The popular Stratford Shakespeare Festival is underway and will continue to Saturday, May 17.
In the heart of Stratford on the River Avon, the world of Shakespeare is not merely a stage but a vibrant tapestry woven from the very elements of life and the forces of the natural world.
People can step into the shadows to explore The Dark Side of Shakespeare.
This year, the festival delves deep into the power struggles, tragic flaws and twisted ambitions that drive the characters of The Bard’s timeless plays. From the eerie witches of Macbeth to the unsettling passions of Othello and some unexpected takes on the fairies of Midsummer, witness Shakespeare’s complex world where love, revenge and ambition collide.
For 30 years Stratford has hosted The Shakespeare on the River Festival, centred around the works and life of William Shakespeare.
In 2025 there will be more than 20 events across two weeks.
With a grand variety of traditional arts and crafts, food and beverages, fresh produce, together with live music, workshops and displays, there is something for everyone.
Since 1991, the annual Shakespeare on the River Festival has been running in April/May in Stratford.
The enduring nature of the festival is underpinned by the energy that is shared by so many to make it all happen.
The committee is grateful to all those who put their passion into the community festival
for all to share.
Some of this year’s highlights include:
Groundwork Youth Theatre – Forced Shakespeare: Shakespeare is well-known for exploring the darker sides of the human experience: From betrayals of family, to senseless murders and everything in between. Yet there is a crueler side of Shakespeare still, one that explores an experience that unifies many of us.
The darkest side of Shakespeare, is being forced to learn it in school.
Laugh at the suffering of the students as they desperately try to make class more bearable by defeating their evil teacher, in this Matilda-esque mashup of Shakespearean scenes.
Shows conclude on May 8 at The Stratford Courthouse Theatre.
May the Fourth Be Faireday! – Sunday, May 4, 10am-3pm. The Stratford Shakespeare Medieval Faire and Market Day embraces its placement on Star Wars Day with a full lineup of costumes, cosplay, crafts and culinary delights.
Enjoy live music, fresh produce, children’s games on the village green, food stalls and the Pop-Up Shakesbeer Bar.
Don’t miss the inaugural Battle of the Garbs – a chance to strut your Elizabethan finery or cosplay costumes upon the Faire Day Stage before our esteemed panel of judges. Top prizes to be won.
Twisted Sister – Maffra Secondary College: The crew from Maffra Secondary College are back after a sold out first production at the 2024 festival.
This year they will embrace The Dark Side of Shakespeare indeed with their reinterpretation of Macbeth.
The iconic trio of witches set about on their cunning plan to lead Macbeth down a path of destruction.
Joined by a cast including Macbeth, Banquo and three apparitions this comedic take on the witches should not be one to miss.
Come find them at The Courthouse Theatre for two shows only on Faire May the Fourth be with you – 11am and 1pm.
Touring Shows: Misfit Theatre Company is reprising its recent Shakespearean production at The Mechanics Hall on Faire day, May 4 at 3pm.
Set in a whimsical world where reality bends and dreams come to life in theirs is a psychedelic retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Performed by 21 actors from across Melbourne with a cast of diverse individuals, it will be performed “in the round” on the floor of the Mechanics Hall with immersive elements, flashing lights and an enchanting soundscape; this will be a one off performance not to be missed.
Australian Shakespeare Company’s Graduate Players – AMN Dream: Before they embark on a run in Melbourne and then take off to the stages of Prague, this talented crew will perform AMN Dream at The Stratford Courthouse Theatre.
Their take on the classic comedy in the enchanted forest is a production that creates a world where the climate crisis is extreme, due to battling fairies, which makes it more relevant to modern audiences.
This marks their fourth visit in recent years to the festival and among the cast is none other than Dane Nicholls. Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10.
More Midsummer Night’s Dream
The combined schools production has a long history within the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. It is a unique collaboration between the two schools that requires a lot of support and effort from volunteers and the school communities.
This year’s grade six students from Stratford Primary and St Patrick’s Primary School are presenting one of The Bard’s most loved comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Local teacher Meg Greenway, who grew up within the festival theatre community herself, directs this tale filled with magic, love, sword fights and breaking the rules.
On a Midsummer night, four young athenians find themselves tangled in a chase through an enchanted forest, where warring fairies and a bumbling group of mechanicals add to the chaos.
What could possibly go wrong?
The combined school’s production is a wonderful coming together of young people that has now been shared by generations of Stratford locals.
See them on Wednesday, May 14 and Thursday, May 15 at 1.30pm and Friday, May 16 at 6pm at The Stratford Mechanics Hall.
As always – for tickets and all things Shakespeare visit the Stratford Shakespeare Festival website.
