Stratford Festival continues to draw American audiences despite international tensions
Posted May 2, 2025 11:00:08 AM.
Last Updated May 2, 2025 11:00:14 AM.
One of Canada’s most prestigious theatre festivals continues to draw American crowds in spite of economic tensions between the two nations.
Stratford Festival continues this month, with 11 classic shows on the bill including Annie, Anne of Green Gables, and Macbeth.
The festival generates roughly $275 million of economic activity for the community of Stratford each year, and is a significant contributor to the local economy.
According to Ann Swerdfager, the publicity director for the event, about 20 per cent of those attending the festival this year are Americans.
“In a good year, a quarter of our audience comes form the United States,” said Swerdfager. “Today, post-COVID, we’re struggling to get back up to that number, but we’re still around 18 to 20 per cent. Still loads of Americans coming.”
Swerdfager is urging Canadians to welcome our neighbours with open arms this theatre season.
“I think it’s important for us to remember that the people who are coming to visit us here in Canada from the United States are not the people who are causing the problems, they’re not the people to show our hate to, or our anger to,” added Swerdfager.
Unlike some industries, Swerdfager added that theatre has survived through thousands of years of economic turmoil, and she expects that to continue to be the case.
