The Stratford Festival commissioned its first play in 1958 and has since gone on to commission and develop over one hundred new plays, translations, and adaptations. The Foerster Bernstein New Play Development Program (NPD) was founded during Antoni Cimolino’s tenure as Artistic Director with Bob White as Director from 2013 to Spring 2022. Keith Barker was appointed the new Director in June 2022.
The Foerster Bernstein NPD is guided by the values and mission of the research and development arm of the Festival.
The NDP program focuses on
nurturing playwrights and works that reflect the multitude of voices on Turtle
Island. Artists such as Sunny Drake, Frances Koncan, Nick Green, Marcia
Johnson, and Hannah Moscovitch have received successful premiere productions
that were embraced by audiences and critics alike. Many have gone on to
subsequent productions across Turtle Island and abroad.
To find out more and to learn about the Playwrights Retreat please visit the official Stratford Festival website.
The content on this page was provided by Keith Barker, and updated January 2025
Questions?
Keith Barker, Director of the Foerster Bernstein New Play Development Program
-kbarker@stratfordfestival.ca