Previews began June 23 at Stratford's intimate thrust space of the Tom Patterson Theatre. Performances continue in rep to Sept. 24.

Here's how Stratford bills the violent classic: "Victorious in his wars against the Goths, Roman general Titus Andronicus brings home as his captives Queen Tamora, her lover Aaron, and her three sons. Ignoring Tamora's pleas, Titus hands over her eldest son for sacrifice — thus setting in motion a relentless cycle of revenge as horrific as it is grotesque. The most shocking play in Shakespeare's canon — an extraordinary fusion of the savage and the sublime."

The cast includes 
David
Ferry
as Marcus
Andronicus,
Dion
Johnstone
as Aaron, Claire
Lautier
as Tamora, 
Amanda
Lisman
as Lavinia,
Sean
Arbuckle
as Saturninus,
Paul
Fauteux
as Lucius, Bruce
Godfree
as Demetrius, Roberta
Maxwell
as Nurse, Brendan
Murray
as Chiron, Skye
Brandon
as Bassianus, Josh
Epstein
as Quintus, Cyrus
Lane
as Mutius, E.B.
Smith
as Alarbus, Michael
Spencer-Davis
as Clown,
Dylan
Trowbridge
as Martius, plus Wayne Best, David
Collins, Carmen
Grant and
Ashleigh
Hendry, Talen
de St. Croix and 
Christian
Palte.

For tickets and information, visit stratford festival.ca or call (800) 567-1600.