Recommendation Letter for Stratford Festival
To whom it may concern:
It is with great pride I write this letter to recommend the Stratford Festival. What started as Tom Patterson’s attempt to breathe life into the economy in the 1950s, became the start of an astounding chapter in Canadian — and global — theatre.
The Stratford Festival is the largest classical repertory theatre company in North America, staging more than a dozen productions each season, which runs from April to October. The theatre has an emphasis on Shakespearean plays, but also produces classics, contemporary dramas, and musicals.
With four venues, the Festival can accommodate more than 1,800 people with each visitor no more than 65 feet from the stage. The Festival Theatre reflects the design of the giant canvas tent where the first performances took place, and even has the original lumber under the stage. The Avon Theatre, in the heart of downtown Stratford, holds old world charm and The Tom Patterson Theatre features an intimate setting with actors mere feet away from the audience. The Studio Theatre is the smallest of the four theatres, and often hosts comedy nights, concerts, and speakers of all types.
On top of providing top notch performances, the Stratford Festival is also committed to helping others. The Festival offers several opportunities for growth and learning through clubs, programs, workshops, and training. It has become a great resource in developing the skills needed in theatre and opera, and its Birmingham Conservatory is the training ground for some of the most promising up-and-coming actors of the day.
The Stratford Festival’s involvement in The Suchitoto Project particularly impresses me. Since 2009, Festival volunteers have been heading to Suchitoto, El Salvador, a country recovering from three decades of civil war. These volunteers use the power of theatre to help bring social and economic change.
It’s easy to see why I recommend the Stratford Festival to anyone looking for a place to escape and
enjoy some of the finest theatre in the world.
Sincerely yours,
Scott Kinsinger
Communications Consultant
Schooley Mitchell
