SHAKESPEARE IN CANADA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 11

SHAKESPEARE IN CANADA

Festival To Be Held Next Year

ONTARIO’S STRATFORD ON, AVON THE VENUE (From a Reuter Correspondent.) OTTAWA. After a slight period of wavering doubt, the 18,000 people of the western Ontario city of Stratford have decided to gamble 250,000 dollars on the conviction that Shakespeare still has an appeal, even in these days of drive-in j movies and television. Stratford is named after, the English: birthplace of Shakespeare. The little | river city that flows through it has been named the Avon. People in the prosperous little city have long felt a geographical affinity to Shakespeare. Finally the urge to stage a Shakespearian Festival proved irresistible. A year ago it was announced that this summer a huge Shakespearian fete would be staged. The festival committee had estimated the cost of the festival, which is to run from July 13 to August 15, at 259,000 dollars. Citizens of Stratford subscribed 40,000 dollars. Another 30,000 dollars came in from Shakespeare enthusiasts all over Canada. It was estimated that ticket sales would produce another 100,000 dollars. That left 90,000 dollars for which Shakespeare lovers have subscribed a bond. The plays will be presented every j second night in the 148-foot diameter' circular theatre now being built on I a hill in the park overlooking the| Avon river. The stage will be in the l , centre and tiers of seats for 1500 per-; sons will rise in concentric circles three quarters of the way around it The canvas top will be supported by 60-foot poles. The stage is of a type new to North i America and the only permanent one) of its type in the world. It has all] practical aspects of the Elizabethan, stage with plenty of modern improve-, ments. It is complete with under-' ground passages and trapdoors making the effective appearance and departure of ghosts a very simple matter. There seems little doubt that Shakespeare’s fans are going to see Stratford through its determination to turn the little city into a North. American centre for his plays. Even before the tickets were printed the requests for them were so numerous that the season was extended a week. Another extension is being considered. Re-1 quests for tickets have come from all over Canada, from 20 States in the United States, England, Scotland and Greenland.

Alec Guiness, British stage and screen star will take the title role in Richard 111. The Canadian actor, Don Harron, will have the lead in “All’s Well That Ends Well.” Guiness will also have a major role in this play.