May 1- 17, 2025
The Stratford Courthouse Theatre is proud to be at the heart of this three week celebration of all things Shakespeare.
Opening Night - Thursday May 1 from 7pm
Our official launch at The Stratford Courthouse Theatre. Featuring live performances, announcement of the winners in the Sheila Malady Short story competition, and our annual festival awards.
Groundwork Youth Theatre - FORCED SHAKESPEARE
Shakespeare is well known for exploring the darker sides of the human experience: From betrayals of family, to senseless murders, and everything in between. Yet there is a crueler side of Shakespeare still... One that explores an experience that unifies many of us.
The darkest side of Shakespeare, is being forced to learn it in school.
Laugh at the suffering of the students as they desperately try to make class more bearable by defeating their evil teacher, in this Matilda-esque Mashup of Shakespearean Scenes
Thursday May 1, 8.00pm
Friday May 2, 7.30pm
Saturday May 3, 5.00pm
Maffra Secondary College - Twisted Sisters
Maffra Secondary College is proud to present our upcoming short play performance of Twisted Sisters. This play is something to delight and enthrall any audience. Pulled directly from the great works of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, this iconic trio of witches sets about on their cunning plan to lead Macbeth down a path of destruction. Joined by a cast including Macbeth, Banquo and three apparitions this comedic take on the witches should not be one to miss!
FAIRE DAY - Sunday May 4, 11.00am & 1.00pm
“AMN Dream” - Australian Shakespeare Company Graduate Players
Set in a magical forest outside Athens, the play follows the chaotic and humorous entanglements of four young lovers, a group of amateur actors, and a mischievous group of fairies. Led by Oberon and Titania, the fairy king and queen, the supernatural elements bring enchantment and confusion to the mortals' lives, especially under the influence of the playful sprite Puck. With mistaken identities, magical transformations, and a whimsical atmosphere, the play explores the complexities of love and imagination, ultimately celebrating harmony and reconciliation. This production also creates a world where the climate crisis is extreme, due to battling fairies, which makes it more relevant to modern audiences
Saturday May 10, 5.00pm
Courthouse Teens - Fallout of Love?
Led by Rachael Nicholls, her Courthouse Teens hit the stage with an original work inspired by the Bard.
Monday May 12, 5.30pm
The Community Players - OTHELLO
The Community Players are embracing the dark side of Shakespeare with their gothic inspired performance of Othello.
Arguably Shakespeare’s most controversial tragedy, Othello tackles the dark and gritty themes of jealousy, racism, ambition, betrayal and spousal violence.
Directed by Belle Sewell and featuring a stellar cast of local actors tackling this most challenging production.
Friday May 9 7.30pm
Saturday May 10, 7.30pm
Thursday May 15, 7.30pm
Friday May 16, 7.30pm
Saturday May 17, 2pm
Saturday May 17, 7.30pm
Rated MA15+ with a content warning for audiences - Depictions of intimate partner violence/ femicide / racist slurs / murder.
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival wish to express that the racial language and discrimination depicted in this play do not represent the values of the festival. Nor do we condone violence against women or intimate partners.
If any part of the performance raises concerns for your safety or the safety of anyone you know, reach out for help to the number below.
You have a right to be and feel safe.
1800 Respect (1800 737 732)
MensLine 1300 789 978
Lifeline 13 11 14