To celebrate the 400th anniversary of its premiere, Toronto Masque Theatre is delighted to present a staged reading, with song, of The Vision of Delight, Ben Jonson’s rich and evocative masterpiece of the masque form.

Directed by Toronto Masque Theatre Associate Artist Derek Boyes, the reading will feature a group of young actors drawn from the George Brown Theatre School program, performing alongside soprano Shannon Mercer, lutenist Ben Stein and violinist / tenor Larry Beckwith.

Filled with poetry, humour, and charm, The Vision of Delight celebrates the coming of spring with stories, dances and song.

Boyes and Beckwith will also give an introduction on Jonson and the work, setting the scene for the reading.

Ben Jonson was the great master of the masque form and a favourite at the court of James I, where he created – along with an array of brilliant collaborators – close to three dozen masques; interactive occasions that combined dance, poetry, theatre and music, along with lavish scenery and costumes.

Hosted and sponsored by TMT patrons Walter and Marina Unger, the evening will include snacks, tea, coffee, and a cash bar.

Founded in 2003 by artistic director Larry Beckwith, Toronto Masque Theatre is one of the only companies in the world devoted to the performance of masque, an art form that results from a fusion of music, dance and theatre. Inspired by the rich courtly tradition of the late renaissance, we seek to reinvent the art form for today’s audiences, speaking to contemporary Toronto. We have produced over 50 critically acclaimed productions, ranging in repertoire from the late renaissance to the present day, including eight commissions of original work from Canadian artists.