St. Louis Shakespeare ends 41-year run with 'Twelfth Night.' Founder calls closure 'bittersweet'

St. Louis Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” which opens Oct. 2, will be the company’s last show after 41 years.

Donna Northcott, who founded the company in 1984, says the reason she’s shutting it down is simple. “I’m 41 years older than I was when I started the company.”

Despite predating St. Louis Shakespeare Festival (which recently turned 25), the smaller St. Louis Shakespeare has definitely been overshadowed by the festival, which presents the free Shakespeare play in Forest Park each summer, does the touring production to area parks, and created the original show “Romeo and Zooliet” that had its premiere this year. (The festival is not shutting down.)

“We don’t have anywhere near the funding that something like the festival in the park does,” Northcott says. “Everyone working with us