• Birmingham Conservatory

Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre

The Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival is made possible by the support of the Birmingham family, the government of Canada and donors to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Endowment Foundation. Our thanks to them all.


 

History and Philosophy
The Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre was founded in 1998 by the Festival’s then Artistic Director, Richard Monette, to prepare talented young actors for the rigours and specific requirements of acting in classical theatre. Originally conceived as an end of season five- to seven-week intensive program under its first principal, Michael Mawson, it gradually expanded under its second, David Latham; the Conservatory now consists of three terms, from mid-September through mid-February, lasting from 18 to 20 weeks (with a hiatus over the holiday period).

Martha Henry became the Director of the Birmingham Conservatory in February of 2007. Under her guidance, and with the participation of the Festival’s Artistic Director, Des McAnuff, and General Director, Antoni Cimolino, six to eight actors are chosen each year. Selected candidates are usually graduates of an accredited theatre training program, with at least two years’ experience in the professional theatre. Participants are paid and offered a contract for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s following season upon completion of their Conservatory contract.

The Birmingham Conservatory is unique in that, as an adjunct of one of the world’s most celebrated classical companies, the Conservatory interacts with many of the finest English-speaking actors in North America. The Conservatory is also proud to have access to voice coaches who specialize in classical text, highly experienced movement teachers, actors and directors grounded in Shakespeare (as well as in a range of playwrights up to the present day). The September-October overlap gives the Conservatory participants access to every production playing on the Festival stages before the season closes in November and the Stratford snow begins to fall.

All Conservatory sessions (with the exception of one day on each stage) take place in the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Rehearsal Hall on the ground floor of the Festival Theatre. Voice, movement and classical text are explored daily. Simply put, Ms Henry’s mandate for the Conservatory participants is that they be able to stand on the Festival stage and be heard – with emotional nuance, intelligence, flexibility and power. And that they will be able to work in any theatre, anywhere in the world.

Application Information - Information about applying to the Conservatory will be posted at a later date.

Instructors for the 2009/2010
Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre

Alumni