Frontmezzjunkies reports: The Three Eagerly Awaited August Openings at the Stratford Festival
By Ross
The countdown is on—three epic productions at Stratford Festival this August, and I… am. so. ready.
First up, I’ll be diving into the world première of Ransacking Troy, Erin Shields’ powerful reimagining of Homer’s classics. Instead of glorifying warriors, this bold new play centers on Penelope and the women at the heart of the Trojan War, rewriting the myth with sharp wit and urgent relevance.
This isn’t just a retelling, it’s a complete flip of the script. Rather than focusing on heroics on the battlefield, it tells the story through the voices of the women who endured the chaos. Penelope, tired of waiting for Odysseus, takes matters into her own hands—rallying Greek women to seek peace instead of destruction. It’s a feminist, timely response to a story we think we know, but this version challenges us to reconsider who gets to tell the story, and what resilience really means in a world torn apart by war.
I look forward to seeing a production that challenges old-school traditional narratives and alters how we all see history and myth, shedding a powerful light on the voices normally left in the shadows. I can picture myself sitting in the audience, captivated by the powerful performances and bold ideas that this stellar cast, led by Maev Beaty (Stratford’s Much Ado About Nothing) as Penelope and Irene Poole (Stratford’s The Diviners) as multiple Greek gods and heroines, will bring to life under the visionary direction of Jackie Maxwell (Coal Mine’s Infinite Life), and I feel the anticipation growing.
Next, I’ll be immersing myself in the face of conflict and creative resilience with The Art of War. Yvette Nolan’s compelling play about a young Canadian war artist during WWII promises to be a quiet, powerful exploration of how art captures history, and how it can give voice to the voiceless. How a piece of art can capture a soldier’s quiet dignity amid chaos, remaining alive and speaking ideas beyond words. Nolan’s play promises to evoke that same sense of reverence and reflection as it unpacks how a single artist’s brushstrokes preserve memory in moments of unimaginable horror.
Under the masterful direction of Keith Barker and led by Josue Laboucane (Stratford’s Anne of Green Gables) as Nick, I can already see the striking visual storytelling that the Stratford Festival does so well, intertwining personal and historical narratives that will pull at my heart and my mind. Hopefully, this production will make me think about how we shape collective history and whether art can really hold the chaos and dignity of war without losing its humanity. I’m eager to see how this story will invite conversations long after I’ve left the theatre, haunting me in the best way possible.
And finally, Dangerous Liaisons, a play (and film) I love with all my scheming heart, will close my August festival adventures at Stratford with a bang, serving up an intoxicating cocktail of seduction, power, and revenge that will go down powerfully well. Set against the decadence of the French Revolution, this new adaptation looks to be nothing short of opulent and provocative, and if anyone can make a beautiful period piece sparkle, it’s the Stratford Festival. I’m thrilled and excited to be transported once again to that world. The lush costumes, decadent sets, and masterful direction by Esther Jun (Stratford’s Les Belles-Soeurs) promise a trip back in time where love is dangerous and loyalties are thin.
With an incredible cast, namely Celia Aloma (Stratford’s Sense and Sensibility) as Madame de Tourvel, Jesse Gervais (Stratford’s As You Like It) as Le Vicomte de Valmont, Jessica B. Hill (Stratford’s Twelfth Night) as La Marquise de Merteuil, I expect to be utterly captivated as these characters scheme and fall, and reminded of all those times where appearances deceive, and true intentions reveal themselves from behind masks of powder and duplicity only when it’s too late.
Three shows, three powerful tales of desire, identity, and human folly—each one promises unforgettable moments. I’ll be there soaking up the spectacle, the wit, the emotion. Stay tuned—I’ll be sharing all the highlights and reactions soon. Can’t wait to tell you all about my August at the Startfod Festival.
