At the Stratford Festival, the magic of theatre begins long before a child takes their seat: it begins with a belief that young people deserve meaningful, inspiring encounters with the arts.

For 15 years, The Schulich Children's Plays have embodied that belief, creating unforgettable first experiences with live performance while nurturing curiosity, empathy and imagination in the next generation.

Made possible through the visionary support of The Schulich Foundation, The Schulich Children's Plays have become a vital part of the Festival's artistic and community mission.

"I recall an early conversation with Seymour Schulich about the vital importance of creating theatre specifically for children, their parents and grandparents," says Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino. "Seymour listened and simply said: 'I'd like to support that.' Since then, the Schulich family has enabled us to welcome over 650,000 patrons, including 200,000 children and students, to the Festival through The Schulich Children's Plays. We are deeply grateful to The Schulich Foundation for its generous support and for this extraordinary and enduring partnership."

For many children, attending a Schulich Children's Play is their first experience of live theatre – a moment that can spark a lifelong connection to the arts.

"For the past 15 years, The Schulich Foundation has supported the Stratford Festival's Children's Plays, helping introduce generations of young people to the transformative power of live theatre," says Judy Schulich, President, The Schulich Foundation. "We are honoured to partner with an organization that continues to inspire young audiences and make world-class theatre accessible to families and students across Ontario and beyond."

The Schulich Children's Plays include well loved productions of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; The Three Musketeers; Alice Through the Looking-Glass; The Diary of Anne Frank; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Treasure Island; To Kill a Mockingbird; The Neverending Story; I Am William; Little Women; A Wrinkle in Time; Wendy and Peter Pan; Anne of Green Gables; and the 2026 production of The Hobbit.

Each production opens a door – to creativity, to confidence, to new ways of seeing the world. A child who experiences live theatre for the first time at Stratford may go on to become a lifelong audience member, an artist or simply someone with a deeper appreciation for storytelling and human connection.

Through their extraordinary generosity and vision, The Schulich Foundation is helping to shape that future. The Stratford Festival extends its heartfelt thanks to The Schulich Foundation for 15 years of inspiring experiences for young people and their families.