The Festival’s 2027 season will be the first year under the new leadership of Artistic Director Jonathan Church.
From Jonathan’s Introduction to the season:
“Planning a Stratford season offers possibilities that scarcely exist anywhere else. There are very few theatres with the artistic ambition and resources to stage Shakespeare, major musicals, new work and large-scale drama side by side. It is that range of possibility that excites me most, and it is at the heart of my first season as Artistic Director.
It is a particular pleasure to introduce my first season in the Stratford Festival’s 75th year. Landmark seasons can naturally encourage us to look back, but what has always impressed me about Stratford is its willingness to look forward. Since Tyrone Guthrie arrived here in 1953 right through to Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino’s final season in 2026, the Festival has continually renewed itself while remaining true to its founding ideals. The productions in this season reflect that spirit – works we know and love alongside new stories and stories that invite us to see the world in new ways.”
Mary Poppins
Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle & Stephen Mear
At the Festival Theatre
PRACTICALLY PERFECT IN EVERY WAY
When an extraordinary nanny blows in on the east wind, the Banks family’s world is turned upside down in the most delightful way. Every day is filled with impossible surprises as Mary Poppins and her ever-cheerful friend Bert lead her young charges Jane and Michael on a string of magical adventures. Featuring the most elaborate flying sequences ever staged at the Festival Theatre, this brand-new production brings audiences into the heart of the story in a way only Stratford can. Filled with beloved songs including “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” Mary Poppins is a magical adventure for children and a joyful trip down Cherry Tree Lane for grown-ups who secretly still know all the words to “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”
Wolf Hall
Directed by Jonathan Church
By Hilary Mantel
Adapted for the Stage by Mike Poulton
Canadian Premiere
At the Avon Theatre
England stands at the brink of transformation. King Henry VIII, consumed by his need for a male heir, is determined to end his marriage to Katherine of Aragon and marry the captivating Anne Boleyn. As powerful enemies clash over the future of the kingdom, one man rises from obscurity to the very centre of power. Brilliant and endlessly resourceful, Thomas Cromwell must navigate a dangerous world of shifting loyalties and life-or-death political battles.
This Canadian premiere brings to Stratford the celebrated stage adaptations first produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, where they earned extraordinary acclaim. The Daily Mail called them “the must-see theatre event of the year.” The Sunday Times praised them as “history as sparkling, fleet-footed entertainment… there is literally never a dull moment.”
Individually compelling and even richer in combination, these two plays chart one of history’s most fascinating chapters.
The production marks the Stratford Festival directorial debut of Artistic Director Jonathan Church. Church has directed celebrated productions across the UK and London’s West End, including Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby, which became a sold-out sensation.
Chicago
Directed & Choreographed by Donna Feore
At the Festival Theatre
GIVE ‘EM THE OLD RAZZLE DAZZLE
In a world where celebrity can be more valuable than innocence, Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart compete for the spotlight from behind the bars of Cook County Jail. As their sensational murder cases capture Chicago’s attention, the two women are swept into a flurry of newspaper headlines, courtroom drama and outrageous schemes to outshine one another. Featuring an iconic score packed with Broadway favourites including “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango” and “Razzle Dazzle,” Chicago is a dazzling celebration of fame, ambition and the power of a good story. Sexy, seductive and wickedly funny, it pulses with vibrant Jazz Age energy.
Merchant of Venice
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Chris Abraham
At the Tom Patterson Theatre
When Antonio signs a risky bond with Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, to help a friend pursue a wealthy heiress, a seemingly simple transaction sets in motion events that test the limits of justice, mercy and human compassion. At the heart of the story is Shylock, one of Shakespeare’s most contested characters, subjected to anti-Jewish prejudice, capable of cruelty himself, and written with a humanity and complexity that have challenged actors and audiences for centuries.
Acclaimed stage and screen actor Saul Rubinek takes on the role in a production directed by Chris Abraham, known for his insightful interpretations of classic texts and his ability to illuminate their contemporary resonance. The production is presented alongside two companion works, Playing Shylock and All in the Telling, which extend the conversation around Shylock, Jewish identity, representation and memory.
Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang
Based on the novel by Mordecai Richler
World Premiere
Directed by Stafford Arima
At the Tom Patterson Theatre
SHOWING US WHAT THE LITTLE GUY CAN DO
Jacob Two-Two may be the smallest member of his family, but when a misunderstanding lands him in a children’s prison ruled by the fearsome Hooded Fang, he discovers that courage can come from the unlikeliest places. Battling villains, outwitting grown-ups and leading a daring rebellion against the Hooded Fang’s reign of terror, Jacob transforms from an overlooked younger brother into a full-blown hero. This world premiere musical brings Mordecai Richler’s cherished story to life, offering a joyful introduction for a new generation of fans and a nostalgic return to a treasured Canadian favourite.
