Coriolanus Opens at Portland Center Stage

From April 20 through May 19, Shakespeare’s study of political power and folly, Coriolanus, will play at Portland Center Stage, in collaboration with Seattle’s upstart crow collective, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Play On Shakespeare. This modern translation by Sean San José captures the lyrical essence of Shakespeare while lifting the story’s core, reminding us that democracy is fragile and always worth defending. Tickets are on sale now, including sliding scale tickets for BIPOC Affinity Night, on Saturday, May 4, at 2 p.m.

In this updated adaptation of Coriolanus, Bay Area director, actor, writer and producer Sean San José delves into the themes of power and politics. San José's unique approach to this lesser-known classic involves a reinterpretation of the text, allowing it to resonate with and represent a community of "others," who, in this case, embody the play with those typically not represented in classic Shakespeare at the center: people of color, women, queer people, immigrants.  Through this translation, the language of Shakespeare is brought into the contemporary era, making its thematic and dramatic essence widely accessible. The entire process is fueled by a critical examination of populism in our present political landscape.

Originally commissioned by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, this rendition of Coriolanus is part of a broader initiative that sought new translations for all 39 Shakespeare plays. The project aims to present Shakespeare's timeless works in a language that modern audiences can easily understand, while preserving the inherent beauty of Shakespearean verse. Collaborating with a diverse group of contemporary playwrights, screenwriters and dramaturges from various backgrounds, the Play On! project reimagines Shakespeare for the 21st century. These translated volumes mark the first time these works are available in print, serving as a new first folio for a new era.

In collaboration with upstart crow collective, whose mission is to produce classical plays with racially diverse casts of women and non-binary people, re-imagining these works for a contemporary audience, director Rosa Joshi (founding member of upstart crow and current associate artistic director of Oregon Shakespeare Festival) has brought together a stunning cast of women and non-binary actors who will take on the roles within Coriolanus. “The way we approach gender follows the Elizabethan practice of male actors playing all the roles and flips it on its head.” says Joshi. 

“By giving the stage to a diverse cast of women and non-binary actors who play all the characters, both male and female, we shine a new light on what these plays can mean and who they are for.”

"Collaborating with Play On, upstart crow collective, and OSF is a dream, as we work together to bring each organization's strengths and resources to the table for a rich and ambitious production," says PCS Artistic Director Marissa Wolf. "Helmed by Rosa Joshi, Coriolanus is exactly how I want to encounter a Shakespeare war play, with a hyper relevant lens and fully embodied, ensemble driven storytelling."

Coriolanus is a co-production with Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where it will perform later this summer.