Cheap Theatre in Toronto the Week of August 8th

Photo of Rose Tuong and Frank Cox O'Connell in HAMLET by Cylla von TiedemannFive Shows Under $25 in Toronto this Week

This week, the theatre is mostly outdoors! Pack a picnic, bring a blanket to sit on, and bundle the whole family off to the park for a bit of afternoon theatre while the weather still lasts. Best part? All of these shows are budget-friendly–though if you’re looking to beat the heat, we do have one outlier on offer! Check out the picks under the cut.

All the Things I’ve Lost. UnSpun Theatre & The Make It Real Project present an art exhibit and performance piece by Shira Leuchter. Leuchter revisits significant objects that have been lost throughout her life alongside her mother, a ceramist, who will reinvent, recreate and honour the lost childhood objects by re-making them out of clay. Opens Aug 11 and runs to Aug 20, Thu-Fri 7 pm, Wed & Sat 3 pm. Free. Show Info.

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (Dauntless City Theatre Company). The darkly comedic masterpiece of mistaken identities and misplaced love is performed outdoors. Opens Aug 6 and runs to Aug 28, Sat & Sun 1 pm (no show Aug 14). Pwyc, $10 suggested donation. Show Info.

Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare (Dauntless City Theatre Company). The magical story about the power of forgiveness and love moves all over the park, accompanied by live music and puppetry. Opens Aug 5 and runs to Aug 27, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm. Pwyc, $10 suggested donation. Show Info.

The Taming of the Shrew. Driftwood Theatre’s presents the annual Bard’s Bus Tour, featuring Shakespeare’s comedy performed under the stars at various venues in Toronto and in towns around southern Ontario. Jul 8-Aug 14, see website for schedule and locations. All shows pwyc ($20 reserved). Show Info.

Shakespeare in High Park: Hamlet. Canadian Stage and the York University Dept of Theatre present the annual outdoor theatre gig. The classic tale of betrayal, revenge and murder is performed outdoors. Previews from Jun 30, opens Jul 14 and runs to Sep 3, Tue, Thu & Sat 8 pm (All’s Well That Ends Well runs on Wed, Fri & Sun to Sep 4). Pwyc, $20 suggested; advance premium reserved seats $25. At the Amphitheatre. Show Info.