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Practice dictation & shadowing on the daily life story: The Stratford Festival
Dictation & Shadowing: The Stratford Festival
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The Stratford Festival
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The Shakespearean Festival in Stratford, ON, is one of the greatest theatrical festivals in the world.
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This is the story of how this small town, which is far from any theatrical centers, became so important for drama.
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For most of its history, Stratford was the county town for the local farming region.
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It was also a railway center, but it was hardly known for the arts.
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An Irishman who opened an in there founded Stratford in 1832.
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He called his Roadhouse Shakespeare's in after England's great dramatist.
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Soon the little town became known as Stratford, after the town in England where Shakespeare was born.
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The local river was likewise called the Avon, After the English river.
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The little town grew gradually and became the local Center for government and law.
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Stratford people seem to enjoy the association with Shakespeare.
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Many streets were given Shakespearean names such as Arden Park, Porsche Blvd.
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Romeo Streets and Viola Court.
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Local schools receive names such as Hamlet Public School or Falstaff School.
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There was still no attempt at Shakespearean Theatre in Stratford ON In 1913, the Canadian Pacific Railway threatened to take over the town.
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They proposed a railway line running through the center of Stratford, which would have taken over much of the town's Parkland.
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The townspeople voted down this proposal.
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Instead, they expanded the Parkland along the Avon River.
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These parks were enhanced with gardens, and in 1918 a pair of Swans was added.
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These Swans were an imitation of the Swans on English Rivers.
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In 1950, it appeared that the railway would be closing some of its workshops in Stratford.
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The town was looking for ideas that might lead to new employment opportunities.
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This was when one citizen, Tom Patterson, suggested that the town sponsor a drama festival.
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Patterson was able to get Irish director Tyrone Guthrie to come to Stratford in 1952.
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Guthrie agreed to head up the 1953 season.
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Everyone in Stratford pitched in to raise the necessary money and prepare the stage.
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Since there was no time to put up a building, the plays were staged under a huge tent.
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2 plays were put on during a six week season and with great success.
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In 1957 a permanent theater was built.
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The Stratford season in 2001 runs for more than six months from late April to early November.
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There are 14 plays in production at three different theatres.
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Altogether, there are 668 performances with a total attendance of 580,000 people.
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About 40% of the audience comes from the United States.
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Tom Patterson's plan to ease unemployment in Stratford has worked well.
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The festival has helped to create nearly 6000 jobs and generate wages and salaries of $110 million annually.
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In total, the festival brings about $170 million of revenue into the Stratford area.
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Of course, to the audiences who come back every year, the main attraction is seeing some of the best Shakespearean theatre in the world.
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The Stratford Festival Company is Canada's leading acting company and many of its actors have become internationally known.