A Frontmezzjunkies Stratford Festival announcement: Jonathan Church’s first company brings celebrated performers, returning favourites and exciting new faces to the Festival’s 2027 stages.
There is something wonderfully exciting about planning a return to Stratford. The Festival has become such a cherished part of my theatre-going year that casting news like this immediately sets my imagination running. I start picturing the productions, the performances I cannot wait to experience, and those moments when an actor steps onto the stage and makes a familiar story feel newly alive. Getting the opportunity to see these productions is something I feel genuinely excited about, and I never take that privilege for granted.
The Stratford Festival’s 75th season carries an added sense of occasion, with Artistic Director Jonathan Church announcing his first acting company for 2027. The lineup brings together celebrated Stratford veterans, returning favourites and artists making their Festival debuts, with Shakespearean tragedy and comedy, sweeping historical drama, beloved musical theatre and new work all represented. There is plenty here to get theatre lovers talking, from Thomas Duplessie stepping into the title role of Hamlet to the world premiere of Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang, the arrival of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, and Saul Rubinek’s return to the Festival for the first time since 1969.
Church describes the company as the foundation of every season, expressing his excitement about the artists who will take to the stages in 2027. Their work, he says, will bring fresh insight to classic works, create new stories and help shape the Festival’s next chapter. With the casting now announced, the anticipation can begin in earnest. Here are some of the highlights from the 2027 acting company.
The 2027 Casting Highlights
Hamlet
Thomas Duplessie takes on the title role in Shakespeare’s tragedy, with Ben Carlson as Claudius, Heidi Sy 施 Damayo as Ophelia, Peter Fernandes as Horatio, Brendan McMurtry-Howlett as Laertes, Stephen Ouimette as Polonius, and Irene Poole as Gertrude.
Directed by Des McAnuff, the production runs at the Festival Theatre from June 20 to October 30, opening July 13.
Mary Poppins
The spectacular musical features Vanessa Sears in the title role, Evan Buliung as George Banks, Henry Firmston as Bert and Chilina Kennedy as Winifred Banks.
Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle and Stephen Mear, with choreography by Mear, Mary Poppins runs at the Festival Theatre from April 29 to November 6, opening May 31.
Chicago
The iconic musical welcomes Celeste Catena as Roxie Hart, Dan Chameroy as Billy Flynn and Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Velma Kelly. The cast also features R. Markus as Mary Sunshine, Jamillah Ross as Matron Mama Morton and Steve Ross as Amos Hart.
Directed and choreographed by Donna Feore, Chicago runs at the Festival Theatre from May 24 to November 7, opening June 26.
Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies
The two-part historical epic features Jonathan Goad as Thomas Cromwell, André Sills as King Henry VIII, Marissa Orjalo as Anne Boleyn, Graham Abbey as Thomas More, Amelia Sargisson as Katherine of Aragon and Geraint Wyn Davies as Thomas Wolsey.
Both productions are adapted for the stage by Mike Poulton from the novels by Hilary Mantel and directed by Jonathan Church. The Canadian premieres run at the Avon Theatre, with Wolf Hall scheduled from June 4 to August 21 and Bring Up the Bodies from June 19 to August 21. Both open June 27.
Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang
The world premiere of the musical will see Jackson Graham and Kole Parks share the role of Jacob, alongside Chilina Kennedy as Judge Mistress Fowl and Kale Penny as the Hooded Fang.
Based on the novel by Mordecai Richler, the production features a book by David S. Craig and music and lyrics by Anika Johnson and Britta Johnson. Directed by Stafford Arima, it runs at the Tom Patterson Theatre from April 28 to October 30, opening June 2.
The Taming of the Shrew
Ijeoma Emesowum plays Katharina, with David Patrick Flemming as Petruchio, Lucinda Davis as Baptista, Peter Fernandes as Tranio, Devin MacKinnon as Biondello and Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane as Bianca.
Directed by Krista Jackson, Shakespeare’s comedy runs at the Tom Patterson Theatre from August 11 to October 31, opening August 26.
The Merchant of Venice, Playing Shylock and All in the Telling
Saul Rubinek returns to the Stratford Festival for the first time since 1969 to play Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. Ben Carlson plays Antonio, Bethany Jillard is Portia and Tyrone Savage is Bassanio. Directed by Chris Abraham, the production runs at the Tom Patterson Theatre from May 8 to October 30, opening June 1.
Rubinek will also present Playing Shylock, a one-person show exploring an actor’s evolving relationship with one of Shakespeare’s most debated characters. Written by Mark Leiren-Young and directed by Martin Kinch, it runs at the Studio Theatre from May 21 to September 25, opening June 1.
He will also appear in his new play, All in the Telling, a world premiere developed in collaboration with Starvox Entertainment and Crow’s Theatre. Rubinek plays Srulek and Old Saul, with Marc Bendavid as Saul, Seana McKenna as Frania, Chloë Dirksen as Ann and Bethany Jillard as Rachel. Directed by Chris Abraham, it runs at the Studio Theatre from August 4 to September 26, opening August 25.
Almighty Voice and His Wife
The play by Daniel David Moses features Katie German as White Girl and Nolan Moberly as Almighty Voice. Directed by Yvette Nolan, it runs at the Studio Theatre from June 11 to September 25, opening June 25.
Present Laughter
As previously announced, Eric McCormack plays larger-than-life acting legend Garry Essendine in Noël Coward’s comedy. He is joined by Jonathan Goad as Morris Dixon, Mike Nadajewski as Roland Maule, Moya O’Connell as Liz Essendine, Marissa Orjalo as Daphne Stillington, Fiona Reid as Monica Reed, André Sills as Henry Lyppiatt and Sara Topham as Joanna Lyppiatt.
Directed by Richard Ouzounian, Present Laughter runs at the Avon Theatre from October 9 to November 28, opening October 16.
Anne of Green Gables
Caroline Toal returns as Anne Shirley, with Tim Campbell as Matthew Cuthbert and Sarah Dodd as Marilla Cuthbert, reuniting at the Avon Theatre before taking the Kat Sandler adaptation on the road. They are joined by Maev Beaty as Rachel Lynde, Jordin Hall as Gilbert Blythe, 郝邦宇 Steven Hao as Jane Andrews, Josue Laboucane as Moodie Spurgeon, Julie Lumsden as Diana Barry, and Jennifer Villaverde as Prissy Andrews and Miss Stacey.
Directed by Kat Sandler, the production runs at the Avon Theatre from September 2 to September 25, opening September 12.
Planning a Stratford Return
With the 75th season now taking shape, I am already looking forward to the particular pleasure of arriving in Stratford and settling into another year of theatre. The mix of familiar Festival performers, new faces, major Shakespearean works, musical favourites and premieres gives the season plenty to anticipate, while Jonathan Church’s first acting company marks a significant moment in the Festival’s history.
Tickets for the 2027 season go on sale to Stratford Festival Members on October 25, followed by the general public on November 16. Non-Members can also register for a special Mary Poppins pre-sale through the Festival’s website at stratfordfestival.ca.
For those of us who look forward to making Stratford part of our year, the casting announcement is a welcome invitation to start dreaming about the performances ahead. I am excited, grateful, and already counting the days until those theatre doors open.
