply valued support of the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival.

 Season Two features soliloquies exclusively from Shakespeare's As You Like It. In Episode 5, Taylor Lewis performs Jaques's “A fool! A fool!”; a soliloquy from Act Two, Scene Seven.

To listen on location, take yourself to Míqәn (Colonially know as Beacon Hill Park). Enter the park on the south (water) side, a few minutes' walk West from Cook Street. Turn right into the park at the first crosswalk or just a few steps past it using Camas Crescent. The Story Pole will be in front of you, which was created by Ted Shaw, Mungo Martin, David Martin, and Kwakiutl carver Henry Hunt in 1956, repaired by Coast Salish artist Master Seaman Vern Point in 2001, and repainted by Calvin Hunt (Henry Hunt’s Grandson) in 2011. Stand at its base for a moment and take it in. There's a chip path to the right. Take it for a few steps, just until you feel yourself in the forest. To listen stand, or if able, sit on the split rail fence. If the weather obliges, turn your face toward the sun. Míqәn means “warmed by the sun” in the lək̓ʷəŋən language. If the chip path isn't comfortable for you, there are memorial benches on either side of the Story Pole.

To donate to the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, please visit www.vicshakespeare.com/donate.

Don't forget to listen to Season Two, Episode 6 to learn more about this soliloquy!

Sound design and theme song by Taylor Lewis.

Thank you to the CRD for their continued and deeply valued support of the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival.

Happy Holidays! Here's a bonus episode!

Singer, song writer, musician, and actor Willis Taylor has written and recorded this beautiful piece using Shakespeare's word from Act 3, Scene 2 of As You Like It. 

We hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

Artistic Director Karen Lee Pickett and Shakespeare scholar Dr. Erin Kelly chat about Adam’s warning to Orlando, breaking down and investigating both the language and contextual meaning of the speech. 

You can listen to this educational deep dive either in preparation for your outdoor soliloquy adventure, or afterwards, as a thought provoking addendum to the performance in Season Two, Episode Three!

To donate to the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, please visit www.vicshakespeare.com/donate

Sound design and theme song by Taylor Lewis

Thank you to the CRD for their continued and deeply valued support of the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival.

Season Two features soliloquies exclusively from Shakespeare's As You Like It. In Episode 3, Wendy Magahay performs Adam's “O Unhappy Youth”; a soliloquy from Act Two, Scene Three. 

To listen on location, head to Craigdarroch Castle just off of Fort Street on Joan. Walk up the main driveway and head to the rear of the castle (the south side). Stand facing the castle and you'll see there's a rear entrance on your right. Walk toward it and you'll discover a few steps going down to the door. Tuck yourself into the stairwell and imagine you're waiting for someone very important to you to arrive. While you listen to the soliloquy, realize that those inside have no idea you're there.

To donate to the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, please visit www.vicshakespeare.com/donate.

Don't forget to listen to Season Two, Episode 4 to learn more about this soliloquy!

Sound design and theme song by Taylor Lewis.

Thank you to the CRD for their continued and deeply valued support of the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival.

 Artistic Director Karen Lee Pickett and Shakespeare scholar Dr. Erin Kelly chat about As You Like It's opening speech. Why open a play in the middle of a conversation? How does this set the tone for the rest of the play? Do you know the significance of the name Orlando?

You can listen to this educational deep dive either in preparation for your outdoor soliloquy adventure, or afterwards, as a thought provoking addendum to the performance in Season Two, Episode One!

To donate to the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, please visit www.vicshakespeare.com/donate

Sound design and theme song by Taylor Lewis

Thank you to the CRD for their continued and deeply valued support of the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival.

CONTENT WARNING: Some use of offensive language. 

Season Two features soliloquies exclusively from Shakespeare's As You Like It.

Opening our second season, SJ Valiquette performs Orlando's “As I remember, Adam, it was Upon This Fashion”; a soliloquy from Act One, Scene One. 

To listen on location, enter Circle Drive off of Douglas Street, in Beacon Hill Park. Continue along Circle Drive, and pass the Petting Zoo. Just after the Petting Zoo, you will see to your left a grassy expanse with trees in the distance, lined by a low wooden fence against which vehicles sometimes park. Walk up to the fence, (with the Petting Zoo to your right), and look out at these trees while you listen. During the soliloquy, breathe in the fresh air, and notice the scents you experience. Can you imagine the scent of freshly chopped wood?

To donate to the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, please visit www.vicshakespeare.com/donate.

Don't forget to listen to Season Two, Episode 2 to learn more about this soliloquy!

Sound design and theme song by Taylor Lewis.

Thank you to the CRD for their continued and deeply valued support of the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival.

Artistic Director Karen Lee Pickett and Shakespeare scholar Dr. Erin Kelly close out our first season with a chat about 'What is really going on for Hamlet?' in one of Shakespeare's most famous soliloquies:  'I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth''.

You can listen to this educational deep dive either in preparation for your outdoor soliloquy adventure, or afterwards, as a thought provoking addendum to the performance in Episode 9!

To donate to the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, please visit www.vicshakespeare.com/donate

Sound design and theme song by Taylor Lewis

Thank you to the CRD for their continued and deeply valued support of the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival. 

In our Season One finale, Adrienne Smook performs 'I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth'; a soliloquy from one of Shakespeare's most famous plays: Hamlet. 

To listen on location, head to the top of PKOLS (colonially known as Mt. Doug), either by foot or vehicle. (Note that the vehicle access is closed before noon, and all day on holidays!) Head up the trail heading north. There, you will find a large cement look out point. Position yourself in such a way as to look northward and see the forests on and around PKOLS, and the ocean beyond. During the soliloquy, consider turning around to see the communities of people beyond stretching out below. 

To donate to the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, please visit www.vicshakespeare.com/donate

Don't forget to listen to Episode 10 to learn more about this soliloquy!

Sound design and theme song by Taylor Lewis.

Thank you to the CRD for their continued and deeply valued support of the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival. 

In this episode, Artistic Director Karen Lee Pickett and Shakespeare scholar Dr. Erin Kelly talk about the awareness of 'history' in Shakespeare's 'Histories', and other significant moments in 'Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus', Cassius's soliloquy, featured in Episode 7. 

You can listen to this educational deep dive either in preparation for your outdoor soliloquy adventure, or afterwards, as a thought provoking addendum to the performance in Episode 7!

To donate to the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, please visit www.vicshakespeare.com/donate

Sound design and theme song by Taylor Lewis

Thank you to the CRD for their continued and deeply valued support of the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival.