The Shakespeare Inn is a Bavarian Style International-Hosted Inn Purpose-Built to serve Theatre guests for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Theatre-with dozens of Posters of Theatre’s past odorning the Lobby’s & Hallways for reminiscing of plays you have experienced as a school-child and/or an adult in the years & decades past. We feature Executive King & Queen Jacuzzi Suites, Executive Kitchenette Suites, and Newly Upgraded Modern Queen & Queen & Long-Twin guest rooms all with Extended Stays. We offer a "Royal Shakespearean Welcome” from the Mermaid in the Courtyard to the Boutique Shakespeare Inn atmosphere right in the Heart of Ontario's Great Shakespeare Festival Theatre Country. Shakespeare is just 5 minutes from Stratford-and right on HWY 7&8-Huron Rd-and The Shakespeare Inn is right on your way to-and just minutes from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Theatre. Come enjoy the Gracious International Hospitality of our Boutique Inn.
The Shakespeare INN**** is the centrally located accommodation, for Southwest Ontario Festivals, and is located in the Hamlet of Shakespeare- and right on HWY 7&8- Huron Rd-and within a
short drive of everything happening in the Southwest of Ontario. Stay in our clean and bright rooms and suites,
shop and play in Shakespeare, and enjoy all that Southwest Ontario has to offer.
Stratford Shakespeare Theatre
The Stratford Festival Theatre in our backyard-a short 5 minutes away, or to Drayton’s 6 Festival Theatre’s each is just a short drive away.
New Hamburg Moparfest is just minutes away, & Wellesley Apple Butter & Cheese Festival Sept - 10 minutes. We are just 15 minutes to Woodstock Outdoor Farm Shows and business centers. Whether is's Maple Sugar Festivals, World Class Horseshoe Tournaments, or World Crokinole and Country Dance Competitions, and whether you are looking for unique and Upscale Hotels, or Quiet Boutique Country Inns, we are your premier accommodation choice.
Just 20 minutes to St Jacobs Farmers Markets - or Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest - or Bright-Walter's Family Theatre Music Venue - or St Mary's baseball and a short 45 minutes to Blyth Festival Theatre.
Depending on the season, you may be greeted with flowers, showers or great snowmobiling-with trails right at the Inn. In every season, you will find our lobby a welcome respite from the storms and a friendly haven from the frazzle and dazzle of modern life. From sunup to 11 pm you will be greeted with a smile fron friendly hosts. The shine of our lobby reflects the experience you will find in our rooms and suites. Your stay in the Shakespeare INN will be your first and most lasting impression as you take in all our region has to offer.
Please feel free to bring you pets & other furry friends along-we have a facility in the Greater Stratford Area community, Tails Wag Inn, to happily accommodate them on your stay.
The 2026 Stratford Festival season, titled "This Rough Magic," is the final season for Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and runs from April 21 through November 1, 2026.
Reviews highlight a mix of Shakespearean classics, musicals, and contemporary works across four venues: the
Festival Theatre, Tom Patterson Theatre, Studio Theatre & Avon Theatre
Shakespeare Productions
>Othello (Tom Patterson Theatre): Directed by Haysam Kadri and starring André Sills and Evan Buliung, this production is widely praised as an "unmissable focal point" and a "pressure cooker" of visceral tension. Critics note Sills’s "barbed, heartbroken” performance and Buliung’s "cartoonishly evil” Iago, though some critique minor sightline issues in the thrust stage setup.
> The Tempest (Festival Theatre): Directed by Cimolino, this production is described as "downright divine" and "dazzling," featuring striking visual effects with billowing sails and intense sound design.
> A Midsummer Night's Dream (Tom Patterson Theatre): Hailed as "huge-hearted and genuinely funny," this enchanting production features strong ensemble work and is seen as a major draw for visitors.
Musicals and Comedies
>Something Rotten! (Festival Theatre): A remount of the 2024 hit, described as "exquisite" and a "mind-blowing" exercise in theatrical limits.
It retains its original creative team and received multiple standing ovations.
>Guys and Dolls (Festival Theatre): A brand new production (not a remount) directed by Donna Feore, offering a fresh take on the golden-age classic.
>The Importance of Being Earnest (Tom Patterson Theatre): Oscar Wilde’s comedy is noted for its "satirical edge" and "frothy, flowery" fun, with strong performances supporting the play's sharp wit.
Contemporary and New Work
>Waiting for Godot (Studio Theatre): A limited engagement described as "tedious and stark" but intentionally so, fitting the existential themes of the play.
>The Tao of the World and The King James Bible Play: World premieres by Jovanni Sy and Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman that aim to "challenge, provoke, and surprise" audiences.
>Saturday, Sunday, Monday: A new English translation of Eduardo De Filippo’s classic, adding to the season's contemporary offerings.
Venue and General Notes
>The Festival Theatre is praised for its thrust stage design, perfect acoustics, and lack of bad seats.
The season is viewed as a financially strategic finale for Cimolino, balancing beloved hits with new works.
Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ takes the stage at Avon Theatre-Opens June 18
The Importance of Being Earnest is witty, elegant and consistently hilarious
Strong performances and an evident affection for Oscar Wilde fuel a production that never loses sight of the play's satirical edge
The Importance of Being Earnest continues in repertory at the Avon Theatre until Oct. 23.
The curtain opens StratFest 2026 season with The Hobbit
The Tempest set to begin its run at the Stratford Festival’s Festival Theatre
A theatrical event of rare scale and emotional resonance has arrived. The Tempest, directed by artistic director Antoni Cimolino in his final Shakespeare production before concluding his tenure at the end of the 2026 season- The Tempest officially opens on May 25 and runs until October 24 at the Festival Theatre.
Stratford Festival opens its 2026 season May 26 with 'Guys and Dolls'
Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ takes the stage at Avon Theatre-Opens June 18
Jealousy, ambition and manipulation collide in Othello Othello officially opens on June 19, 2026 and runs until September 27, 2026 at the Tom Patterson Theatre.
Waiting for Godot takes to the Festival Stage this month
The production runs from May 30 to July 31
Stratford Festival brings back 'Something Rotten!' after strong audience demand
Something Rotten! officially opens May 29 and runs until Oct. 31 at the Festival Theatre
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Canada’s Stratford Festival welcomes visitors from all over the world every year to enjoy world-class theatre and musical experiences. Combining traditional Shakespeare, contemporary dramas, classic stories, a new telling of a beloved children’s tale, and two iconic musicals that will have you dancing in your seat, this is truly a season for everyone.
Performances span April through December and we invite you to check their site for ticket details. While you eagerly await your next visit, make sure you check out their subscription platform, STRATFEST@HOME. This high-definition streaming platform features films of Stratford Festival’s own productions, featuring Shakespeare plays along with other entertaining content. There are a lot of new and exciting things to come, including the new Tom Patterson Theatre—a stunning venue that supports more performances than ever before. Say hello as you surround this engaging and intimate, yet epic, new stage.
But that’s not all the Festival offers. Complementing the shows is The Meighen Forum, which offers workshops, speakers, panels, special performances and much more! You’re invited behind the scenes to take a tour, check out their huge stash of costumes and props, or the storied Festival Theatre itself!
There is so much to immerse yourself in, so make sure to check the Stratford Festival website stratfordfestival.ca or download the StratFest OnSite App to your phone or tablet to see when you can visit. See you soon!
Drayton Entertainment’s Theatre’s-A Summer of Unforgettable Theatre Continues!
This August, seven exciting productions take to Drayton Entertainment's various stages across the province.
From laugh-out-loud comedies to toe-tapping musicals and unforgettable stories, there’s something for every theatre lover to enjoy. Catch a show close to home or make a summer getaway and discover one of our other beautiful venues.
Wherever your travels take you, an unforgettable theatre experience awaits.
Book early for the best available seats!
Disney's Frozen
August 5 to August 30
Huron Country Playhouse
When Queen Elsa’s hidden powers plunge Arendelle into eternal winter, her sister Anna sets off on a daring journey to save the kingdom. Featuring beloved songs like “Let It Go,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “For the First Time in Forever,” Disney’s Frozen brings the magic of the hit film to life on stage.
Nashville Music City
Now through August 8
Huron Country Playhouse
August 13 to August 30
Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge
Celebrates the songs and stars that made Nashville the heart of country music. Featuring hits from Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, The Chicks, and more, this feel-good musical revue will have you tapping your boots and singing along.
The Odd Couple
August 12 to August 30
St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
Neil Simon’s hilarious comedy brings together two mismatched roommates: neat-freak Felix Ungar and messy sportswriter Oscar Madison. Packed with witty one-liners and unforgettable characters, this award-winning comedy is guaranteed to have you laughing from start to finish!
Over the River and Through the Woods
Now through August 8
King's Wharf Theatre
August 12 to August 30
Huron Country Playhouse
Four loving but meddlesome Italian grandparents hatch a hilarious scheme to stop their adult grandson from moving away to pursue his career. Filled with laughter and love, this story celebrates family, tradition, and the bonds that shape us.
Return to Grace
Now through August 8
St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
August 13 to August 30
King's Wharf Theatre
Return to Grace celebrates the enduring spirit of Elvis Presley—from his rise in Memphis to his legendary Las Vegas performances. This exhilarating musical revue features a powerhouse cast, breathtaking dancers, and unforgettable hits.
Sexy Laundry
August 12 to August 30
Drayton Festival Theatre
Check in for a weekend of laughs with this lighthearted comedy. After 25 years of marriage, Alice books a swanky hotel getaway to reignite the spark with her reluctant husband, Henry. Will passion return, or will tensions rise before the romance does?
Sorry...I'm Not Sorry!
Now through August 22
Hildebrand Schoolhouse Theatre St. Jacobs
Elbows up—the Mountie’s back! RCMP Constable Archibald F. Inkster returns for his “final” farewell tour, delivering laugh-out-loud Canadian comedy, light satire, and beloved music from the Great Canadian Songbook. It’s a patriotic, feel-good send-off you won’t want to miss!
Stratford’s enduring magic
This theatre town is a bit like New York City that way — minus about eight million people, but the glow is just as bright.
Shakespeare Gardens was created 90 years ago as a replica of an English garden.
EXPERIENCE STRATFORD THEATER’S
Festival Theatre:
Tom Patterson Theatre:
Studio Theatre:
Avon Theatre:
Shakespeare Inn Management