Love’s Labour’s Lost

by William Shakespeare

Of the modern verse translation by Joshua Wilder
Commissioned by Play On Shakespeare
Directed and Designed by Giulio Cesare Perrone

Inferno Theatre presents Love’s Labour’s Lost by William Shakespeare in Joshua Wilder’s modern translation, commissioned by Play On Shakespeare, at Berkeley’s John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre. Love’s Labour’s Lost, one of Shakespeare’s early comedies, is reimagined for modern audiences.

The King of Navarre and his three friends have dedicated themselves to a life of study, and avoiding women for three long years. Their challenge comes to an end with the arrival of the Princess of France and her three girlfriends. The four young men fall in love and court the witty ladies amidst physical comedy, romance, and masked mistaken identities. Unexpectedly, the women must return to their kingdom for a year, after which they will marry the king and his friends, provided the men remain true to them.

Inferno Theatre is excited and honored to be the first company to perform Joshua Wilder’s modern translation of William Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost. His translation reveals the play’s romp and sass for a contemporary audience.

The production is directed by award winning theater artist Giulio Cesare Perrone, who also designs this colorful production, bringing comedy and romance back to Berkeley. Love’s Labour’s Lost will delight with slapstick humor, music, songs and movement generated by the ensemble. Inferno Theatre is thrilled to partner once again with Play On Shakespeare to present Shakespeare's poetic world using a translation that makes it more accessible to modern audiences.

Pack your picnic basket, bring the whole family, and immerse yourself in this enchanted world of music, movement, and magic. Let Inferno Theatre lead you on a marvelous romp, filled with Shakespearean verse, compelling physical theater, fantasy, ensemble music, and raucous slapstick.

Love’s Labour’s Lost opens on Saturday, May 23, and runs Saturdays and Sundays through June 14. An additional performance will be held on Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day). Performances begin at 4pm in John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre, 41 Somerset Place, Berkeley, CA. The amphitheater will open at 3pm for picnicking. Admission is free.

Performing Artists/Singers

Rosie Chu
Danielle Croom
Sam Joffe
Samantha Klein
Ofeibia Laud-Darku
Alejandro Navarro
Kevin Olvera
Adonis Reyes
Haley Ruth Spencer
Emilia Vernet
Phoenix Williams

Creative Team

Playwright - William Shakespeare
Modern verse translation - Joshua Wilder
Director, Set, Costume Designer - Giulio Cesare Perrone
Assistant Director/Choreographer - Rosie Chu
Music Director and Singer - Sam Joffe
Guitarist/Singer - Danielle Croom
Cellist/Singer - Emilia Vernet

ACCESSIBILITY
The first rows of the amphitheater will be reserved as a courtesy for those with limited mobility. Call (510) 825-0449 to reserve one of those spots. Access is best from Somerset Place. Take Southampton from Arlington and continue straight onto Somerset Place. The amphitheater is wheelchair accessible, with a small parking lot next to the theater on Somerset offering limited accessible parking (few spots - first come, first served). WE STRONGLY ADVISE dropping people off and then parking on nearby streets: Southampton Avenue, Arlington Avenue, and San Diego Road.

The amphitheater consists of a series of stone terraces. Bring low lawn chairs, pillows/cushions and/or blankets.

QUESTIONS and/or RESERVATIONS for accessible seating, write to:
infernotheatrecompany@gmail.com or call (510) 825-0449
More info: www.infernotheatre.org

FREE ADMISSION

DATES
Saturday, May 23, 2026 (Opening night)
Sunday, May 24
Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day)

Saturday, May 30
Sunday, May 31

Saturday, June 6
Sunday, June 7

Saturday, June 13
Sunday, June 14

All performances begin at 4pm.
The amphitheater will open at 3pm for picnicking.

LOCATION
John Hinkel Park Amphitheatre
41 Somerset Place
Berkeley, CA