For All - Shaw Festival Theatre

An Annual Tradition!

Order a delectable High Tea box, filled with savoury sandwiches, scones and treats. Sidle up to the tea stand for a hot cuppa’ or glass of bubbly. Add a pre-tea workshop and craft an elegant fascinator. Make a day of it by taking in Funny Girl. What better way to celebrate Mum?!

A self-guided tour of gardens throughout Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Tickets can be purchased at shawguild.ca

Raise a glass and share a toast to celebrate Dad with a curated whisky flight prepared by The Shaw’s in-house culinary team and take in a performance of Jeeves & Wooster. Paired with delectable tastings, you’ll have no problem proclaiming, “Here’s to you, Dad!”

Enjoy haunting tales and revisit the Golden Age of radio plays, where dialogue is delivered live and sound effects are created with live foley. Return to a time when the medium was “magic” airwaves painting a rich audio tapestry which drew families round the radio for story time.

Enjoy haunting tales and revisit the Golden Age of radio plays, where dialogue is delivered live and sound effects are created with live foley. Return to a time when the medium was “magic” airwaves painting a rich audio tapestry which drew families round the radio for story time.

Workshop and Children’s Tea, Ages 5-10

By royal decree you and your family are invited to tea. Learn about royal etiquette and play make believe. Cookies and punch are provided. Prior to Saturday matinee performances of Cinderella.

Book early! Big, beautiful uplifting vocals that will take your breath away. Enjoy this extremely popular, euphoric and inspirational musical experience performed by the glorious voices of the Shaw Festival Company.

Join Shaw Music Director, Paul Sportelli and sing-along to the music of Funny Girl. Later in the season participate in a seasonal sing!

A night of musical delights, celebrated songs and intimate encounters. Members of our amazing Ensemble will delight and inspire you at our very own, brand new nightclub.

Classical music concerts performed in the Festival Theatre lobby by members of the Shaw Orchestra.

Extended into September!

Enjoy great food, refreshments and live music. Thursdays in July, August and September following matinees.

An evening of jazz hosted by Associate Music Director, Ryan deSouza, and featuring members of the Shaw Orchestra and special guests.

An intimate and interactive evening of songs and stories. Hosted by Associate Music Director, Ryan deSouza, Ensemble members sing songs from their audition songbooks and recount stories about their lives as artists in the theatre.

Activate your theatre engagement with Shaw artists and the creative minds who bring our plays to life. Five plays over three days, special presentations, daily lunches and parking.

Join us for a presentation of the craft of large-scale puppetry, examining the work of Julie Taymor, and the other companies and creators around the world, who design large-scale puppets that transform into impressive creatures and characters on stage to tell stories, like Prince Caspian, The Lion King and others.

Revel in the works of Bernard Shaw and contemporaries with thought-provoking presentations curated by the International Shaw Society and stimulating sessions with Shaw artists over three days. Includes receptions, daily sessions, lunches and parking.

Our Premier Experience!

Immerse yourself in our 2026 Season. Seven plays over four days, and engaging sessions with Shaw professionals, writers and scholars. Registration includes all daily lunches, Cabernet Cabaret, guest speakers and parking.

Join acclaimed author, Julie Gilbert, for Giant Love: an intimate talk and book signing. She will explore the life of her great aunt, Pulitzer prize winning writer Edna Ferber. This special event offers a rare opportunity to engage with Gilbert’s insights and celebrate her latest work.

Supported by DeRoy Testamentary Foundation

Examining the impact Jewish women in theatre made to the art form, the growth of American and Canadian theatre and the changes and challenges they faced pre, during and post WWII.

Supported by DeRoy Testamentary Foundation

Activate your theatre engagement with Shaw artists and the creative minds who bring our plays to life. Five plays over three days, special presentations, daily lunches and parking.

Welcome to the Theatre of Medicine, co-created by The Shaw and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, that teaches essential skills like these through techniques found in the performing arts. Theatre of Medicine is a certified continuing professional development (CPD) program, accredited through the University of Toronto’s Temerty School of Medicine. There are half-day and full-day workshop options available, as well as a full-weekend in September. So often these skills are overlooked or part of hidden curriculum in medical education and yet they are essential for effective patient engagement and overall physician wellbeing. They can be taught, learned, and, with practice, become second nature — as part of a whole-system of medical practice.

For more information email Alexis Milligan at [email protected]

Peter Vronsky, best-selling author, filmmaker, and investigative historian will sit down with The Shaw to explore our fascination with true crime and the classic whodunit. How is it wrapped in history and sensationalised mythology? Why are we fascinated with serial killers? Can you get away with murder? Dr. Vronsky is the author of Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters and Sons of Cain: A History of Serial Killers from the Stone Age to the Present. He has recently assisted in ten cold case closures in the United States perpetrated by Richard Cottingham, the “Torso Serial Killer” in the 1960s and 1970s.

Enjoy a riveting conversation with directors Philip Akin (Ohio State Murders) and Peter Fernandes (Sleuth). They will explore how each reimagined their respective plays with fresh psychological depth, modern resonance and bold theatrical vision.

Ignite your imagination as we examine the growth of children’s literature and theatre from the turn of the 20th century to today.

Experience an in-depth look at Funny Girl and the rise of American theatre through the lives of prominent Jewish women from Fanny Brice to Barbra Streisand.

Supported by DeRoy Testamentary Foundation

P.G. Wodehouse was an unashamed golf lunatic, so much so that he wrote The Golf Omnibus, highlighting everything from love on the links to the terrors of teeing off. Come for a chinwag, let us iron out the details and driver ourselves crazy as we bunker into the Art of Golf and P.G. Wodehouse.

Often characterized by formality and complexity in its musical form, the Classical era marked one of the most transformative chapters in music history. Composers Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart created widely admired representatives of “absolute music” including symphonies, concertos, and the sonata. Join us as we examine this incredible period in history.

Join us for a morning of theatrical true-stories and tall-tales, hosted by the legendary theatre critic and historian Anthony Chase of NPR’s Theatre Talk, with special guests.

Up close and personal with our 2026 Season directors and designers who share their eye-opening insights and visions about the plays they have brought to life.

Join fellow patrons for an engaging and guided discussion, exploring unique perspectives on a shared experience. Following select Tuesday, Friday and Saturday matinees (except those marked P and O).

Pre-show fun! Enjoy an interactive workshop prior to each performance of The Wind in the Willows and A Year with Frog and Toad.

Here’s your chance to peek behind the curtain. An hour-long guided tour of the Festival Theatre reveals the secrets that bring The Shaw’s work to the stage.

Uncover the creative invention and backstage brilliance that make each performance unforgettable with a lively post-show conversation that reveals the artistry, technique and surprises that bring theatre to life. Following Thursday matinees of Funny Girl and Cinderella.

Shaw’s long-running and ever-popular informal question-and-answer session with actors following Tuesday evening performances (except those marked P and O), in all three theatres.

A brief history of cabaret, from its birth in the cafés of Paris to its development into large-scale productions in the United States. Join us for an insightful half-hour talk about this delightful art form.

Mix yourself the monthly signature cocktail and join us online for an engaging conversation (and a few stories!) with Shaw Company members and artists. Invitation, recipe and information emailed prior to each event.

Defy Dementia, developed by Baycrest’s Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation in partnership with the Shaw Festival, is a community event bringing leading scientists, local health experts, Shaw Festival artists and community members together to explore the latest developments in brain health, aging, and the power of the arts in Positive Aging. The event will feature educational and experiential learning sessions with experts in the field, brain and hearing assessments and a community organization exhibition.

Attendance is free, however space is limited and advance registration is required for the presentation and brain assessments. Hearing assessments are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Information about on-site and off-site parking is available here.

Featuring
• Dr Allison Sekuler, President and Chief Scientist at the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI)
• Dr Nicole Anderson, Senior Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute
• Bonnie Bagnulo, Executive Director of NOTL Palliative Care
• Sharry Flett, Shaw Festival Ensemble Artist
• Shaw Festival Artist Facilitators
• Brain and hearing assessments
• Community organization exhibition

Schedule
9am – Community exhibition
9:45am – Doors to theatre open
10am – Presentation & Experiential Learning
12pm – Brain & Hearing Assessment Sessions (spaces limited, must pre-register), and Hearing Assessments (first-come, first-serve)

Speakers Biographies

A fun and engaging class where participants explore the art of improvisational theatre. Through various exercises and activities, seniors boost their creativity, confidence and communication skills while having a great time. It’s a fantastic way to socialize, laugh and keep the mind sharp! Drop in. No prior booking required.

This senior’s voice intensive is an immersive workshop designed to help explore and enhance their vocal abilities. Participants will engage in a variety of exercises and activities aimed at improving their voice control, expression and confidence. Taught by famed English tenor and Royal College of Music graduate James Oxley, the workshop offers a supportive and enjoyable environment for seniors to discover the power of their unique voices and connect with others through sound.

A scene study is a collaborative and lively activity where participants come together to perform and explore scenes from plays or films. Through this process, everyone works together to understand the characters, emotions and storylines, bringing the scene to life on its feet. This process involves learning lines, understanding the motivations of the characters and engaging in group discussions to fully embody the material. This experience offers a wonderful opportunity to stay mentally active, connect with others and express oneself, fostering joy, creativity and a sense of fulfilment on the stage and in this stage of life. The workshop will culminate in a scene study invited presentation on November 18.

Memorization is a healthy way to exercise your brain. Each session takes you through the techniques that actors at The Shaw use in their daily practice to prepare. You’ll have friends asking, “How do you learn all those lines?” Strengthen your brain and boost your confidence. Perfect for theatre lovers, lifelong learners and anyone who is aiming to support their cognitive health.

Fun for All Ages (8+) and Experience Levels

This progressive four-week session is a playful intro to the basics of different dance forms, led by a Shaw Ensemble member. You will learn some technique and even a bit of choreography!

Find the limelight in your Golden Years and engage with others who are young-at-heart. The Shaw offers short, delightful concerts with heartwarming stories, songs and nostalgia as we bring artistic excellence to your long-term residence or retirement residence.

Please contact [email protected] for information.