As we throw the doors open to welcome you to the 2025 season, it is with a tremendous sense of joy and promise. Our dreams for this season began many months ago, and now we get to witness the incredible alchemy of your talents, as this extraordinary group gathers together to make our dreams a brilliant reality.
This is the 73rd time the Stratford Festival has embarked on the mission to create a season. Each time it has been nothing short of a miracle. From just a few dozen people in 1953, we now have more than a thousand people carrying out the essential work that will attract almost half a million people to our four beautiful theatres, where they will experience an extraordinary array of exceptional productions.
The start of the season has been part of each of our lives for decades, but we can easily conjure the excitement and apprehension we felt at the outset of our first season. It is important for those of us who have been here before to remember that initial apprehension so that we can be a support for those of you here for the very first time.
This year’s theme is “Apollo, Venus, Mars: Reflections on harmony, love and war.” The pursuit of harmony is essential to our wellbeing. As you embark on the journey that is the 2025 season, please understand that it is a marathon. Pacing is important. We have developed a number of processes to provide you with the resources you need to succeed and to help support you if you find yourself on a rocky path at any point. This handbook contains all that information.
Our doors and hearts are open to you. We look forward to seeing the Stratford season unfold as miraculously in 2025 as it did in 1953.
Have a wonderful season!
Antoni & Anita
