Shaw Festival

The Shaw Festival is a repertory theatre company in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, devoted to the plays of George Bernard Shaw and to works written during his lifetime, as well as newer pieces that relate to the period. It was founded in 1962 and has grown into one of the largest repertory theatre companies in North America. Each season, the company stages a dozen or more productions in rotation, so a visitor can see several different plays in a short stay.

The festival uses several theatres in the town, each with its own character. The Festival Theatre, built in the 1970s, is the largest, a modern building with a wide stage used for major productions, and it is the hub of the festival. The Court House Theatre is a small hall in the historic town courthouse, and it was the first home of the company in its early days. The Royal George Theatre is an intimate early twentieth-century house in the middle of town, and the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre, named after a long-serving artistic director, is a smaller space for more experimental work. The variety of rooms means that a visit can range from grand productions to close-up drama.

The programme mixes Shaw’s own plays, such as the satires and comedies he wrote in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with other classics of the same era, musicals, mysteries and new commissions. The company is known for strong acting, detailed costumes and carefully designed productions. Seating is arranged in different categories, so ticket prices vary according to seat position, day and performance, and special offers are sometimes available for students and matinees. Audiences come from across North America, and many plan whole weekends around the plays.

The festival season runs from the spring into the late autumn, with preview performances at the beginning and the final shows around the holiday season, so the best time to come depends on what you want to see. Summer is the busiest period, and weekend shows often sell out, so book early.

The setting is part of the appeal. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a handsome town of historic streets, flower baskets, shops and nearby wineries, and many visitors combine a play with a stroll along Queen Street, a visit to Fort George National Historic Site or a wine tasting. The festival suits theatre lovers, couples and groups, and it is easy to pair an afternoon matinee with a long dinner. Plan ahead for parking and arrive early to enjoy the town.