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TEACHING STRATFORD PROGRAM

PROGRAM DETAILS

TEACHING STRATFORD PROGRAM


PROGRAM DETAILS

This three-part program is open to teachers in both Canada and the United States.

For just the cost of a student matinee, teachers work with Festival teaching artists to explore how active and innovative approaches can make the work on our stages accessible and highly engaging to students.

  • Part 1: Professional Learning & Previewing Performances (August 25-27, Stratford)
  • Part 2: Student Matinees (September & October, Stratford)
  • Part 3: Pre- & Post-Show Workshops (September-November, In Your Classroom and/or in Stratford)

 

Available Performances:

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream
  • Guys and Dolls
  • Something Rotten!
  • Othello
  • The Tempest
  • The Hobbit


Key Dates:

February 10: Early Bird Registration Closes
July 17: Registration Closes
August 25-27: Professional Learning & Preview Performances in Stratford
September 25: Student Matinee Booking Deadline


To Register:

Book your spot in the program with a deposit ($299 I $279 Early Bird) no later than July 17. The deposit is used to reserve your spot and will be applied to your ticket order once you have booked the school matinee for your students. If you do not book a field trip for your students, the deposit will be applied as an auditing fee for your professional learning and previewing performances in August.

A day rate of $149 is available for the Professional Learning & Previewing Performances on August 25, 26 or 27. To participate in just one day, please select your desired date when booking the program.

COST: $299 + tax
Early-bird rate until February 10: $279 + tax
Day Rate: $149 + tax (not eligible for parts 2 and 3 of the program)

Register by July 17. Space is limited.

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Teacher Professional Development Itinerary:

August 25

9:15 to 10 a.m.     Registration & Welcome

10 a.m. to noon    Workshop Choice:

  1. Musical Theatre I: This stream is designed for educators newer to working in musical theatre and is applicable to all levels (elementary through post-secondary). With Guys and Dolls and Something Rotten! as points of reference, learn foundational techniques and practical exercises for teaching musical theatre to students. Leave with ready-to-use resources and techniques to guide students through the engaging world of musical theatre.
  2. Musical Theatre II: This stream is designed for experienced musical theatre educators looking to deepen their expertise in directing and/or music directing musicals. With a focus on both Guys and Dolls and Something Rotten!, elevate your approach to the technical aspects of the work with a focus on how to best support student leaders in key behind-the-scenes roles.

2 p.m.          Performance of Something Rotten! OR A Midsummer Night's Dream   

5 to 7 p.m.   Social

8 p.m.          Performance of Guys and Dolls OR The Importance of Being Earnest*


August 26

9:30 to 10 a.m.     Plenary Session & Coffee

10 a.m. to noon   Workshop Choice

  1. The Hobbit: All about The Hobbit! Examine J.R.R. Tolkien’s legacy and explore how elements of dramaturgy and theatrical design shape interpretation, offering new ways to challenge, reinforce, or reimagine familiar narratives and spark fresh dialogue about perspective, identity, and storytelling. Engage in adaptable classroom teaching tools that offer The Hobbit as a way in which to support and enhance literacy and language skills.
  2. Technical Theatre: Engage with Stratford Festival technicians to gain a behind-the-scenes perspective on the technical side of theatre including lighting, sound, scenic artistry and stage management. Learn best practices and strategies for incorporating superior technical and design elements with any budget and theatrical space.

2 p.m.          Performance of The Hobbit OR The King James Bible Play*

5 to 7 p.m.   Social

8 p.m.          Performance of The Tao of the World* OR Saturday, Sunday, Monday*


*Please note that these plays are not included in the Teaching Stratford Program as possible choices for the student field trip in the fall.


August 27

9:30 to 10 a.m.     Plenary Session & Coffee

10 a.m. to noon    Workshop Choice:

Dive into Shakespeare! Explore how these 2026 productions, when paired with teaching tools grounded in a dramatic approach and contemporary interpretation, can support students in experiencing Shakespeare’s texts as way to understand themselves, the broader world and what it means to be human today.

There are three productions to choose from for this workshop slot. Choose one:

  1. The Tempest
  2. Othello
  3. A Midsummer Night's Dream

2 p.m.   Performance of The Tempest OR A Midsummer Night's Dream

8 p.m.   Performance of Othello OR Something Rotten!


 

 

 

Important Details:

  • To take part for just the cost of a student matinée, you must:
    1. participate in all three parts of the program and,
    2. book your student tickets to the Stratford Festival no later than September 25 (with the fieldtrip taking place in September or October, 2026).
    The Teaching Stratford Program fees cannot be retroactively applied to a trip in 2026, nor can they extend to 2027.

  • InterACTive Preshows are offered at 11 a.m. before selected 2 p.m. performances of The Tempest, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Something Rotten!, and The Hobbit. These are available free-of-charge to TSP teachers. Please check online or with a Groups & Schools representative to confirm an InterACTive Preshow is scheduled on the desired date of your visit.

  • No InterACTive Preshows are available for Guys and Dolls so please book a free post-show chat for the date of your visit with an Education Associate instead.

  • If you are a teacher in the United States, you are eligible to take part, but please contact us prior to registration for details on how to participate. 

Support for the Teaching Stratford Program is generously provided by the M.E.H. Foundation and the Joan and Clifford Hatch Foundation.

"Every part of this program is excellent. From the workshops with fellow teachers and artists in August, the visit by an artist to my school, the prologues and post-show chats, the performances themselves, as well as the way I was treated by the staff at Stratford, I cannot stress enough the impact it had on me as a teacher and my students. This is my second year as part of this initiative and my only regret is that I did not learn about it earlier in my teaching career!”

Janet Soppitt, Teacher

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