The Stratford Festival: The First 50 Years
The Story
The Stratford Festival grew from humble beginnings in a leaky tent into a revered institution. The drama festival has continued to attract actors, critics and theatre-goers from around the globe. Paradoxically, this almost proved to be its undoing. With international directors at the helm in the early years, frustrated Canadians sat on the sidelines. Financial problems almost shut the festival down. But the curtain would rise again on a new golden era.
Stratford Festival celebrates 50th anniversary
The Festival celebrates fifty golden years.
Timothy Findley on the Stratford Festival’s early days
Timothy Findley recalls the early days of the Stratford Festival.
Feore, Gross and Monette: three Canadian Hamlets
Canadian actors discuss the joys and intricacies of playing the complex character of Hamlet.
Stratford Festival accents
Actors describe the spectacle of language, dialects and accents.
Stratford Festival balancing the books
The Stratford Festival confronts a host of new financial issues in a crowded theatre scene.
A new generation: Colm Feore
Actor Colm Feore discusses his rise through the Stratford ranks.
Stratford celebrates 40 years
Tom Patterson celebrates Stratford's fortieth anniversary.
Stratford conquers Hollywood
The Stratford players take their show on the road.
Wherefore art thou Canadian directors?
The Canadian content debate erupts.
Remembering Tyrone Guthrie
Stratford mourns the loss of its founding artistic director.
Stratford Festival performs in Shakespeare’s homeland
Canadian actors travel to Chichester, England, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth.
William Hutt, king of the Canadian stage
Shakespearean roles were a specialty for William Hutt, one of Canada's most distinguished actors.
The one million mark at the Stratford Festival
One millionth theatre-goer attends Stratford Festival (no audio).
Stratford presents Romeo and Juliet
Julie Harris chats about the challenges and rewards of playing Juliet.
Stratford Festival: Apprentice actress Roberta Maxwell
Aspiring actress Roberta Maxwell talks about her ambitions and the Stratford training ground.
Christopher Plummer: Hop-a-long Hamlet
Canadian thespian Christopher Plummer takes up the challenge of performing Shakespeare at the Stratford Festival, with a broken foot no…
Stratford Festival founder Tyrone Guthrie on Front Page Challenge
Tyrone Guthrie attempts to stump the panel with his story as co-founder of the Stratford Festival in 1953.
Duke Ellington composes music for the Stratford Festival
Acclaimed jazz musician and composer Duke Ellington discusses his new album Such Sweet Thunder which he has composed for the…
Hume Cronyn on acting at Stratford
Hume Cronyn discusses the unique Stratford theatrical style.
Behind the scenes at the Stratford Festival
An intimate look backstage at the Stratford Festival.
Setting the stage at the Stratford Festival
The broad sheaths of canvas are stretched tight and taut and are connected by two miles of cable and ten…
1953: The Stratford Festival debuts
Canadian theatre takes centre stage with the debut of the Stratford Festival.