Preamble by Chris Tiessen; Itineraries by Stratford Festival; Photos by Ted Belton, Chris Tiessen & Stratford Tourism
While Stratford may be famed for its Shakespearean productions, the city’s appeal goes well beyond the stage. Candlelit dinners, artisan shops, festive trails, and riverside picnics make the perfect companions to a theatrical performance. For this feature, TOQUE asked the Stratford Festival to craft itineraries that weave theatre with design, dining, and discovery. Whether it’s intrigue, family cheer, or the dark allure of Macbeth, Stratford delivers culture with character – and just the right measure of charm.
DANGEROUS LIAISONS
In pre-revolutionary France, La Marquise de Merteuil and Le Vicomte de Valmont initiate a menacing game of manipulation, seduction, and blackmail. Their victims: the pious Madame de Tourvel and the naïve Cécile Volange. As desire deepens, schemes unravel and betrayal propels each character towards tragic consequences.
Day 1: Check in to The Bruce Hotel, where discreet luxury and a 24-hour cookie hotline set the tone. Champagne via room service is the right call before dressing for dinner at The Prune. Expect caviar, foie gras, and confit duck in a setting that feels equal parts elegant and indulgent. Dessert and a digestif complete the affair before curtain call at the Festival Theatre for Dangerous Liaisons. Back at The Bruce, sink into your bathrobe and order that cookie – or two.
Day 2: Take your time, late checkout is part of the pleasure here. Brunch at Café Bouffon, an unapologetically decadent Stratford staple. Then wander Stratford’s boutiques – including Ånde for sustainable, small-batch fashion and Danna Nicole for timeless capsule pieces and personal styling. Stop by Bouffon’s bakery for pastel-perfect macarons before heading home.
ANNIE
Donna Feore’s Annie bursts with song, dance, and optimism. Harper Rae Asch shines as the plucky orphan, joined by a spirited ensemble and a scene-stealing Sandy. Crisp choreography and heart combine to prove the sun will indeed come out tomorrow.
Day 1: Start with a hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream at Balzac’s Coffee Roasters. With vouchers for Stratford’s Christmas Trail, choose six stops that deliver festive treats with small-town charm. Lunch is wood-fired pizza at Pazzo Pizzeria, where themed mocktails keep things playful. Check in to The Arden Park Hotel. Its indoor pool is a welcome outlet for young travellers (and the young at heart).
Day 2: Join the locals for a hearty breakfast at Features, then swing by Danielle O’Connor Jewellery to see a local take on Annie’s heart-shaped locket. A sweet stop at Revel Café is rewarded with weekend cruffins and fresh donuts. The matinee performance of Annie at the Festival Theatre offers the perfect finale. Before departure, pick up a Sandy plush toy from the Festival Theatre Store — a charming reminder of Stratford’s holiday sparkle.
MACBETH
A mesmerizing prophecy. Unchecked ambition. Tyranny and civil war. Robert Lepage’s Macbeth relocates Shakespeare’s dark tragedy to the 1990’s biker turf wars in a haunting exploration of fate, desire, and the corrupting weight of power.
Day 1: Ease into town with a stop at Perth County Moto, a curated blend of biker gear, lifestyle pieces, and espresso bar. Settle into the artful surrounds of Five Stratford. A short walk takes you to Junction 56 Distillery for a tasting before dinner at Foster’s Inn, where steak frites is the order. Curtain up at the Avon Theatre for Macbeth, followed by a whiskey-based Blood & Sand nightcap at Relic Lobby Bar.
Day 2: Start the day off with a charcoal latte at Ashborne Café to keep the Macbeth mood intact. Across the street, browse MacLeods Scottish Shop for tartans and ‘Scottish Play’ nods. Close the trip out on a sweet note with a box of Duncans of Deeside Scottish shortbread – the perfect companion for the journey home.
AS YOU LIKE IT
Banished from a modern court, Rosalind discovers freedom in the Forest of Arden, a place where identities shift and love blooms. With skids, surveillance, and clever disguises, Chris Abraham’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s beloved As You Like It deftly shifts from stark authority into radiant comedy and joyful reconciliation.
Day 1: Begin the day at Gallery Stratford with And Yet… Here We Are, a thoughtful exhibition on presence and renewal. Wander downtown and discover expertly curated design finds at Wills & Prior and Distill Gallery, both always stocked with beautifully handmade pieces. Enjoy dinner alfresco at Lovage, one of Festival City’s true hidden gems, followed by an evening performance of As You Like It at the Festival Theatre. Continue with a nightcap at Starlight before self-checking into The Penrose Suites in nearby St. Marys.
Day 2: Wake slowly to the day with coffee on your balcony overlooking St. Marys Country Club (stmarysgolf.com). Brunch at the authentically restored The Flour Mill, followed by a hands-on pottery workshop at Zenfire Pottery — a grounding finale to a creative retreat.
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
In Kate Hamill’s witty and heartfelt adaptation of this beloved Regency-era Austen classic, sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are left at the mercy of their reluctant half-brother after the sudden death of their dear father. As suitors come and go, the sisters must navigate love, loss, and reason versus passion, ultimately discovering their own voices and the freedom to shape their own destinies.
Day 1: Check in at the Three Houses Inn, where Victorian charm meets understated comfort. Afternoon tea awaits at the ever-elegant Bruce Hotel (thebruce.ca) — white gloves and top hats encouraged. Afterwards, take a leisurely wander through Stratford’s idyllic downtown, ducking into boutiques such as Watson’s Chelsea Bazaar. Dinner at Elizabeth. rounds out the evening, offering a refined, seasonal menu before a moonlit stroll back to your inn.
Day 2: Enjoy a hearty breakfast before lounging poolside at the Inn’s saltwater retreat. Pick up a picnic from the Festival Theatre Café and claim a patch of grass along the Avon. Take in a matinée performance of Sense and Sensibility at the Festival Theatre. Post-show, amble to the Avon Boat House for a pedal boat glide beneath the willows, ice cream sundae in hand. Make a final stop at Balzac’s Coffee Roasters (balzacs.com) for a London Fog (a Stratford staple), hot or iced.
