Village Squire, 1977-06, Page 24THEATRE
Here, the construction for the original stage of the theatre in 1953 takes place.
STRATFORD FESTIVAL:
25 years after the
impossible dream
22, VILLAGE SQUIRE/JUNE 1977.
Now celebrating its twenty-fifth season,
the Stratford Festival continues to
entertain and educate both its tourists and
local people alike.
Started on July 13, 1953 and with its first
production of Richard 111 held in a tent,
the Stratford Festival became an overnight
success.
One critic commented then that. "1t was
the most exciting night in the history of
Canadian theatre."
At that time Stratford had a population
of 19,500 and only a few determined
residents to see the Festival through. The
idea for the Festival was conceived by
Stratford -born journalist Tom Patterson.
In its first season tourists filled the tent
theatre which could seat 1,980 to 98 per
cent of its capacity and the season which
was supposed to have run five weeks had to
be extended to six.
Although in the original plan there was
supposed to be an open air presentation it
was decided to construct a tent theatre
instead. This was done on the advice of the