Saskatoon

Theatre crowd gets medieval with sword fight show before Shakespeare fest

Saskatoon theatre-goers will get their Shakespeare with a side of sword-fighting when a medieval feast is held Sunday night.

Feast invites crowd to dress up and eat with their fingers at Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan

Alan Long (right) says the crowd is invited to dress up at this summer's medieval feasts. (Alicia Bridges/CBC News)

Saskatoon theatre-goers will get their Shakespeare with a side of sword-fighting when a medieval feast is held Sunday night.

The Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan annual theatre program is hosting the dinner before its Sunday performance of Twelfth Night.

Dinner guests are encouraged to dress up in their best medieval garb and eat their food with their fingers.

The medieval feast is held outdoors on the riverbank before the performance of one of Shakespeare's plays. (Alicia Bridges/CBC News)

Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan marketing and development director Alan Long said the feast kicked off with a sword fight by the Saskatoon Society for Creative Anachronism.

"They put on their helmets and they get their wooden swords and they kind of go at each other, it's a lot of fun, they take it very seriously," said Long.

"And it'll be a hot and sweaty sword fight tonight," he laughed, referring to Sunday's warm weather.

Sunday's event was sold out but the medieval dinner will be held again on July 16 before the company's performance of Richard III.

Tickets are $88 for adults, $78 for seniors and $68 for children. Doors open at 5 p.m. CST and the play starts at 7:30 p.m.