Theatre school students perform Shakespeare offering for latest in Season of Plays.
Theatre students at George Brown Polytechnic are set to fill the stage with laughter, confusion, and unexpected heart in their latest production.
Running Feb. 4 to 14, The Comedy of Errors is Shakespeare’s fast-paced tale of mistaken identity, human connection, and the search for belonging.
The play follows Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse, who arrive in Ephesus after years of searching for their long-lost twin brother. A whirlwind of misunderstandings ensues as everyone navigates a world where no one is recognized, yet everyone seems familiar.
Kaleb Piper, who plays Antipholus of Syracuse, notes the confusion and misadventures the characters endure on their quest to find their twins; twins who happen to live in the location where they’re searching.
“They do not know this, and this leads to a large amount of confusion as they get there, and everyone seems to know them, but they have never seen any of these people in their lives before,” said Piper.
At its core, the production explores the search for family, identity, and even sanity. Jack Mosney, playing Antipholus of Ephesus, described how confusion drives the story.
“The twins from Syracuse are searching for their identical twins, whereas the twins already living in Ephesus are searching for their own happiness,” Mosney said. “A lot of the show for me is trying to prove my sanity”
That tension is clearly felt on stage. During rehearsals, moments of near discovery heighten suspense while reinforcing the emotional stakes behind the comedy. Each actor grounds the moments in emotional truth, allowing audiences to connect with the characters beyond the humour.
Severn Thompson, director for the play, helps make the production accessible to contemporary audiences by staying true to Shakespeare’s original text, while introducing creative choices that set it apart. One such change includes than setting the play in Greece of the 60s, a choice that brings freshness to the story.
Design also plays a major role in bringing the production to life. The set allows actors to move through the city of Ephesus, helping the narrative unfold without confusion.
The costume design further strengthens the storytelling, clearly reflecting the setting while helping differentiate characters in a play built around doubles and mistaken identity.
Despite being written more than 400 years ago, Shakespeare’s themes continue to resonate; identity, belonging, and human connection remain deeply relevant to modern audiences.
“That’s definitely something that’s like a contemporary theme. So that’s what we focus on in rehearsal. And the words are just the way to express the feelings… a person in 2026 would be reacting very similar to the way like they would in this situation in Shakespeare’s time,” said Chrisevina Tsoura, who plays Jerome of Syracuse.
As the production prepares to open, the cast hopes audiences leave entertained, surprised and emotionally invested.
“I think people [will] also be surprised by the fact that it is a comedy, but there are these really heartfelt scenes. It kind of alternates deep dark scene, really funny things, deep dark scene, really crazy thing, which I think will catch people off guard,” said Tsoura
With strong performances, thoughtful direction, and striking design, The Comedy of Errors stands out as a lively and engaging production, celebrating the magic of live theatre at George Brown Polytechnic.
Following this production, students will present two repertory productions running on alternating days.
Picnic at Hanging Rock, a mystery-driven adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s novel, runs April 7 to 18; The Parliament of the Birds, a theatrical adaptation of a Sufi poem by Toronto artist Guillermo Verdecia, runs April. 8 to 18.
The season highlights the creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit of theatre students, offering audiences a chance to experience the full range of live performance.
The Comedy of Errors runs until Feb. 14, visit www.georgebrown.ca/mainstage-the-comedy-of-errors for tickets.
