The famous quest of Don Quixote is being reimagined with masks, magic and mayhem in an Arts Club Theatre production.

The Arts Club, in collaboration with Axis Theatre Company, is bringing Don Quixote to the stage at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts on Jan. 12 and 13.

The play, by Colin Heath and Peter Anderson, explores the comical and philosophical world of Don Quixote, a retired country gentleman who has become obsessed with ancient books of knighthood and chivalry. Inspired by his readings, he sets out on a quest to defend the helpless and destroy the wicked, alongside his faithful squire, Sancho Panza.

Anderson stars as Don Quixote, with Michel Perron as Sancho Panza.

The play is adapted from Miguel de Cervantes' classic novel, published in two volumes in 1605 and 1615, which emerged as the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age.

This envisioning of the novel includes masks by Melody Anderson and a literary-themed set by David Roberts that takes the audience from Don Quixote's candlelit library to a field of hostile windmills to the castle of a duke.

Anderson says the tragic-comic hero has enduring appeal.

"Throwing himself totally into the realm of his imagination, our hero dons the mask of a medieval knight like the ones in his beloved books," he said. "But the paradox of masks is that even as they hide our everyday appearance, they simultaneously reveal a greater truth."

The production also stars Sasa Brown, Marco Soriano, Raphael Kepinski, Beatrice Zeilinger and Allan Zinyk.

The Burnaby production is part of a Lower Mainland tour that also includes performances in North Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Surrey, Mission, Coquitlam and West Vancouver.

"I'm thrilled to be bringing this inventive adaptation of the classic to communities across the Lower Mainland," said Bill Millerd, artistic managing director of the Arts Club.

For more details, check out the website at www.artsclub.com.