John Stead

SLEUTH to Open at Harbourfront Centre, Launching Shaw Festival Residency
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 24, 2026

The Shaw Festival brings its Tony and Edgar Award-winning psychological thriller SLEUTH to Toronto's Harbourfront Centre, marking the first production in a multi-year artistic residency. Directed by Peter Fernandes, the production features Sepehr Reybod and Patrick Galligan.

Review: ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS at Shaw Festival
by Michael Rabice - Aug 6, 2024

Who doesn't love a good belly laugh, a groan and a perpetual smile on their face for 2-1/2 hours. That's exactly what you'll be in store for when attending the joyously silly production of ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS at the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake.

AGATHA CHRISTIE'S WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION Takes The Stand At The Shaw
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 4, 2024

Experience the gripping courtroom drama as Agatha Christie's WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION takes the stage at The Shaw Festival.

Shaw Festival to Present Charles Dickens's A CHRISTMAS CAROL & More This Holiday Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 2, 2023

The Shaw Festival's holiday shows, including Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, are set to light up the season starting on November 5. Don't miss out on the festive playbill!

Shaw Festival Announces Casts And Creative Teams For BRIGADOON and A CHRISTMAS CAROL
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 8, 2023

Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the Shaw Festival's perennial production (and audience favourite), kicks off the holiday theatre season on November 5 at the Royal George Theatre. The seasonal celebrations continue when Lerner and Loewe's timeless musical Brigadoon conjures more magic and enchantment at the Festival Theatre on November 15.

THE APPLE CART and Noël Coward's BLITHE SPIRIT Begin Performances This Week at Shaw Festival
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 13, 2023

The Shaw Festival’s 2023 season is continuing with Bernard Shaw’s The Apple Cart and Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit. Each begin previews on June 13 and June 14, respectively.

THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD Comes to the Shaw Festival
by Stephi Wild - May 25, 2023

Jackie Maxwell returns to the Shaw Festival to direct The Playboy of the Western World – the play that stoked the fires of Irish nationalism and sparked the infamous Dublin “Playboy Riots” of 1907. Previews of J.M. Synge's funny and enthralling masterwork of the Irish Literary Renaissance begins May 25 in the theatre named after The Shaw's former A.D. – the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre.

Cast Set for GYPSY at The Shaw's Festival Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 9, 2023

It’s not a tease. Gypsy, the greatest American musical, is finally embarking on its highly anticipated run at The Shaw’s Festival Theatre beginning May 10.

World Premiere of Damien Atkins' PRINCE CASPIAN to be Presented at the Shaw Festival
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 29, 2023

Heed the call and return once again to the magical world of Narnia. Molly Atkinson directs the world premiere of Damien Atkins’s adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s Prince Caspian.

MAHABHARATA World Premiere Begins Previews This Week at The Shaw Festival
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 27, 2023

The long-awaited contemporary adaptation of Mahabharata, the four-thousand-year-old Sanskrit epic, begins previews with Mahabharata: Karma (Part 1) on February 28, followed by Mahabharata: Dharma (Part 2) on March 1, at The Shaw’s Festival Theatre.

Cast & Creative Teams Confirmed for Shaw Festival 2023 Season, Featuring PRINCE CASPIAN World Premiere & More
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 30, 2023

Artistic Director Tim Carroll has unveiled the Shaw Festival's 2023 casting and creative teams for the Festival Theatre, Royal George Theatre, Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre, BMO Stage, as well as the newly added Spiegeltent.

CYRANO DE BERGERAC to Return to the Shaw Festival
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 9, 2022

Everyone’s favourite lovelorn duellist is returning to the Shaw Festival. The Chris Abraham-directed, Kate Hennig-adapted Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand’s tale of unrequited and selfless love, begins previews Sunday, March 20 at the Royal George Theatre.

Casting And Creative Teams Announced for Shaw Festival's 60th Anniversary Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 23, 2022

Artistic Director Tim Carroll has announced casting and creative teams for the Shaw Festival’s 60th anniversary season.

SHAW FESTIVAL Announces Casting and Creative Teams For Fall and Holiday Shows
by Stephi Wild - Sep 29, 2021

The Shaw Festival's 2021 season continues into fall and winter with the American classic Desire Under the Elms, the beloved Irving Berlin musical Holiday Inn and perennial Yuletide favourite A Christmas Carol.

A New Adaptation Of CYRANO DE BERGERAC Begins Previews At The Shaw
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 25, 2019

Chris Abraham directs a new adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand's romantic tale of unrequited and selfless love. Translated from French to English, Associate Artistic Director Kate Hennig's version is presented in prose, yet it thrillingly preserves the poetic beauty of Rostand's original verse. Cyrano de Bergerac begins previews Saturday, July 27 at the Royal George Theatre.

THE LADYKILLERS Makes Its North American Premiere At The Shaw Festival
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 10, 2019

After taking London's West End by storm, comedy thriller The Ladykillers makes its North American premiere under the direction of Artistic Director Tim Carroll. The Shaw Festival's production of Graham Linehan's stage adaptation - based on one of the best-loved British films of all time - begins previews tomorrow at the Festival Theatre.

Travel To The Sweeping Scottish Highlands In Lerner And Loewe's BRIGADOON
by Julie Musbach - May 2, 2019

Tartan, kilts and braw melodies from the beloved romantic classic Lerner and Loewe's Brigadoon brings a wee bit of Scottish delight to The Shaw's Festival Theatre beginning May 5. The season's main stage musical, directed by Glynis Leyshon, with a revised book by Brian Hill; brilliantly brings the windswept wonder and ethereal charm of this enduring tale of love to life. A feast of song and dance, the Shaw Festival production also includes music direction by Paul Sportelli and choreography by Linda Garneau, with fight direction by John Stead.

PARADISE LOST Is Now On Stage At Stratford Festival
by Stephi Wild - Aug 1, 2018

Previews begin today for the world premiere of Erin Shields's exciting new interpretation of John Milton's Paradise Lost. Directed by Jackie Maxwell, the production opens on August 17, and with three performances added to meet audience demand, it now runs until October 21 at the Studio Theatre.

Seana McKenna-Led JULIUS CAESAR Comes to Stratford
by Stephi Wild - Jul 31, 2018

Previews begin today for Scott Wentworth's production of Julius Caesar, starring Seana McKenna in the title role. The production opens on August 16 at the Festival Theatre.

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES Comes to the Shaw Festival
by Stephi Wild - Jul 30, 2018

Craig Hall directs the Canadian premiere of R. Hamilton Wright and David Pichette's new adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic Victorian whodunit The Hound of the Baskervilles. Twist after suspenseful twist will keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the final curtain. Tinged with the familiar Sherlockian wit, this deliciously dark thriller begins previews on August 1 at the Festival Theatre.