Comedy and tragedy, opposite ends of the spectrum, but both are themes at this year's Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan festival.

There will be some light-hearted fun with, As You Like It, a comedy that includes a wrestling match. There will also be the story of Hamlet.

"Hamlet is a little bit more straightforward in just the tragedy as written, but As You Like It is as wacky as you can imagine," said Jaron Francis, who plays Horatio in Hamlet and Orlando in As You Like It.

The designer has put a little bit of a twist on Hamlet.

"The motif that the designer has gone with is a Tim Burton style that he so often goes with," Francis said.

"There are a lot of dudes with switchblades and leather jackets."

It has been a busy time for all of the cast and crew, they have been working for the past month at a very fast pace.

"We steal time. When we're not in actual rehearsal working a scene, then we go off and work with a scene partner on something else and use the time as best we can," he said.

Getting ready for performances starts with reading the play and then setting up the stage picture, but everyone tries to keep it as light-hearted as possible.

"Basically, it's about trying to make the shows as fun and entertaining as possible for the audience," Francis said.

Francis started acting in high school and it has been his passion ever since then.

The festival begins today and runs until Aug. 26.

cmangatal@rawlco.com

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