This October renowned Shakespeare scholar Sir Stanley Wells calls in from the “other Stratford” – where he is Honorary President of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust – to speak with Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino in the Meighen Forum’s final Celebrated Speaker event of the year.

The Meighen Forum will also offer a hint of Halloween throughout the month with such events as Goblin:Macbeth – a spontaneous theatre event by Rebecca Northan with Bruce Horak – and Theatrical Superstitions, hosted by David Prosser with Seana McKenna. The Festival’s ever-popular Ghost Tours of the Avon Theatre also return thanks to seasonal demand for this behind-the-scenes tour.

Throughout this year’s Forum, many aspects of Shakespeare’s works, world and wisdom have been discussed. In this special Celebrated Speaker event on October 22, Antoni Cimolino and Sir Stanley Wells have an in-depth conversation in which they explore the findings of Sir Stanley’s latest book What Was Shakespeare Really Like?

In a tale of three goblins stumbling upon the complete works of William Shakespeare, Rebecca Northan, Bruce Horak and Ellis Lalonde blend improvisation, fantasy and tragedy in an electrifying and fresh interpretation of the classic play Macbeth. Performances run from October 12 to 28 at the Studio Theatre.

This October, mark Friday the 13th with a look at Theatrical Superstitions, as host David Prosser is joined by veteran actor and director Seana McKenna, Dr. Ross Stuart, Emeritus Professor of Theatre at York University, and stage manager Cynthia Toushan to have a discussion about the mysterious traditions carried out by theatre practitioners the world over.

Once again, in the spooky month that is October, the Meighen Forum is thrilled to take individuals on Ghost Tours of the Avon Theatre, from October 16 to 30. The tours begin as twilight falls and guests are led on an intimate backstage exploration filled with lore about ghostly apparitions that wander in the historic Avon Theatre.

Forum Performances

Goblin:Macbeth

Studio Theatre

October 12 to 28

Varying Times

In a tale of three goblins stumbling upon the complete works of William Shakespeare, Rebecca Northan, Bruce Horak and Ellis Lalonde blend improvisation, fantasy and tragedy in an electrifying and fresh interpretation of the classic play. When goblins come to the Stratford Festival, anything can happen!

Peer Into The Playbill

Theatrical Superstitions

Lazaridis Hall, Tom Patterson Theatre

Friday, October 13

10:30 a.m. – noon

Never whistle in the wings. Always leave a ghost light on. And whatever you do, don't say the M-word! The theatre is rife with unique superstitions, and no one knows them better than Stratford veterans. Join Seana McKenna, David Prosser, Cynthia Toushan and Dr. Ross Stuart, Emeritus Professor of Theatre, York University, as they take a look into all the beliefs and superstitions that guide actors and theatre crews behind the scenes.

Backstage Tours

Ghost Tours

Lazaridis Hall, Tom Patterson Theatre

October 16 to 30

9:00 – 10:30 p.m.

Artists and audiences love the Stratford Festival so much that sometimes they never, ever leave! As twilight falls, take a tour of the Avon Theatre to discover the stories of ghostly apparitions forever found at the Festival.

Celebrated Speakers

“What Was Shakespeare Really Like?” A Conversation with Sir Stanley Wells

Lazaridis Hall, Tom Patterson Theatre

Sunday, October 22

10:30 a.m. – noon

Throughout this season of the Meighen Forum, we have discussed many different aspects of Shakespeare’s works, world and the wisdom we can take from his plays. But who was William Shakespeare? What was he really like? Stratford Festival Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino talks with Sir Stanley Wells CBE, Honorary President of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, about his findings from his new book What Was Shakespeare Really Like?

Photo: Bruce Horak, Ellis Lalonde and Rebecca Northan in Goblin:Macbeth. © 2023 Tim Nguyen.