Shakespeare’s most Beguiling Comedy Opens at Stratford in May

STRATFORD, ON. May 11, 2026 — As twilight gathers and enchantment stirs, Stratford Festival’s Tom Patterson Theatre opens its 2026 season with Shakespeare’s most beguiling comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Directed by Graham Abbey and developed in collaboration with Groundling Theatre, this spellbound classic features André Sills as Oberon, Michael Spencer-Davis as Nick Bottom and Sara Topham as Titania. A world of mischief, romance and moonlit wonder comes alive as performances begin today.

Strange things happen in the woods by night with neither spirit nor mortal safe from the wiles of the trickster Puck. For mismatched lovers, romance runs delightfully amok, but true love triumphs at dawn.

“This play does not end with the defeat of order or with the defeat of chaos. It ends with something new built from the alchemy of their collision,” says Abbey. “It plunges us into a melee of quick bright things coming to confusion – and it trusts that confusion is how we find our way to truth.”

Michael Spencer Davis stars as Bottom in Shakespeare’s **A Midsummer Night’s Dream** at Stratford Festival 2026 *Photo by Dariane San*che

A Midsummer Night’s Dream also features Evan Buliung as Theseus, Thomas Duplessie as Demetrius, Ijeoma Emesowum as Hippolyta, Vivien Endicott-Douglas as Hermia, Jordin Hall as Lysander, Jessica B. Hill as Helena, and Mike Nadajewski as Puck, with Vivienne Abbey as Rose Petal, Tim Campbell as Egeus, Laura Condlln as First Fairy (Viola), Heidi Damayo as Brimstone, Sarah Dodd as Rita Quince, 郝邦宇 Steven Hao as Snug, Sara-Jeanne Hosie as Snout, The Votaress, Aaron Krohn as Francis Flute,Alexandra Krohn as Daisy, Derek Kwan as Limestone, Cyrus Lane, Dominique LeBlanc as Nightingale (Violin/ Mandolin), Richard Lee as Philostrate’s Associate, Burdock, Tarique Lewis as Mustardseed, Angel Lo as Twig, Davinder Malhi as Peaseblossom, Michael Man as Robin Starveling (Piano), Silvae Mercedes as Moth, Anthony Palermo as Cobweb and Rylan Wilkie as Philostrate.

Abbey is joined by Set Designer Lorenzo Savoini, Costume Designer Joshua Quinlan, Lighting Designer Kevin Lamotte, Composer and Sound Designer Thomas Ryder Payne and Movement Director Stephanie Graham.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream officially opens on May 27 and runs until September 26 at the Tom Patterson Theatre. Tickets are available at stratfordfestival.ca or by calling 1.800.567.1600.

The 2026 season also features The Tempest, Guys and Dolls, Something Rotten!, Waiting for Godot, Death of a Salesman, The Hobbit, The Importance of Being Earnest, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Othello, The Tao of the World and The King James Bible Play. For more information, visit stratfordfestival.ca.