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As the summer festival season starts to wrap up, we have thoroughly enjoyed this year’s productions of Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear, Richard II, Rent and Spamalot (extended to Nov. 12). If you are wondering still playing at The Stratford Festival and whether there are still good tickets to get, you can have a look at this summary of What’s on at Stratford in 2023. The season concludes at the end of October and there are plenty of promotions to encourage you to see the best live theatre experience in the country.
I’m happy to give you a sneak peek at the 2024 playbill proposed by Artistic Director, Antoni Cimolino. Stratford Festival’s 2024 season, a collection of 12 productions, together with more than 150 events at the Meighen Forum, reflecting on the idea of “A World Elsewhere.”
“What unites the plays for next season is a journey away from the known, a journey away from the comfortable towards something that – while it’s an immense challenge – often brings us to a much better place.”
Antoni Cimolino. Photo by Ted Belton, Stratford Festival.Antoni Cimolino, Artistic Director, The Stratford Festival
The season will feature three Shakespeare plays, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night and Cymbeline, along with the early Victorian comedy London Assurance by Dion Boucicault, the Ibsen masterpiece Hedda Gabler; the North American première of Wendy and Peter Pan, an adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s classic children’s book, by Ella Hickson; and Edward Albee’s 21st-century classic The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?
Two musicals will be presented. The Festival Theatre will be home to the hilarious musical comedy Something Rotten!, with book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell and music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick. At the Avon Theatre, it’s the Tony Award-winning La Cage aux Folles, with book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman.
The season will also feature three world premières: Salesman in China by Leanna Brodie and Jovanni Sy; a new adaptation of Margaret Laurence’s classic The Diviners by Vern Thiessen with Yvette Nolan; and Get That Hope by Andrea Scott.
The Playbill Stratford Festival Photo Credit: DownshiftingPRO
What’s Playing at the Stratford Festival in 2024
FESTIVAL THEATRE
Festival Theatre Photo Credit: Richard Bain, Stratford Festival.
Twelfth NightBy William Shakespeare
Directed by Seana McKenna
A shipwreck steals Viola’s twin brother from her and lands her in a foreign country. Seeking safety and income, she disguises herself as a young man, Cesario, and gains employment with the lovesick Count Orsino, who is pining for his beloved Olivia, deep in mourning for her own brother. Desperate to win Olivia’s love, Orsino sends Cesario to court her in his stead. But love is found in unexpected places in this rollicking romance of mistaken identity.
Of Note: Making her Stratford directorial debut with this production is Seana McKenna, who has played both Viola and Olivia, along with the rest of Shakespeare’s leading ladies in a storied career. At Stratford alone she has played almost 60 leading roles, including the leading role of Rose Ouimet in this season’s Les Belles-Soeurs.
Something Rotten!
Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell Music and Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick Directed by Donna Feore
Brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are playwrights toiling away in the shadow of the great William Shakespeare. Desperate for a hit, Nick visits a soothsayer who predicts that the next great thing in theatre will be something called “a musical.” Wary but trusting, the brothers set off to create a new theatrical genre – only to find Shakespeare wants in on the act. Featuring songs like “God, I Hate Shakespeare”, “Will Power” and “Hard to Be the Bard”, the Tony Award-winning musical Something Rotten! is perfect for the Stratford stage and for all audiences, whether they know and love Shakespeare or are just jumping on the bandwagon now.
Romeo and JulietBy William Shakespeare
Directed by Sam White
An age-old feud precludes the passionate love Romeo and Juliet feel for each other, but its fervour cannot be quelled. Blinded by hatred, Juliet’s father makes a fateful decision that prompts the lovers to rebel in a manner that will lead to the destruction of both families.
London Assurance
By Dion Boucicault Directed by Antoni Cimolino
This delightful comedy follows the aging Sir Harcourt as he travels to the country estate of Oak Hall, where he intends to marry Grace, the 18-year-old niece of his old chum Max. He leaves his studious son, Charles, at home, not realizing Charles is in fact a riotous man-about-town. Charles meantime assumes a disguise in order to follow his father to Oak Hall and pursue Grace himself. Laughter ensues as Sir Harcourt finds titillation in the married Lady Gay Spanker, who is clearing the way for Charles to woo Grace.
AVON THEATRE
Studio Theatre Photo Credit: Erin Samuell, Stratford Festival.
La Cage aux Folles
Book by Harvey Fierstein Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman Based on the play by Jean Poiret Directed by Thom Allison Choreographed by Cameron Carver
Jean-Michel and Anne are deeply in love and about to get married. The only problem is their parents. Anne’s father is a politician and head of the Tradition, Family and Morality Party. Jean-Michel was raised by his two fathers, Georges, a nightclub owner, and Albin, a drag performer. Before the wedding occurs the two couples must be introduced. The orchestration of that meeting makes for hilarious theatre with a touching and emotional conclusion. Winner of 11 Tony Awards and two Oliviers, La Cage aux Folles was also adapted into a hugely successful movie, The Bird Cage, starring Nathan Lane and Robin Williams.
SCHULICH CHILDREN’S PLAYS
Wendy and Peter Pan
Adapted by Ella Hickson From the book by J.M. Barrie Directed by Thomas Morgan Jones Choreographed by Jera Wolf
North American Première
This imaginative re-telling of J.M. Barrie’s classic family tale looks at the story of the lost boys through the eyes of Wendy, making sense of Neverland in a way you’ve never seen before. Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, it opened to rave reviews and now the Stratford Festival has secured the rights to the North American première.
Salesman in China
By Leanna Brodie and Jovanni Sy Suggested by the memoirs of Arthur Miller and Ying Ruocheng Chinese translations by Fang Zhang A Stratford Festival/Banff Centre Co-Commission Directed by Jovanni Sy
World Première
In 1983 Arthur Miller travels to China to collaborate with another giant of the theatre, actor and translator Ying Ruocheng. Their vision is to mount a Mandarin version of Death of a Salesman with Ying in the iconic role of Willy Loman and Miller directing (despite not speaking a word of Chinese). They soon confront the challenges of staging a play about the American Dream in the heart of Communist China. Against enormous obstacles and with the world watching, Ying and Miller must discover whether art can indeed build bridges between two seemingly irreconcilable cultures.
Tom Patterson Theatre Photo Credit: Photography Ann Baggley, Stratford Festival
TOM PATTERSON THEATRE
CymbelineBy William Shakespeare
Directed by Esther Jun
Imogen, daughter of the monarch Cymbeline, has married against her parent’s wishes, but this is only the beginning of her woes. When her husband is tricked by the villainous Iachimo into believing her unfaithful, Imogen embarks on a daring adventure to clear her name. In the process she finds herself and a new family, which helps pull back a world on the brink of war.
Hedda Gabler
By Henrik Ibsen A new version by Patrick Marber From a literal translation by Karin and Ann Bamborough Directed by Molly Atkinson
In Hedda Gabler, Henrik Ibsen created one of the most fascinating heroines of the stage. Newly married to a man she finds uninteresting, Hedda becomes reacquainted with an old friend, a historian like her husband, with a fatal flaw that Hedda exploits out of jealousy. Ibsen, thought to be the father of modern drama, brings all of his skill to the character of Hedda, building an intricate psychological portrait of a woman out of step with her surroundings.
The Diviners
Based on the novel by Margaret Laurence Text by Vern Thiessen with Yvette Nolan Directed by Krista Jackson with Geneviève Pelletier
World Première
Considered a masterpiece of Canadian literature, Margaret Laurence’s The Diviners is the story of Morag Gunn, a woman who perseveres through every challenge life throws at her to become the person she was meant to be. Adapted by a team of some of Canada’s best theatre creators, The Diviners points us towards a path where we might reconcile with the injustices of our colonial past and achieve a collective peace.
STUDIO THEATRE
The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?
By Edward Albee Directed by Dean Gabourie
Martin is turning 50 and is at the top of his game. He has just become the youngest architect to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize. He has a perfect marriage and a loving son. But he can’t remember a damned thing! Probed by his best friend about his distraction, Martin makes a startling confession, one that will tear his life apart. Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, this drama was written by Edward Albee in 2000 and won the Tony Award for best play in 2002.
Get That Hope
By Andrea Scott Directed by André Sills
World Première
Daddy wants to win the lottery, Mommy’s still bitter about, well…everything, Simeon has war-related PTSD, and Rachel just wants to get out of her parents’ apartment and have a home of her own. It’s Jamaica’s Independence Day, sweltering, and everyone is on edge so, of course there’s a city-wide power outage. This new play by award-winning playwright and producer Andrea Scott, loosely inspired by Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night, looks at a dysfunctional Jamaican-Canadian family that has no idea how to communicate without wounding. But never forget, “sometimes you need a little bit of suffering to get that hope.”
Of Note: Making his Stratford directorial debut with this production is André Sills, a member of the acting company for nine seasons, this year playing Edgar in King Lear and Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing. Other key roles include the title role in Robert Lepage’s 2018 production of Coriolanus (2018)here at Stratford, and the lead role of BJJ in An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins at the Shaw Festival. In 2022 Sills directed another Jacobs-Jenkins play, Gloria, at Toronto’s Crow’s Theatre, earning a Dora Award nomination for Outstanding Direction.
What is playing at the Stratford 2024 season is a variety of plays and musicals that will not disappoint. There is still time to get tickets for plays in this fall and I encourage you to get tickets to Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear and Richard II they were all exceptional productions.
