A first-year film student got a unique experience this semester, filming a performance at the Stratford Festival under the guidance of professor Mike Stasko for Suede Productions.

“I am so grateful to have gotten a chance to film with some of the best performers in Canada,” says Jett Shields, who operated a camera during filming of Cymbeline for the digital streaming platform StratFest@Home.

William Shakespeare’s play fuses romance, comedy and tragedy. The feature will premiere on Thursday, Dec. 19.

“The partnership between Suede and the Stratford Theatre is one of the top creative activities I can imagine taking on,” says Stasko. “Jett’s growth and artistic talents are on pace to rival any student I’ve had thus far, so he was a natural choice to bring on board for this gig.”

Shields describes the experience as “mind-blowing.”

“Operating a camera for over three hours was tough, but seeing the footage later on made it feel so rewarding,” he says. “It was an incredible learning experience.”

That sentiment is one Stasko shares: “It’s really rewarding seeing students getting meaningful experiential learning opportunities that they can bring back to the classroom.”

Stratfest@Home is available on all major streaming platforms and smart devices with a growing library of filmed performances and original programming from the Stratford Festival and theatres across the country.