Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated.

Location: Lazaridis Hall unless otherwise stated.

Cost: From $29 unless otherwise stated

CAREGIVERS AND ADVOCATES, June 9 (Pride Week)

Join Andrew Kushnir (director Casey and Diana) along with Refugee lawyer, Human dignity and Spiritual Liberation Activist, founder of Salaam: Queer Muslim Community, and cofounder and imam: el-Tawhid Juma Circle: The Unity Mosque El-Farouk Khaki and others for a conversation dedicated to the compassionate and devoted caregivers and the tireless work of advocates who have rallied around HIV-positive people, historically and today.

QUEER HISTORY IN CANADA, June 10 (Pride Week)

Scholars and experts join host Thom Allison (director of Rent) in a conversation about Canada’s 2SLGBTQ+ history, focusing on post-WW2 through to the present. Guests include Rev. Brent Hawkes, founder of Rainbow Faith and Freedom (an organization working to confront and decrease religious-based 2SLGBTQ+ discrimination worldwide), Raegan Swanson, Executive Director of the ArQuives (the preeminent archivists for 2SLGBTQ+ histories and resources in Canada) and Professo Patrizia Gentile from the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies at Carleton University.

IN CONVERSATION WITH SUZETTE MAYR, June 11 (Pride Week)

Winner of the 2022 Scotiabank Giller Prize for her novel, The Sleeping Car Porter, author and 2SLGBTQ+ advocate Suzette Mayr joins the Meighen Forum as a celebrated speaker this Pride Week to discuss the story behind their writing and thoughts on the issues affecting their community.

UP CLOSE WITH ANTONI CIMOLINO, July 7 (Season Deep Dive Week)

Antoni answers your questions about the 2023 season and plans for the future.

MEET THE DIRECTORS, July 8 (Season Deep Dive Week)

A conversation with Yvette Nolan (director Women of the Fur Trade), Thom Allison (director Rent), Antoni Cimolino (director Grand Magic) and others about their work, the plays and staging them in 2023.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR INSIGHTS, July 9

From coast to coast, Artistic Directors in Canada are faced with the exciting, yet complicated task of leading a theatre company into the future while satisfying a variety of stakeholders. Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino, former Artistic Director of the National Arts Centre, Jillian Keiley and Theatre Calgary’s Artistic Director Stafford Arima as they discuss theatre in Canada today.

JESSE GREEN AND ANTONI CIMOLINO, July 14 (The New York Times at Stratford)

The Chief Theatre Critic for the New York Times and the Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival engage in a wide-ranging discussion touching on a number of topics, including this season’s production of Grand Magic and what the coming years may bring as the Festival returns to full production post-pandemic.

SEASON OF LOVE, July 16 (The New York Times at Stratford)

Hear from three people about their experiences with the original productions of Rent – Nicole Herrington (Theater Editor for the New York Times and a self-professed Renthead), Jesse Green (Chief Theater Critic for the New York Times) and Thom Allison (Director of the 2023 production and a cast member of the original Canadian tour). They’ll talk about how “of the moment” Rent was when it hit the scene and how you make it of the moment now.

IN CONVERSATION WITH DR. MŨKOMA WA NGŨGĨ, August 11 (Global Theatre Week)

A conversation with Dr. Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ, Associate Professor of Literatures in English at Cornell University and the author of The Rise of the African Novel: Politics of Language, Identity and Ownership (2018), and the novels: Nairobi Heat (2009), Unbury Our Dead with Song (2020), Black Star Nairobi (2013), Mrs. Shaw: A Novel (2015) as well as two poetry books: Hurling words at consciousness (2006) and Logotherapy and Hurling Words at Consciousness (2016).

This conversation will be moderated by Artistic Associate Mũkonzi Mũsyoki. Mũkoma’s work continues to champion the conversation between Africa and the diaspora. This dialogue features the elements that promote and enrich this relationship. We look at language and storytelling and discuss initiatives that nurture African agency.

THE ART OF TRANSLATION, August 12 (Global Theatre Week)

In this conversation, we will consider the art of translation and the careful consideration needed to maintain the beauty and intent of a language when it is translated. Canadian Dramaturge and Literary translator Linda Gaboriau joins other experts for this in-depth discussion moderated by Artistic Associate Mũkonzi Mũsyoki.

POLITICS OF RECOGNITION: BREAKING DOWN THE COLONIAL THEATRE FRAMEWORK, August 13 (Global Theatre Week)

Theatrical storytelling modes germinate from a given socio-cultural environment thus they are models of consciousness. However, in an age of globalization, cultural contact and exchange often reminds us that cultures do not meet on an equal ground. Points of contact and exchange are mitigated by colonial legacy and the enforcement of dominance. Pam Patel, Artistic Director of MT Space, Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu, Artistic Director at Obsidian Theatre and others consider access and politics of recognition in this conversation moderated by Artistic Associate, Mũkonzi Mũsyoki.

CROSS-BORDER CONNECTIONS WITH US CONSUL GENERAL SUSAN R. CRYSTAL, August 19, Free – register in advance

Each season, the Stratford Festival welcomes many Americans and others from around the world to our theatres, both in the audience and on stage. Join Susan R. Crystal, US Consul General in Toronto, Sarah Smith, Canadian Research Chair in Art, Culture and Global Relations at Western University and Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma as we celebrate and consider the cross-border connections that have made the Stratford Festival such a success.

ON CREATIVITY: MARGARET ATWOOD AND SAM WHITE, August 25, Tom Patterson Theatre – From $35 (Readers and Writers Week)

Sam White, Founding Artistic Director of Shakespeare in Detroit and Director of this season’s Wedding Band, sits down with her friend and multi-award-winning author, Margaret Atwood, for an informal conversation on creativity, impulse, artistry and life.

ON GOTHIC LITERATURE: MARGARET ATWOOD WITH MONA AWAD AND NAOMI ALDERMAN, August 26, Tom Patterson Theatre – From $35 (Readers and Writers Week)

Celebrated author Margaret Atwood speaks with award-winning author of Bunny and 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, Mona Awad, and Naomi Alderman, novelist and game writer and author of award-winning novel, The Power to discuss the idea of superego vs. the id and what happens when they get out of control.

ON ADAPTATION: MARGARET ATWOOD WITH EMMA DONOGHUE, August 27, Tom Patterson Theatre – From $35 (Readers and Writers Week)

From The Handmaid’s Tale’s breakout success on HBO to Room’s awards-laden film version, adapting literary works for both the big and small screen open them up to new audiences. Acclaimed authors Margaret Atwood and Emma Donoghue sit down to discuss what goes into adapting their work for different mediums and what challenges and opportunities exist in film and television.

A DIRECTOR’S JOURNEY THROUGH THE FIRST FOLIO: A CONVERSATION WITH GREG DORAN, September 7 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

THE REAL WRINKLE IN TIME: ADAM GOPNIK WITH LEE SMOLIN, September 8 (Conversations with Adam Gopnik)

Award-winning theoretical physicist and cosmology expert, Professor Lee Smolin from the Perimeter Institute joins Adam Gopnik to discuss quantum theories, the concept of time and everything in between.

A THOUSAND SMALL SANITIES: ADAM GOPNIK WITH ROSALIE ABELLA, September 10 (Conversations with Adam Gopnik)

The incomparable, incredible and inspiring retired Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Abella sits down with Adam Gopnik to discuss his new book, A Thousand Small Sanities: the Moral Adventure of Liberalism.

CELEBRATING THE 400TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST FOLIO, September 15 (Scholars and Experts Week)

2023 marks the 400th anniversary of the First Folio of Shakespeare. Without this achievement, we would have lost half of his dramatic work. University of Oxford’s Professor of Shakespeare Studies and one of the world’s foremost experts on the Folio, Emma Smith, joins artist and scholar, Dean Gabourie and others as they discuss the origins of one of the great wonders of the literary world.

BESTOWING KNOWLEDGE: THE ROLE OF ELDERS, September 16 (Scholars and Experts Week)

Through a connection to the past, Elders perform a vital role in cross-generational learning. In this very special conversation, Algoma University Chancellor and Survivor Shirley Horn and President and Vice-Chancellor Asima C. Vezina discuss the unique and vital role that Elders play in educating the next generation of leaders, passing on knowledge that can only be obtained through life experience and their inspiring work in the field at Algoma University.

SEARCHING FOR WISDOM: LEARNING VS. LIVING, September 17 (Scholars and Experts Week)

“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool” (As You Like It).

What is wisdom and how is it valued? Join President and Vice-Chancellor of Algoma University Asima C. Vezina and others as they discuss the new trend of “Experientia Learning” programs and their place in postsecondary institutions. Find out how these new programs and ways of learning can be used in the rapidly evolving world of academia.

STEPPING OUT OF THE SHADOW: UKRAINE KNOWN ON ITS OWN TERMS, September 23 (Encountering Ukraine)

Series curator Andrew Kushnir will lead a dialogue with guests on how Ukraine has been historically impacted by cultural imperialism, how artists have been critical to Ukraine’s fight for independence and freedom, and what solidarity can look like on the cultural front of this war.

“WHAT WAS SHAKESPEARE REALLY LIKE?” A CONVERSATION WITH SIR STANLEY WELLS, October 1