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Are you wondering what is playing at the Stratford Festival in 2022? Stratford is back and it’s better than ever. After a two-year hiatus from performances inside the theatres, we are being welcomed back with open arms and a playbill with something for everyone. As we warm up for more performances in drama, comedy, and musicals, The Stratford Festival has much to celebrate on stage with several milestones: the 70th season, the 20th anniversary of the Studio Theatre, the 10th season of The Meighen Forum, and the grand opening of the beautiful new Tom Patterson Theatre.
The 2022 Stratford Festival season will run from April 6 to October 30, 2022, across all of the Festival’s four indoor theatres and will include more than 120 events in the Meighen Forum. You have a choice of author visits (Tomson Highway, Salmon Rushdie, Bev Sellar), politicians, activists, lawmakers, and the occasional controversial lawyer.
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The Meighen Forum is also an opportunity to take workshops, attend lobby talks and forums that will help you better understand the stage productions being offered in 2022. If you wonder what is playing at the Stratford Festival and how to make sense of each production, don’t miss this particular part of the Stratford Festival experience.
There is the added excitement of seeing the new build – The Tom Patterson Theatre – all shiny and bright. You can take a 45-minute guided tour every Friday and Sunday morning. If it doesn’t suit your schedule, you can always take this virtual tour with Creative Director Antoni Cimolino and Architect Siamak Hariri. Plan to sit on the terrace and watch the river meader by and maybe, just maybe you will see some of the famous Stratford swans paddle by.
What is playing at the Stratford Festival in Canada?
All the plays and performances by the actors, singers, and dancers can be divided into four categories: Shakespeare, musical, family, and modern. There are plays that will have their world premieres and those classics that are returning.
Richard III was the first Shakespeare play starring Sir Alec Guinness in 1953. To commemorate, a replica of the original coronation robe will be on display at the Tom Patterson Theatre.
SHAKESPEARE:
Richard III
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
May 10 to October 30 | Opens Saturday, June 4
Tom Patterson Theatre
Cast: Colm Feore (centre), Lucy Peacock, André Sills – Photography by David Hou
Canadian stage and screen legend Colm Feore returns to the Ontario theatre in Ricard III. I’m also a big fan of André Sills who did a killer job a few years ago as the lead of Coriolanus.
Hamlet
May 14 to October 28 | Opens Thursday, June 2
Directed by Peter Pasyk
Festival Theatre
Cast from left: Jordan Mah, Amaka Umeh, Graham Abbey –
Photography by David Hou
The play of a Danish prince, a ghost, and revenge. They say Hamlet is performed somewhere in the world every minute of every day. The Stratford Festival’s version will have the first black female lead as Hamlet. Set in modern-day with modern clothes, I look forward to this interpretation from director Peter Pasyk
All’s Well That Ends Well
Directed by Scott Wentworth
June 14 to October 29 | Opens Friday, July 8
Tom Patterson Theatre
Cast from left: Seana McKenna, Jessica B. Hill
Photography by David Hou
Helena saves the King. He promises the hand of his son. Which is rejected. It’s complicated …. then, it’s not.
MUSICAL:
Chicago
Based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins | Script adaptation by David Thompson
Directed and Choreographed by Donna Feore
April 6 to October 30 | Opens Friday, June 3
Festival Theatre
Cast from left: Sandra Caldwell, Chelsea Preston, Jennifer Rider-Shaw
Photography by David Hou
This arts and entertainment performance of Chicago will likely be an instant show hit as all of the musicals at the Stratford Festival are. From Guys and Dolls to Rocky Horror, Music Man to Crazy for you we have loved them all!
Little Women
Based on the novels Little Women and Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott
This is the world première of Jordi Mand’s new stage adaptation
Directed by Esther Jun
June 11 to October 29 | Opens Thursday, July 7
Avon Theatre
Cast: Allison Edwards Crewe
Photography by David Hou
A classic novel turned into a big-screen movie to a stage production, Little Women is bound to please all book lovers! Our book club has decided to see at least a few Stratford Festival 2022 plays this year.
MODERN:
Every Little Nookie
By Sunny Drake
Directed by Ted Witzel
June 18 to October 1 | Opens Saturday, July 9
Studio Theatre
Cast from left: Stephen Jackman-Torkoff, Marion Adler.
Photography by David Hou
Suburban parents come home and find their Millenial daughter hosting a swingers party. What could possibly go wrong?
Hamlet-911
By Ann-Marie MacDonald | Based on an idea developed by Alisa Palmer, Vita Brevis Arts
Directed by Alisa Palmer
July 28 to October 2 | Opens Thursday, August 25
Studio Theatre
Cast from left: Andrew Iles, Mike Shara, Gordon Patrick White
Photography by David Hou
Landing his dream role as Hamlet at Stratford, he suddenly finds himself in the underworld. Is he dreaming? Has he died? Where is this going? Find out.
1939
By Jani Lauzon and Kaitlyn Riordan
Directed by Jani Lauzon
August 23 to October 29 | Opens Sunday, September 11
Studio Theatre
Cast from left: Kathleen MacLean, Richard Comeau, Wahsontiio Kirby, Tara Sky.
Photography by David Hou
King George VI is coming to visit and an English teacher in a fictional residential school decides to put on All’s Well that Ends Well. The students decide to place their Indigenous spin on it. A suspect, this will be a very powerful performance. Well worth taking in Bev Sellar’s talk on Sept. 24th to understand where the inspiration for 1939 came from.
Death and the King’s Horseman
By Wole Soyinka
Directed by Tawiah M’Carthy
August 11 to October 29 | Opens Saturday, August 27
Tom Patterson Theatre
Cast from left: Maev Beaty, Akosua Amo-Adem
Photography by David Hou
A Nigerian king dies and his trusted horseman must follow him to the afterlife but tragedy ensues. Inspired by a real-life incident, this masterpiece from Nobel Prize winner Soyinka celebrates a community striving to uphold its culture in the face of colonial power.
COMEDY:
The Miser
By Molière | In a new version by Ranjit Bolt
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
August 9 to October 29 | Opens Friday, August 26
Festival Theatre
Cast from left: Colm Feore, Lucy Peacock, Qasim Khan
Photography by David Hou
It’s Molière. Starring Colm Feore and Lucy Peacock. That is all I need to say.
This year as a family we will be seeing a record 5 productions. The is a combination of family outings, date nights, girl’s night out, and book club. We look forward to seeing Chicago, Hamlet, Richard III, All’s Well that Ends Well, and Little Women. There is a stage production for everyone. I hope you will join us there.
Tickets for the Stratford Festival 2022 are now available. Stratford Festival ticket prices for 2022 vary. Take advantage of 2 for 1, corporate or ‘pay what you want’ discounts. Stalk their social media channels for last-minute discounts. For more information on the Stratford Festival, 2022 schedule contact the call centre at 1.800.567.1600 or visit stratfordfestival.ca.
Stratford Reviews
- What’s Playing at Stratford in 2023
- One of the Best Plays at Stratford this year: Much Ado About Nothing – 2023
- Watch past productions of Stratford Festival online – Stratford@Home – 2020
- Richard III – 2022
- Little Shop of Horrors – 2019
- To Kill a Mockingbird – 2018
- Twelfth Night – 2017
- Theatre Do’s and Don’ts – It’s Simple Etiquette: Leave your candies at home
Main image is courtesy of Stratford Festival Media – Festival Theatre – Photo: Richard Bain
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Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.