From classrooms and theatres to everyday language and even Disney movies, Shakespeare is woven into the fabric of our culture—and much of that is thanks to the First Folio. The Very Book Indeed offers a fresh take on this pivotal moment in literary history. Running November 20–30 at UBC’s Frederic Wood Theatre, this engaging production invites audiences to step back in time and discover the story behind Shakespeare’s enduring legacy.

Set in 1621, seven years after the Bard’s death, The Very Book Indeed follows two determined actors as they struggle to compile and print the First Folio, the very first collection of Shakespeare’s plays. The play intertwines pinnacle scenes from Shakespearean classics, including As You Like It, Macbeth, and King Lear, with the fascinating and humourous behind-the-scenes challenges of preserving Shakespeare’s legacy.

Through clever dialogue and familiar Shakespearean references, Paul Budra’s work sheds light on the historical significance of the First Folio while celebrating the timelessness of Shakespeare’s masterpieces. Under the direction of Moya O’Connell, this production brings together a dynamic and talented cast of BFA actors, designers, and crew, blending humor, drama, and historical intrigue.

O’Connell notes, “The Very Book Indeed is about a book. THE book. The Complete Works of Shakespeare. But really, it’s a love letter to the theatre. To its precarious nature, its fickleness, its inner machinery, its commercial potential to make money and lose it, its ability to move and dazzle us: it’s about the humans who make it and the humans who love it.”

Adding to the excitement, the UBC Library actually houses an original First Folio. In celebration of this connection, a digital touch table interface of the First Folio, developed by Dr. Patrick Parra Pennefather and UBC’s Emerging Media Lab, will be available in the lobby for audiences to explore before the show and during intermission. This interactive feature offers a unique opportunity to engage with one of the most influential texts in literary history.