The New Mexico Shakespeare Festival Presents a Bold New Staging of

Coriolanus

October 10–26 at North 4th Arts Center

For the first time ever, The New Mexico Shakespeare Festival will return this fall with a gripping new production of William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. This rarely performed political tragedy comes to life in an urgent, ensemble-driven staging directed by Quinn Mander, running October 10–26 at the North 4th Arts Center (4904 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107).

From the Artistic Director:

One of my goals as Artistic Director is growth. As the Festival continues to evolve, we’re beginning to expand our programming and build awareness as we move toward becoming a year-round producing company. It’s important to me that we keep bringing high-quality, professional Shakespeare to the people of Albuquerque and beyond — while also telling bold, relevant stories that speak to our audiences today.

We’re incredibly excited to have Coriolanus mark our first step into this new frontier. In uncertain times, we can always turn to the power of Shakespeare and the magic of theatre for both comfort and transformation. The New Mexico Shakespeare Festival is committed to honoring that idea, and we’re taking real steps toward lasting growth and stability.

This next chapter includes more consistent engagement throughout the year — not just in the summer. We’re moving from two summer shows to a season that includes fall productions, staged readings, and expanded educational programming. Through it all, our mission remains the same: to bring exceptional works of Shakespeare to New Mexicans and to ensure our audiences continue to experience the very best of what theatre can offer.

I am excited by artists who are passionate about the work and have unique creative visions that highlight Shakespeare’s text while bringing dynamic and impactful messaging to audiences. Quinn and Coriolanus stuck with me, and I’m sure it will with you as well. I look forward to seeing you all in the theatre for the first time indoors in the fall.

About the Show:

Shakespeare’s Coriolanus tells the story of a brilliant Roman general whose rise to power is as swift as his fall—undone by pride, rage, and an unrelenting clash between personal integrity and public expectation. Set in a volatile world where alliances shift and loyalty is fragile, this production challenges audiences to confront the cost of glory and the danger of unchecked ambition

Beneath the violence and betrayal lie deeper questions of character, the consequences of the paths we choose, and the internal contradictions that influence those choices. It asks us how honor is different that glory, and if we truly find honor in victory, no matter how brutally achieved, or if sacrifice reveals the true hero we can become. Above all, the play explores the relationships and experiences that have shaped who we are and asks what kind of person we must become to build the world we want to leave behind.

The staging of this production will be dynamic and anything but conventional. The cast uses sticks, poles, and built-in set pieces to create a live soundscape that turns the stage into a living, rhythmic instrument. The result is a performance that is physical, immediate, and alive with energy. Each actor crafts a unique percussive language, blending sound and speech to heighten the urgency and emotional stakes of every scene.

Language here is not decorative—it’s a matter of survival. Shakespeare’s words are wielded as weapons, confessions, and cries for connection, all rooted in raw human need.

The production promises a visceral theatrical experience—actors fully present, physically alive, and emotionally fearless. This Coriolanus isn’t a museum piece. It’s a mirror held up to a fractured world, pulsing with rebellion, power, and the timeless question: what does it mean to lead?

Performance Details:
October 10–26
North 4th Arts Center | 4904 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107 Tickets: $25

The New Mexico Shakespeare Festival continues its mission to present bold, thought-provoking Shakespeare that connects our community through powerful storytelling. Join us for Coriolanus—a production that challenges, ignites, and resonates with the world we live in today.