Shakespeare returns to TCU June 10 with the sixth annual Trinity Shakespeare Festival.

The festival will feature alternating performances of William Shakespeare’s first comedy, The Comedy of Errors, and his last play, The Tempest.

“It shows off the different aspects of Shakespeare’s life,” said Kyle Montgomery, senior musical theatre major and acting intern.

Last year’s festival featured The Taming of the Shrew and Julius Caesar.

The mission of artistic director T.J. Walsh is “to allow the stories of Shakespeare to play out on the stage with a joy in the story telling, a beauty in the execution and a respect for the tradition of Shakespeare’s enduring plays,” according to the festival’s website.

The plays will be performed at Ed Landreth Hall in the Jerita Foley Buschman Theatre. The preview for The Tempest is June 10 and the preview for The Comedy of Errors is June 11.

Opening night of The Tempest is Thursday while The Comedy of Errors opens Friday. After these shows, there will be a free Blue Mesa reception for audience members.

Company manager and senior English and anthropology major Bailey Betik said she expects big things for this year’s festival. Betik said this festival is a time to focus on Shakespeare and understand the impact he made on theatre.

“He made theatre matter,” Betik said. “Shakespeare revolutionized the English language so I think it is essential that we go back to those roots and the source of that innovation.”

“My favorite thing about [the festival] is working with the professional actors we bring in,” TCU graduate and acting intern Rashaun Sibley said. 

“Most of the cast consists of professional equity actors so acting with them and being on stage with them at the same time is one of the most glorifying experiences. This is the best summer job you can have.”

The festival runs from June 10 until June 29. Tickets for both shows can be purchased online or at TCU’s Box Office.