The Festival Theatre is the building that put Stratford on the map. The Stratford Festival began in 1953 in a tent beside the Avon River, and the company now plays in a Modernist theatre on the same site at 55 Queen Street, with a thrust stage that pushes into the audience and 1,833 seats arranged around it. It is the largest of the Festival's four stages and the home of the big musicals and the headline Shakespeare. The Festival announces its playbill each year, and this stage usually hosts a big musical and a headline Shakespeare in a season that runs from late April to the end of October or early November. Almost every seat is close to the actors, which gives even a large musical a surprising intimacy. The theatre sits in parkland by the river, with Upper Queen's Park above it and the Shakespearean Gardens nearby, so a visit to a matinee is as much a day out as an evening show.
What to do
The point of a visit is a performance, and the Festival Theatre is the stage to choose for a first Stratford show. Pick a production from the season brochure, arrive early enough to walk the riverside paths and see the swans on the water, and take a seat on the thrust stage's wide curve, where no spot is far from the action. Outside performances, the Festival runs backstage, costume and set-changeover tours on set dates in season, which are worth booking if you like to see how a big production is made.
Seasons and planning
The season runs roughly from late April to the end of October, with some shows continuing into early November, and the theatre is dark outside those months. The Festival announces each year's playbill and puts tickets on sale ahead of the season, with members getting earlier access, so check its site for the current plays, dates and sale times. Book the weekends and the musicals first, since they sell out. Tickets are sent by email and scanned at the door.
Fitting it in
Allow three hours for a matinee including the walk and a meal, or an evening for a night show. Parking at the theatre is a paid lot on Queen Street, with a lower price if you pre-book it with your tickets, and limited free parking along Richard Monette Way and the river.
Most visitors who stay downtown walk to the theatre in 10 to 20 minutes. A coach service runs from Toronto in season for visitors without a car, and the Avon and Tom Patterson theatres are a short walk away for a second show in the same visit.
What to expect
The experience
A live performance on a 1,833-seat thrust stage, with the audience wrapped around three sides of the actors.
Best time
The season runs roughly from late April to the end of October, with some shows into early November; the theatre is closed outside those months, and tickets go on sale ahead of the season.
How long
Allow three hours for a matinee or evening show, with extra time for the riverside walk before it.
Tips
Book weekend and musical performances first, pre-book the Queen Street parking with your tickets for a lower price, and arrive early to walk beside the river.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time Stratford visitors who want the full Festival experience, from a big musical to a headline Shakespeare.
- Families
- Choose a musical and a matinee, since the stage brings the audience close to the action and holds children's attention.
- Couples
- Book an evening show, then walk the riverside to a late dinner downtown.
- Pair with
- The Avon Theatre, the Shakespearean Gardens and the Avon River walk fit into the same day.
- Time needed
- About three hours for a show, plus time for parking or the walk from downtown.
Good questions
Is the Festival Theatre open in November?+
Generally no. The season runs roughly from late April to the end of October, with some shows into early November, so the theatre is usually dark for the rest of the year.
When does the Stratford Festival season run?+
The season runs roughly from April to the end of October, with some productions continuing into early November.
What plays at the Festival Theatre?+
The Festival announces each season's playbill, and this stage usually has a big musical and a headline Shakespeare. Check the Festival's site for the current plays, dates and ticket sales.
How big is the Festival Theatre?+
It has 1,833 seats on a thrust stage, which means the audience sits on three sides. It is the largest of the Festival's four theatres.
Where do I park for the Festival Theatre?+
There is a paid lot on lower Queen Street, cheaper if you pre-book it with tickets, and limited free parking along Richard Monette Way and the river. Many visitors walk from downtown hotels instead.
