7 Stratford Festival shows in Ontario to gift your loved ones based on their personality

‘Tis the season for making memories with loved ones, so why not take that sentiment to gift-giving? Forget clothes they’ll never wear or fads that will inevitably collect dust — an unforgettable experience is priceless!

Loaded with world-renowned talent and known as North America’s largest classical repertory theatre company, Stratford Festival’s 2025 season has you covered.

With a show to fit just about every interest and personality, there’s a ticket or gift certificate waiting to be unwrapped by your loved one. And if you’re wondering where to begin, try one of these seven shows based on their personality type.

The Bookworm

The bookworm in your life will be amazed to see their favourite stories come to life before their very eyes. 

Sense and Sensibility is an adaptation of classic literature that follows the Dashwood sisters as they seek suitors after their father’s death. Bursting with wit and brimming with tender affection, this regency-era play is sure to delight the romantically inclined.

Jessica B. Hill and Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane, Sense and Sensibility (Ted Belton, Stratford Festival)

Or, take a journey to pre-Revolutionary France with Dangerous Liaisons, where two aristocrats who are bored with their privilege embark on a dangerous game of manipulation and seduction. 

For a family-friendly option, check out Anne of Green Gables. Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic tale of imagination and resilience has captured the hearts of Canadians for generations. It’s the perfect night out for you and your kindred spirit.

The Musical Lover 

Musicals — either you love ’em, or you don’t. But those who do love them, love them deeply, which is why Stratford Festival’s lineup is sure to delight the Broadway buff in your life. 

Dress up in your best smile to take in the tale of Annie, the beloved red-haired orphan on a journey to find her birth parents as she’s taken into the care of billionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks. Good luck getting “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” out of your head in the days that follow.

Harper Rae Asch, Dan Chameroy and Laura Condlln, Annie (Ted Belton, Stratford Festival)

The True Theatre Buff 

Buying for a theatre buff? Then be sure to ‘wow’ with one of Stratford Festival’s fresh takes on classic tales. 

Prophecy battles fate in Shakespeare’s Macbeth as the titular anti-hero discovers the cost of ambition. In this bold reimagining of the historic tragedy, visionary director Robert Lepage sets the story against the backdrop of the 1990s Biker Wars.

André Sills, Sara Topham and Graham Abbey, The Winter’s Tale (Ted Belton, Stratford Festival)

Prefer your tragedy with a hint of humour?

In Shakespeare’s late play, The Winter’s Tale, King Leontes falsely accuses his pregnant wife of infidelity, setting off a chain of catastrophes that has him vowing to live out his days atoning for his actions. An unlikely chance at redemption comes with the bard’s signature blend of comedy, tragedy, and mystery.

The Joker 

Sometimes, all you need is a good laugh. For the jokester in your life, a ticket to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will do just that.

Inspired by the hit 1988 film, Lawrence Jameson and con-competitor Freddy Benson make a bet to swindle an heiress out of $50,000 before discovering that they’re not always the sharpest tools in the shed! This Tony Award-winning musical celebrates jokes and playfulness while serving as a beautiful reminder of an earlier age. 

Jonathan Goad, Shakura Dickson and Liam Tobin, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Ted Belton, Stratford Festival)

Stratford Festival’s 2025 lineup has no shortage of shows to delight everyone on your list this holiday season. Now the question remains: which shows will you choose?

For the full list of 2025 shows, and to purchase tickets or certificates, visit stratfordfestival.ca. The magic awaits!