by Lisa Middleton
This Friday we’ll be celebrating the Festival’s birthday! On July 13, 1953, Festival founder Tom Patterson’s “big idea” became a reality when our inaugural performance of Richard III – directed by Tyrone Guthrie and starring Alec Guinness and Irene Worth – took to the stage. Fifty-nine years later, Mr. Patterson’s dream of starting a classical theatre to revitalize a struggling industry town remains one of the most inspirational stories of Canadian theatre!
From its humble beginnings in a tent along the Avon River to its current status as the largest classical repertory theatre in North America (and the second-largest Shakespeare festival in the world) the Festival has come a long way in its sixty seasons. Our five venues have welcomed more than 25 million visitors over the years – and that certainly gives us cause for celebration!
Want to learn more about the Stratford story, starting with that “glorious summer” way back in 1953? Read it here!
Stratford Shakespeare Festival: 1953
Stratford Shakespeare Festival: Present Day
Celebrate our big 6-0 with 1953 pricing!
Buy one full-priced ticket to any performance of Henry V or Much Ado About Nothing in July or August, and receive your second ticket for the rate you would have paid during our first season – $6 for A+ seating, $4 for A seating, $3 for B seating and $1 for C seating! Hurry, this retro promotion only lasts until our birthday, July 13, at midnight!
Here’s how to order your tickets!
1) Log into our website with promotion code 44739
2) Select any July or August performance of Henry V or Much Ado About Nothing from our calendar
3) Set the price type to ADULT using the drop-down menu at the top of the “Select Your Seats” page
4) Select your seats (the promotion will be applied to your order automatically when you choose your second seat)
5) Complete your transaction
6) Enjoy the show!
Share a special memory from one of the past fifty-nine seasons in the comment box below!
*Offer may expire without notice. Not valid on MMP performances or in conjunction with any other promotion, including SSP, Family Experience, TiXX and PlayOn. Promotion is available through our Box Office, our website or Stratford Social Ticketing on the Festival’s Facebook page. Offer is only valid for Festival Theatre Shakespeare plays in July and August. Promotion ends on July 13 at 11:59 p.m. Some conditions apply.
www.stratfordfestivalblog.com 
Fabulous idea! Thank you.
I grew up in Stratford and I remember the sound of the cannon that was fired each evening around 8 PM just before the performance. I’m sure that cannon could be heard all over town.
Thanks for sharing, Jerry! We can still hear it today! 🙂
What a farce of a promotion!
Even with the promotion, 2 A tickets are over $50 each plus tax and handling. How about 1953 pricing for both tickets!
Thanks for nothing.
Wow. You know they don’t actually have to give you tickets for about half the regular price, right? Congratulations on your complete, and rather childish, entitlement and lack of perspective.