Stratford Shakespeare Festival: Summer Theater at its Best!
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, about an hour's drive west from
Toronto,
is Canada's premier summer theater spot, combining summer in the country with great performances from often internationally known stars.
The Festival theater is the festival's principal venue. It's unique design commemorates the idea of the original festival performances, back in 1953-56, which were were played out in a large tent. The festival began in 1952 through the efforts of Tom Patterson, a local journalist, with the first performances the following year under actor Tyrone Guthrie as its first Artistic Director. The very first performance opened in July 1953 with Alec Guinness in Richard III
Adding to the excellence of the shows, Stratford has a suitably small-town charm that encourages lazy strolls around the lake, picnicing on the lawns that border the lake, or window-shopping along streets that still include small stores.With so many visitors to entertain, Stratford has plenty of restaurants and bars so you have lots of choice. From the truly top-flight to the filling and cheerful, there's something for everyone. Accommodation too is plentiful, from big hotels down to intimate bed and breakfast places.
It's a credit to Stratford that it does look so good for it was once a light industrial city and a busy rail center and, on the edge of town, there are reminders of that not-so-distant past. They don't, however, intrude. The town is changing more gracefully than most from an industrial to a service economy.
Supporting that change in lifestyle are the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and the associated Stratford Music Festival. Attending either and strolling around the picturesque lake in the center of town is the ideal way to spend time, any time from late spring to fall, when these pictures were taken.
You may also want to visit our Niagara page, for information about the Shaw Festival that also runs throughout Ontario's summer and fall seasons.
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Stratford looks like one of those pretty country spots that movie makers love to set homely feel-good movies in. This is the town hall. It's red brick with white trim looks right out of Hollywood but it's real. In days gone by, people made even working buildings with an eye to beauty and the future.
