''CBC Presents the Stratford Festival'' is a Canadian film and television series. Produced by the Stratford Festival in conjunction with CBC Television, the series aims to film a Stratford production of every

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

play by 2025. In addition to airing on CBC Television, the films will also be distributed theatrically both in and outside of Canada. The project received a $3 million grant from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario in July 2015.

Films

''King Lear''

The first film in the series, ''

King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane ...

'', starred

Colm Feore Colm Joseph Feore (; born August 22, 1958) is a Canadian actor. A 15-year veteran of the Stratford Festival, he is known for his Gemini-winning turn as Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in the CBC miniseries '' Trudeau'' (2002), his portrayal of G ...

in the title role."Stratford's King Lear acquires new depths onscreen: review"
''

Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and pa ...

'', February 18, 2015. The cast also included Scott Wentworth as Gloucester, Maev Beaty as Goneril, Sara Farb as Cordelia and

Stephen Ouimette Stephen Ouimette is a Canadian actor and director. Although mostly known for his stage work, particularly at the Stratford Festival of Canada and recently on Broadway in '' La Bete'', he achieved TV fame (and a Gemini Award) as the ghostly Olive ...

as The Fool. The production was directed by Antoni Cimolino. Feore garnered a

Canadian Screen Award The Canadian Screen Awards (french: link=no, Les prix Écrans canadiens) are awards given for artistic and technical merit in the film industry recognizing excellence in Canadian film, English-language television, and digital media ( web series ...

nomination as best actor in a television film or miniseries at the 4th Canadian Screen Awards in 2016.

''King John''

The production of '' King John'' stars

Tom McCamus Tom McCamus (born July 25, 1955Tom McCamus' bio
at www.northernstars.ca) is a Canadia ...

as King John,

Graham Abbey Graham Abbey (born Graham Robert Thomson Abbey, March 24, 1971) is a Canadian film, television and stage actor, who is best known for his role as Gray Jackson in TV drama '' The Border''. History At the then Stratford Festival of Canada, the e ...

as King Philip and Seana McKenna as Lady Constance, and was directed by Tim Carroll. McCamus and McKenna both garnered Canadian Screen Award nominations, McCamus as best actor in a television film or miniseries and McKenna as best actress in a television film or miniseries, at the 4th Canadian Screen Awards.

''Antony and Cleopatra''

The production of '' Antony and Cleopatra'' aired in 2015, starring Geraint Wyn Davies and Yanna McIntosh in the title roles, and was directed by Gary Griffin."Stratford’s Antony and Cleopatra gains stature in film edition"
''

'', May 19, 2015. Davies and McIntosh both garnered Canadian Screen Award nominations, Davies as best actor in a television film or miniseries and McIntosh as best actress in a television film or miniseries, at the 4th Canadian Screen Awards.

''Hamlet''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'', aired in 2016, starred Jonathan Goad as Hamlet, Tom Rooney as Polonius and Seana McKenna as Gertrude.

''The Adventures of Pericles''

'' The Adventures of Pericles'', aired in 2016, starred

Evan Buliung Evan Buliung is a Canadian actor.

as Pericles, Wayne Best as Antiochus, and Deborah Hay as Thaisa and Marina.

''The Taming of the Shrew''

The Taming of the Shrew ''The Taming of the Shrew'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken ...

'', aired in 2016, starred Ben Carlson as Petruchio and Deborah Hay as Katharina.

References

{{reflist, 2 2015 Canadian television series debuts CBC Television original programming Films based on works by William Shakespeare 2010s Canadian anthology television series