ARCHIVES

Explore the Past at the Stratford Festival Archives!

Home of the largest archival collection dedicated to a single theatre company in North America, the Stratford Festival Archives is here to help you on your creative journey.

We function much like a research library and museum, collecting materials chronicling the Festival’s history from our very first season to the present.

Majority of our researchers are fellow Festival employees and company members. If you have a question or project that you feel could be assisted or strengthened by consulting archival material, please contact us.

What can I do at the Archives?

• Watch audio-visual recordings of past Festival productions
• Access production photography for use in artist portfolios and personal websites
• Read composite scripts, which chronicle past director’s cuts and alternations to previously performed material
• Look at designs, photographs, scripts and stage management materials from past shows
• Read press clippings
• View select set pieces, props, costumes and costume accessories
• Consult sheet music and audio recordings from past shows
• View set maquettes and construction plans
• Consult posters, programs and other marketing materials
• View documentary footage

…and much more!

Company Appointment Hours

NOTE: These hours differ from those listed on our public website - company members get extended access to the archives!

IN-PERSON RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS

Available Mondays through Thursdays, 10:30am to 4:30pm.

Booking an Appointment: Contact a member of the Archives Department to book an appointment. Advance notification is required as this allows us to ensure materials of use are available and waiting when you arrive.

We are aware company members have many demands on their time. If you require flexibility in booking an appointment, please call us to make arrangements. We are happy to accommodate you whenever possible.

EMAIL INQUIRIES

Welcome at any time.

Making an inquiry: Need a fact checked, a quick statistic or have a general question about the Festival’s history? Email or phone a member of the Archives Department.

DONATING MATERIAL TO THE ARCHIVES

The Archives is always looking to expand its holdings with items and records which represent the history of the Stratford Festival. If you have material that you feel may be a good fit for our collection, please contact a member of the Archives Department.

Here are examples of things company members have donated in the past

• Photographs taken backstage, behind-the-scenes or during company events
• Mementos from past productions (autographed posters, autograph books, congratulatory cards, souvenir set/prop/costume pieces, etc.)
• Annotated rehearsal scripts or rehearsal notes
• Extracurricular Stratford Festival souvenirs (cricket match paraphernalia, Guthrie Award souvenirs, etc.)

The content on this page was provided by Stephanie Vaillant and updated November 2024