Stratford Festival

Antoni Cimolino as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (Stratford Festival, 1992). By William Shakespeare. Directed by Richard Monette. Designed by Debra Hanson. Lighting design by Harry Frehner. Sound design by Keith Handegord. Photograph by David Cooper.

He discovered his passion for Stratford as a teenager, and he is taking time to stay present as he walks the backstage halls he has known for almost forty years. As he puts it, “every corner of this building is welded to my soul in some way.”

Read in full here: www.stratfordtoday.ca/local-news/t...

Like Prospero and like Shakespeare, Antoni is preparing to lay down his staff with the 2026 playbill, which he says “provides opportunities for all of us as a team to really give it our best… to create something extraordinary.

What excites him most is The Tempest: “It was the last solely authored play that Shakespeare worked on. When you think about it as a summation of this incredible writer’s learning, his experience… It’s about a magician who calls his magic his art, and he’s leaving it behind.”

"It's great to see things coming together, and the artists we've brought together for this are extraordinary — I’m very proud of the company in this last season that I’ll be doing,” he shared. “I can’t wait to start rehearsals and start dropping in and seeing what the rehearsal hall yields.”

Antoni Cimolino at the first rehearsal for 2026's Guys and Dolls and Something Rotten! Photo: Ann Baggley.

The 2026 season is kicking off with a wave of firsts, but it's also filled with meaningful lasts for Antoni Cimolino as he begins his final year as Artistic Director.
Stratford Today sat down with him to reflect on 39 remarkable years at the Festival and on directing The Tempest.

Thread below 🧵

Photography by Scott Wishart.

Photography by Scott Wishart.

🍎 Happy International Day of Education!
A perfect reminder that learning never stops - and educators deserve opportunities to grow, recharge and be inspired. That's exactly what our Teacher Days are all about.

Save with our early bird rate when you book before February 10: https://ow.ly/VheG50Y1ZWU

The Winter's Tale - STRATFEST@HOME “The Festival’s best show of 2025” (The New York Post) Blinded by jealousy, King Leontes falsely accuses his pregnant wife of infidelity, setting into motion a series of catastrophes that will destro...

Experience "the festival’s best show of 2025" (The New York Post) from the comfort of home and subscribe to Stratfest@Home today: www.stratfestathome.ca/the-winter-s...

What to watch this weekend: Before Heated Rivalry, François Arnaud scored in this steamy series Plus: Docs about bobsleigh and Greenland

The Winter's Tale, now streaming on Stratfest@Home, is in The Globe and Mail's list of what to watch this weekend!

Having seen it on stage last summer, theatre turned television critic J. Kelly Nestruck says "the whole cast is incredible - and I wept throughout the final scene".

It's a full house in Saturday, Sunday, Monday!
Tears, laughter and good food fuel this heartfelt story of family, conflict and reconciliation.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday opens at the Avon Theatre on August 22, with previews starting August 4: https://ow.ly/g2Af50Y1s0z

#SFSatSunMon #SF2026 #Stratfest

From left: Katarina Fiallos, Gordon S. Miller, Emilio Vieira, Rose Napoli, Graham Abbey, Seana McKenna, Josue Laboucane and Michelle Giroux. Photography by Dariane Sanche.

Rose Napoli and Graham Abbey. Photography by Dariane Sanche.

🍝 Saturday, Sunday, Monday – a family meal serves many surprises!
Antoni Cimolino couldn't be more excited to direct his fourth production by the Italian playwright, Eduardo De Filippo.

Book now to enjoy our early bird rate (ends Feb. 10): https://ow.ly/s0PG50Y1mMX

#SFSatSunMon #SF2026 #Stratfest

The King James Bible Play peels back the layers of a monumental translation.

This bold, captivating look at adaptation and authorship makes its world premiere this season. Book your tickets early to save 30% (ends February 10): https://ow.ly/ocA350Y0WKf

#SFKingJames #SF2026 #StratfordFestival

Cyrus Lane and Deborah Hay. Photography by Dariane Sanche.

Cyrus Lane and Deborah Hay. Photography by Dariane Sanche.

A sacred story gets a secular reckoning.
The King James Bible Play, a gripping and funny new work by Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman, digs into translation in all its forms.

Book now to enjoy 30% off tickets (ends February 10): https://ow.ly/5eb850Y0UW7

#SFKingJames #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest

From left: Karthik Kadam, Agnes Tong and Nestor Lozano Jr. Photography by Dariane Sanche.

From left: Manami Hara, Karthik Kadam, Agnes Tong and Nestor Lozano Jr. Photography by Dariane Sanche.

From left: Manami Hara, Karthik Kadam, Agnes Tong and Nestor Lozano Jr. Photography by Dariane Sanche.

It's the way of the world – with a wickedly funny twist! 🍸
Diving into the glittering, back‑stabbing world of Singapore’s elite, the razor‑sharp comedy The Tao of the World delivers a scandalous world premiere.

Book now to save 30% on tickets (ends Feb 10): https://ow.ly/BCwU50Y0fwv

#SFTao #SF2026

Winners Announced For The 2025 BroadwayWorld Toronto Awards Winners have been announced for the 2025 BroadwayWorld Toronto Awards! The 2025 Regional Awards honor regional productions, touring shows, and more which had their first performance between October 1,...

See the full list of winners: www.broadwayworld.com/toronto/arti...

#SFGreenGables #BroadwayWorldToronto #CanadianTheatre #TheatreAwards

Jordin Hall, Caroline Toal and Steven Hao in Anne of Green Gables. Photography by David Hou. Anne of Green Gables Playwright, Director: Kat Sandler Book: Lucy Maud Montgomery Set and Costume Designer: Joanna Yu Lighting Designer: Davida Tkach Composer: James Smith Sound Designer: Debashis Sinha

Caroline Toal in Anne of Green Gables. Photography by David Hou. Anne of Green Gables Playwright, Director: Kat Sandler Book: Lucy Maud Montgomery Set and Costume Designer: Joanna Yu Lighting Designer: Davida Tkach Composer: James Smith Sound Designer: Debashis Sinha

Tim Campbell in Anne of Green Gables. Photography by David Hou. Anne of Green Gables Playwright, Director: Kat Sandler Book: Lucy Maud Montgomery Set and Costume Designer: Joanna Yu Lighting Designer: Davida Tkach Composer: James Smith Sound Designer: Debashis Sinha

🏆 Kat Sandler — Best Direction of a Play (Professional)
🏆 Caroline Toal (Anne Shirley) — Best Performer in a Play (Professional)
🏆 Tim Campbell (Matthew Cuthbert) — Best Supporting Performer in a Play (Professional)

Members of the company in Anne of Green Gables. Photography by David Hou. Anne of Green Gables Playwright, Director: Kat Sandler Book: Lucy Maud Montgomery Set and Costume Designer: Joanna Yu Lighting Designer: Davida Tkach Composer: James Smith Sound Designer: Debashis Sinha

Caroline Toal and Julie Lumsden with members of the company in Anne of Green Gables. Photography by David Hou. Anne of Green Gables Playwright, Director: Kat Sandler Book: Lucy Maud Montgomery Set and Costume Designer: Joanna Yu Lighting Designer: Davida Tkach Composer: James Smith Sound Designer: Debashis Sinha

🏆 Best New Play or Musical (Professional)
🏆 Best Play (Professional)
🏆 Best Theatre for Young Audiences Production (Professional)

Caroline Toal in Anne of Green Gables. Photography by David Hou. Anne of Green Gables Playwright, Director: Kat Sandler Book: Lucy Maud Montgomery Set and Costume Designer: Joanna Yu Lighting Designer: Davida Tkach Composer: James Smith Sound Designer: Debashis Sinha

Anne of Green Gables swept the 2025 BroadwayWorld Toronto Awards!
Last season's adaptation of L.M. Montgomery's Canadian classic took home six awards, a testament to how this production captivated audiences and critics alike. Congratulations to everyone who brought this show to life!

Glad to hear that Stratford is a nice retreat for you! Hope you have a good visit this season 😊

A single lie becomes poison to Othello.
Watch as trust corrodes, certainty buckles and a brilliant life is dragged into ruin by deception's quiet hand in Shakespeare's gripping tragedy: https://ow.ly/Ygke50XZFOG

#SFOthello #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest

André Sills and Krystin Pellerin.

From left: André Sills, Krystin Pellerin and Evan Buliung.

Every mind has a breaking point.
Othello, Shakespeare's chilling exploration of jealousy, manipulation and destruction, opens at the Tom Patterson Theatre on June 19 with previews beginning May 22: https://ow.ly/5hjS50XYgGm

📷 Photos by Dariane Sanche.

#SFOthello #SF2026 #StratfordFestival

Magic and mischief by moonlight. ✨
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare's most playful comedy, sparkles with romance and chaos.

Book your tickets now save 30% with our early bird rate (ends February 10): https://ow.ly/NngM50XYgoP

#SFDream #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest

From left: Mike Nadajewski, Michael Spencer-Davis, Sara Topham and André Sills.

Michael Spencer-Davis.

Sara Topham and André Sills.

From left: Mike Nadajewski, Michael Spencer-Davis, Sara Topham and André Sills.

This is what dreams are made of. ✨
Romance runs wild in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare's magical comedy of mismatched lovers and moonlit mischief.

Come see what unfolds before dawn breaks: https://ow.ly/mqF350XYbIO

📷 Photos by Dariane Sanche.

#SFDream #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest

Adventure awaits with The Hobbit.
Follow Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf as they plunge into an epic quest, complete with dwarves, trolls, elves, goblins and one truly fearsome dragon.

Book before February 10 to save 30% on tickets: https://ow.ly/RK0K50XYe0q

#SFHobbit #SF2026 #StratfordFestival

Richard Lee and Tim Campbell.

Richard Lee.

Richard Lee.

Richard Lee and Tim Campbell.

Set off on a magnificent journey with The Hobbit, as J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary story comes alive on stage and brings Middle-earth to the Festival for the very first time.

Save 30% on tickets until Feb. 10: https://ow.ly/yzgj50XY2Wr

📷 Photos by Dariane Sanche.

#SFHobbit #SF2026 #StratfordFestival

The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde’s refreshing classic, pokes fun at society’s silliest expectations and celebrates the joy of living with a truly earnest heart.

Enjoy 30% off tickets when you book by February 10: https://ow.ly/Gg5750XXtqQ

#SFEarnest #SF2026 #StratfordFestival

From top left: Marissa Orjalo, Christopher Allen, Joe Perry, Fiona Reid and Allison Lynch.

From left: Christopher Allen, Marissa Orjalo, Allison Lynch and Joe Perry.

Bursting to life before our eyes is The Importance of Being Earnest. 🌼
Oscar Wilde’s sparkling comedy opens at the Avon Theatre on June 18, with previews from May 19.

Snag your tickets before February 10 to save 30% : https://ow.ly/9HHG50XXfwP

📷 Photos: Dariane Sanche.

#SFEarnest #SF2026

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is a classic that demands to be seen and this is a rare chance to see it performed by two legendary Festival actors.

Save 30% when you book by February 10: https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/WhatsOn/PlaysAndEvents/Production/Death-of-a-Salesman

#SFSalesman #SF2026

Lucy Peacock and Tom McCamus.

Tom McCamus.

The quiet melancholy of faded dreams lingers in these images for Arthur Miller's timeless tragedy, Death of a Salesman. Book before February 10 to save 30%: https://ow.ly/WLGp50XWN7T

📷 Photography by Dariane Sanche.

#SFSalesman #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest

Shakespeare is back and he’s more outrageous than ever in Something Rotten!
Missed it the first time, or itching for an encore? Grab your seats early and save 30% before the early‑bird rate ends February 10: https://ow.ly/Sx2o50XWkZ2

Get ready to laugh your ruffs off.

#SFRotten #SF2026 #Stratfest

From left: Henry Firmston, Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane, Dan Chameroy, Jeff Lillico, Mark Uhre and Starr Domingue.

From top: Dan Chameroy, Jeff Lillico, Henry Firmston and Mark Uhre.

Something Rotten! this way comes...
The smash hit musical that gleefully skewers Shakespeare and Broadway makes its triumphant return! Gear up for "a sitcom's supply of belly laughs" (New York Post) and book by Feb. 10 to save: https://ow.ly/rxGK50XWkW3

📷 Photos: Dariane Sanche.

#SFRotten #SF2026