"Dream in High Park," presented by the Canadian Stage, is one of Toronto's most treasured theatre traditions, comprising a series of professional performances under the stars in the park's amphitheater. Each year, Canadian theatre stars come together to create a completely new Shakespearean experience while families stroll among the audience. The event is accessible to all, with peak tickets starting at just $5 on the day of the show.

"Dream in High Park" first premiered in 1983 with the production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," when the High Park amphitheater still lacked a stage or proper seating. Now, after 40 years, the same play has returned, this time directed by veteran performer Jamie Robinson in a venue equipped with high-tech lighting and sound systems, along with a stage and seating.

Robinson stated in a press interview, "Everyone in the cast and crew is just buzzing with excitement, and the next component is simply adding the audience."

According to Robinson, who has performed in many iterations of Dream in High Park, there is a special kind of magic that accompanies performing outdoors, a kind of intimacy that cannot be recreated in a traditional theatre space.

He said, "This is how Shakespeare's audience would have seen the play 400 years ago, and A Midsummer Night's Dream takes place specifically outdoors and at night, so much of the imagery and sounds used during the play are right in front of you as an audience member. And of course, coming out of the pandemic, it’s wonderful to gather with people around an experience you can’t replicate at home while watching Netflix."

This marks Robinson's sixth year with Dream in High Park, after four years of acting and one as an assistant director. He said, "It feels very familiar to me, and I’m always learning and growing as an artist doing this, even as an audience member, I love it here."

Robinson explains, "Performing in such a public space can bring about some challenges, from wildlife to traffic, it’s never a dull moment," adding that his interpretation of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" will include some commentary on climate and the wealth gap, but this is one of Toronto's traditions; if you build it, they will come, raccoons or thunderstorms won’t stop people from coming to play with us."