THE WINTER'S TALE Starts Performances at the Stratford Festival

Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino’s production ofThe Winter’s Tale starts performances May 7th, opening the Tom Patterson Theatre for the 2025 season. Filled with sprightly comedy, heartwarming serendipity and fantastical surprises, this beautiful play features a stellar cast led by Graham Abbey as Leontes, Yanna McIntosh as Paulina and Sara Topham as Hermione.

Blinded by jealousy, King Leontes falsely accuses his pregnant wife of infidelity, setting into motion a series of catastrophes that will destroy his wife and son and leave his infant daughter abandoned to the elements on a distant island. Seeing the folly of his ways, Leontes vows to live out his days atoning for his actions. Sixteen years later, the king is offered an unlikely chance at redemption.

“I have always wanted to direct this play,” says Cimolino. “When I was younger and read it, the gripping drama of a disturbingly jealous husband tightly held my focus. Now I see both the horror of Leontes’ disease but also his extraordinary move toward self-recognition and contrition.”

The Winter’s Tale features Austin Eckert as Florizel, Tom McCamus as Old Shepherd, Marissa Orjalo as Perdita, Tom Rooney as Camillo, André Sills as Polixenes, and Geraint Wyn Davies as Autolycus, with David Collins as Antigonus, Aidan de Salaiz, Paul Dunn, Katarina Fiallos as Mopsa, Michelle Giroux as Emilia, Christo Graham as Young Shepherd, Josh Johnston, Matthew Kabwe, John Kirkpatrick, Tarique Lewis, Caitlyn MacInnis as Dorcas, Philip Myers as Mamillius, Anthony Palermo, Lucy Peacock as Time, Krystin Pellerin, George Robinet as Mamillius, Maria Vacratsis, Emilio Vieira, and Dakota Jamal Wellman.

From left: André Sills as Polixenes, Sara Topham as Hermione and Graham Abbey as Leontes, The Winter's Tale. Stratford Festival 2025. Photo: Ted Belton.

Cimolino’s creative team includes Set Designer Douglas Paraschuk, Costume Designer Francesca Callow, Lighting Designer Michael Walton, Composer Wayne Kelso, Sound Designer Ranil Sonnadara, and ChoreographerAdrienne Gould.

The Winter’s Tale has its press opening on May 30 and runs until September 27 at the Tom Patterson Theatre. Tickets are available at stratfordfestival.ca or by calling 1.800.567.1600.

The 2025 season also features As You Like It, Annie, Sense and Sensibility, Dangerous Liaisons, Macbeth, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Anne of Green Gables, Forgiveness, Ransacking Troy, and The Art of War. For more information, visit stratfordfestival.ca.

The 2025 season is generously supported by Ophelia Lazaridis.

Proud 2025 Season Partners: BMO Financial Group, Canada Life and RBC Royal Bank.

Support for the 2025 season of the Tom Patterson Theatre is generously provided by BMO Financial Group.

Production support is generously provided by Dr. Dennis & Dorothea Hacker, Dr. Desta Leavine in memory of Pauline Leavine, Dr. M.L. Myers, and Peggy Ptasznik in memory of Vic Ptasznik.

CAST (in alphabetical order)

Graham Abbey	Leontes
David Collins	Antigonus
Aidan de Salaiz	Military Lord, Shepherd, Ram Satyr, Second Gentleman
Paul Dunn	Waiter, Lord, Shepherd/Satyr, Servant/Poet
Austin Eckert	Florizel, Roman Guard
Katarina Fiallos	Lady in Waiting, Shepherdess
Michelle Giroux	Emilia, Shepherdess
Christo Graham	Young Shepherd, Roman Guard, Satyr
Josh Johnston	Military Lord, Musician Shepherd
Matthew Kabwe	Archidamus, Gaoler, Justice, Shepherd, Third Gentleman
John Kirkpatrick	Dion, Shepherd/Satyr
Tarique Lewis	Lord, Mariner, Shepherd/Satyr
Caitlyn MacInnis	Dorcas, Lady in Waiting, Shepherdess
Tom McCamus	Old Shepherd
Yanna McIntosh	Paulina
Phillip Myers	Mamillius
Marissa Orjalo	Perdita
Anthony Palermo	Waiter, Servant to Mamillius, Shepherd/Satyr, First Gentleman
Lucy Peacock	Time
Krystin Pellerin	Second Lady, Shepherdess
George Robinet	Mamillius
Tom Rooney	Camillo
André Sills	Polixenes
Sara Topham	Hermione
Maria Vacratsis	First Lady, Shepherdess
Emilio Vieira	Cleomenes, Shepherd/Satyr
Dakota Jamal Wellman	Lord, Officer, Shepherd/Satyr
Geraint Wyn Davies	Autolycus

ARTISTIC CREDITS

Director	Antoni Cimolino
Set Designer	Douglas Paraschuk
Costume Designer	Francesca Callow
Lighting Designer	Michael Walton
Composer	Wayne Kelso
Sound Designer	Ranil Sonnadara
Fight Director	Anita Nittoly
Choreographer	Adrienne Gould

Metcalf Foundation Intern/Associate Director	Coleen Shirin MacPherson
Assistant Director	Aaron Jan
Assistant Set Designer	Jung A Im
Assistant Costume Designer	Patricia Reilly
Assistant Lighting Designer	Sooji Kim
Apprentice Sound Designer	Bex Tralli

Stage Manager	Judy Farthing
Assistant Stage Manager	Bruno Gonsalves
Assistant Stage Manager	Madison Kalbhenn
Assistant Stage Manager	Caitlin Mears
Production Stage Manager	Meghan Callan
Production Stage Manager	Bruno Gonsalves
Production Assistant	Brady Hillman

Textual Emendation	Mark Crawford
Child Performer Advocate	Maggie Blake
Technical Director	Greg Dougherty