Expect big laughs as The Cultch starts the year off with the world premiere of Ronnie Burkett’s Little Willy, an adults-only marionette retelling of Romeo and Juliet, at the Historic Theatre, January 10-29.
From the acclaimed Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes, the gang from “The Daisy Theatre” is back with more of their irreverent hijinks as they take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in Little Willy. Burlesque star Dolly Wiggler starts the show with an Elizabethan striptease in the hilariously improvised mash-up of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays. All the leading ladies of the Daisy Theatre ensemble battle for the role of Juliet, including faded diva Esme Massengill in a boozy interpretation of the lovesick ingénue. Beloved audience favourites Schnitzel and Mrs. Edna Rural are back in supporting roles, and adding to the fun and mayhem, The Bard himself joins The Daisy Theatre cast for a twisted retelling of this timeless tale.

Formed in 1986, the Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes is a firm favourite with Vancouver audiences. Burkett’s beautifully crafted marionettes, flair for raunchy humour, and heart rending storytelling are met with sold out theatres accompanying every show. The Daisy Theatre, his improvised vaudeville show made up of beloved characters like Esmé Massengill, Edna Rural, and Schnitzel sold-out three runs at The Cultch Historic Theatre. In 2017 he premiered Little Dickens, The Daisy Theatre cast’s rendition of A Christmas Carol to great acclaim, and now the cast is back for a very special premiere especially for Vancouver audiences.
Little Willy plays at The Cultch Historic Theatre, January 10 to 19, 2023. Find details and tickets, thecultch.com