Shakespeare Meets the Undead: Zomblet Rises at Theatre Antigonish

“Something Rotten This Way Comes…”

Antigonish, NS – Theatre Antigonish is leaning into the supernatural again this fall, keeping with another year of eerie Autumn programming. Last year’s Hector the Spectre Steals the Show introduced audiences to the Bauer’s in-house theatre ghost. This year, they answered the call of StFX faculty and students who have been urging for Shakespeare—though with a twist that meets today’s audiences for today’s world: modern, eerie, and a little apocalyptic.

Enter Zomblet—a gory and hilarious mash-up of Hamlet and zombie horror, written and directed by award-winning Nova Scotian playwright Dan Bray. The production runs October 28 – November 2, 2025, with open community auditions scheduled for September 9 & 10.

In Zomblet, Hamlet’s zombified father rises from the grave, unleashing chaos across Elsinore. The prince and his companions must confront not only the weight of revenge and madness but an outbreak of the walking dead. “One of the most engaging, entertaining, and inventive theatrical experiences I’ve had in years,” wrote Amanda Campbell of The Way I See It Theatre Blog when reviewing a previous production. It’s a world where Elizabethan tragedy collides with campy horror tropes—full of sword fights, supernatural gore, and laugh-out-loud theatricality.

First developed by The Villains Theatre in Halifax, Zomblet earned a Robert Merritt Award nomination for Outstanding New Script by a Nova Scotian Playwright. Critics have called Bray’s style “irreverent, funny, and far cleverer than it has any right to be… Zomblet adds up to a fun night out this spooky season” (TWISI Theatre Blog). Others liken his work to Shaun of the Dead colliding with Elizabethan drama—blending clever parody with plenty of physical comedy, horror, and big laughs.

Theatre Antigonish Artistic Director Andrea Boyd said the production couldn’t be a better fit for fall: “We’ve always loved presenting works that spark imagination and bring the community together. Zomblet is the perfect blend of classical theatre, irreverence, and Halloween spirit. It’s Shakespeare as our students and community have never seen him before.”

Playwright and director Dan Bray agrees: “What excites me most is working directly with local actors to bring this strange, funny, and bloody play to life. Zomblet thrives on collaboration and playfulness—it’s about taking the bones of Shakespeare and infecting them with modern horror to create something unforgettable.”

Auditions are open to all ages and all members of the community—StFX students, faculty, staff, and local residents alike. No previous experience is required; newcomers and seasoned performers are equally welcome.

Caleb Marshall
Managing Director, Theatre Antigonish
caleb@festivalantigonish.ca | 236 464 2253

Dan Bray is an award-winning playwright, director, and the founding Artistic Director of The Villains Theatre, a Halifax-based company specializing in bold re-imaginings of classical texts. Known for his dark wit and genre-bending theatrical style, Bray has been nominated for multiple Robert Merritt Awards, winning in 2022 for Outstanding Adaptation by a Nova Scotian Playwright (Hänsel und Gretel in: der Garten von Edible Horrors).

His work frequently collides classical literature with unexpected genres, from horror-comedy (Zomblet) to surreal cabaret, and has been produced across Nova Scotia and nationally. Most recently with Theatre Antigonish, he directed Faithful Johannes in Grimm Tales and stepped into the role of Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express.

Bray is also a performer, dramaturg, and educator, committed to making theatre that is playful, inclusive, and alive with both tradition and innovation.

Theatre Antigonish has been at the heart of Antigonish’s cultural life for over 50 years. Founded in 1974 and based at St. Francis Xavier University, the company has evolved from a small community troupe into a dynamic hybrid of professional and community theatre.

TA is known for presenting bold programming that entertains, challenges, and connects audiences. Productions often highlight local stories, diverse perspectives, and innovative approaches to the classics. Recent work has included Hector the Spectre Steals the Show, which playfully explored the Bauer Theatre’s own ghost, and collaborations with Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre.

With deep ties to both the university and the town, TA provides opportunities for students, faculty, and community members to perform, learn, and connect.