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Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre

The Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre at the Stratford Festival is made possible by the support of the Birmingham family, the government of Canada and donors to the Stratford 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. 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 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.

The 2012/2013 Conservatory participants:

Sarah Afful

Brad Hodder
Ruby Joy

Josue Laboucane

Mike Nadajewski

Andrew Robinson

Sabryn Rock

Dorcas Sowunmi

Dylan Trowbridge

Antoine Yared

The Conservatory selection process includes applications that lead to auditions, invitations from artistic staff to audition, and invitations to members of our existing company to join. If you would like to apply to the Conservatory, please email or mail a resume and photo to:

Beth Russell
Casting Director
or
Jennifer Emery
Casting Assistant at:
casting@stratfordfestival.ca

Instructors and Directors for the 2012/2013 Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre:

Annette av Paul

Frank Bach

Liza Balkan

Cicely Berry

Laura Burton

Janet Feindel

Lori Holmes

David Latham
Claire Lautier

David Ley

Melinda Little
Kate Lynch

Kennedy C. MacKinnon
Jack McDonald

Kelly McEvenue

Seana McKenna

Valerie Moore
Thomas Morgan Jones

Christopher Newton

Sonia Norris

Lucy Peacock
Janine Pearson

Robin Phillips

Perry Schneiderman
Sarah Shippobotham
E.B. Smith
David Smukler
John Stead

Richard Stewart

Terry Tweed

Nicolas Van Burek

Ian Watson

From Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino
Thirty-three members of the Stratford Festival’s 2013 company have come out of our professional training program, known as the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre. Founded in 1998, the Conservatory has helped to launch the careers of some of our leading young actors, many of whom I have had the great pleasure of directing. Providing opportunities for young Canadian artists is part of our mission at the Festival, and we hope you will find it as satisfying as we do to watch their growth as they share the stage with some of the finest actors in the world.

Under the leadership of Martha Henry, the Conservatory is made possible by the support of the Birmingham family, the Stratford Festival Endowment Foundation and the Department of Canadian Heritage. Supporting the 2013 in-season work of Birmingham Conservatory participants are Karon C. Bales & Charles E. Beall, The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, Robert Summers-Gill, and Alice & Tim Thornton. We thank them for helping us to nurture and support these talented artists in our 2013 company: 

Alumni: