Stratford For All Seasons: Theatre & Arts. Phyllis Hinz
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musical entertainment along the banks of the Avon River
HMS Razzamajazz is a summertime musical attraction in Stratford that locals and returning visitors look for every year. Known affectionately as The Razz, the 25-foot by 10-foot floating stage cruises the Avon River, ducking under the bridge to Tom Patterson Island along the way. Jazz bands, one-man shows, and folk singers on the Razz entertain spectators along the riverbank. If there is a crowd in a particular area, The Razz lingers awhile before moving on. Whether you are walking the riverside path, sitting on a bench, taking photos of the swans, or lying on a blanket on the grass, you might find yourself tapping your toes or even putting out a dance step or two. People do!
Performances run from the end of June to Labour Day in September. Weather permitting, the boat’s schedule is coordinated with evening performances at the Stratford Festival Theatre and the Tom Patterson Theatre Centre, launching at six o’clock and returning to the dock around 7:30 p.m. as people proceed to the theatres.
In 2020, HMS Razzamajazz celebrated thirty years on the water in Stratford. She is owned by the city and operated by the Tillsonburg Power and Sail Squadron, formerly the Stratford Power and Sail Squadron.
INNER CHAMBER
SEASON: Spring, Fall, Winter
LOCATION: 163 King Street
WEBSITE: www.innerchamber.ca/
HIGHLIGHT: The pleasure of chamber music performed by local professional musicians
Inner Chamber events bring you classical chamber music with unexpected twists. The number of performers varies from event to event, as do the instruments, depending upon the theme, chosen composer, and innovation of the evening. Traditional instruments like violin, cello, horn, piano, percussion, bass, oboe, harp, viola, flute, and clarinet are sometimes joined by instruments like the banjo and harpsichord. Dancers, vocalists, and narrators often perform as guest artists.
Most of the performances are held at Factory163, an old, arty building that has been gaining character since 1902. Wooden floors, overhead pipes, special lighting, and draped curtains create a cozy space. The intimacy is matched by friendly repartee by the musicians. The passion they have for their profession is evident as they provide interesting details on what you are about to hear. Casual, comfortable dress by both performers and audience completes the Inner Chamber experience.
Six Inner Chamber events take place Sunday evenings, from October to May. If you buy your tickets in advance, you are provided a buffet meal before the performance. Dinner begins at six o’clock, music at seven. Tickets are available online or at the door.
KIWANIS FESTIVAL OF THE PERFORMING ARTS
SEASON: Spring
LOCATION: Various venues around the city of Stratford
WEBSITE: www.kiwanisfestivalstratford.com/
HIGHLIGHT: See and support local future performing arts stars
Spring, the time of renewal and growth, is the perfect season for young performers to sharpen their skills and receive encouragement to persevere with their talents and dreams. The Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts hosts thousands of amateur performers, of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, on various stages around Stratford. For the budding artists, the exposure to competition and feedback from adjudicators is priceless. There are trophies and cash awards, and for those who perform exceptionally, there is the opportunity to go to provincial, even national championships.
Competition categories reflect the latest trends in music, dance, and drama, from musical instruments to school choirs, musical theatre, composition, and speech. On performance days, you’ll see teachers and accompanists arriving for warm-ups. Young artists dressed in concert attire stand nervously in the wings while parents and supporters wait eagerly out front. Local newspaper pages are filled with photos and results in every category. Stratford residents volunteer, attend events, and billet competitors. The large local involvement ensures that the city’s arts scene will continue to flourish.
The Kiwanis Festival is the longest running festival in the city. It began in 1926. During World War II, when organizers considered discontinuing the festival for the duration of the war, word arrived that the festivals in Brighton, England, were not cancelling. The local organizers decided that if the most vulnerable area in England was continuing their performances, so would Stratford.
OFF THE WALL STRATFORD ARTISTS ALLIANCE
SEASON: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
LOCATION: 163 King Street
WEBSITE: www.stratfordoffthewall.com
HIGHLIGHT: Workshops with professional theatre artists to develop backstage theatre skills
Off the Wall, as the name suggests, is unconventional and eccentric, for all the right reasons. It is a place where theatre artists and arts education volunteers offer hands-on workshops in order to mentor aspiring theatre production artists. High school and postsecondary students, teachers, community theatre enthusiasts, theatre professionals, and anyone with a desire to channel their creativity can attend. Most courses are held at the Desmond Heeley Theatre Production Arts Studio at Factory163, an arty workspace with high ceilings, heavy, creaking doors, curtained work areas, and dazzling art pieces. It is the perfect place to draw upon the imagination and learn how theatre really works. By taking an Off the Wall workshop, you can learn how to build props, assemble stage sets, design and create masks, metal works, wigs, and faux food. Class sizes are between five and ten. Some graduates move on to university theatre design programs, apprenticeships at the Stratford Festival, and backstage roles in both amateur and professional theatre all over North America.
In addition to the classes, Off the Wall collaborates with local, independent theatre production by providing quality sets to independent acting companies operating on smaller budgets.
PLAYMAKERS! THEATRE SCHOOL
SEASON: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
LOCATION: 438 Downie Street
WEBSITE: http://www.play.makers.ca/
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