June at the Stratford Festival’s Meighen Forum

Stratford, ON… June marks the beginning of an exciting season at The Meighen Forum, featuring a vibrant lineup of events. Highlights include the première of the Stratford Festival’s season-long commission of Dante’s Inferno, Pride Week celebrations curated and hosted by Canadian theatre power couple Ann-Marie MacDonald and Alisa Palmer and engaging conversations with novelist, essayist and cultural commentator Stephen Marche.

Award-winning director, playwright and immersive interdisciplinary artist Daniele Bartolini makes his Stratford debut with Dante’s Inferno: A Fusion of Text, Music and Thought. His performance of medieval Italian spoken word is enriched by original music from renowned composer Andrea Gozzi. Guided by Dr. Donato Santeramo of Queen’s University, this evocative experience invites audiences to explore the absurdity but also the great beauty of life.

Author, playwright and actor Ann-Marie MacDonald and Alisa Palmer, former Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre and the English section of the National Theatre School of Canada, will host 2025 Pride Week (June 9–15). Together, they’ll welcome a panel of extraordinary female writers – including Catherine Hernandez and Emma Donoghue – to explore representation and creativity in the literary world and host an intimate conversation with Canadian icons Tegan and Sara Quin, delving into the duo’s passion, purpose and vision for a more inclusive future.

Novelist, essayist and cultural commentator Stephen Marche, author of How Shakespeare Changed Everything, will sit down with Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and veteran actor André Sills, assistant director of this season’s Macbeth, for an enlightening discussion on the value of modern interpretations of Shakespeare. Marche will also sit down with Kat Sandler, playwright and director of Anne of Green Gables, on the art of adapting written works for the stage.

The 2025 Meighen Forum will also include fan favourites such as Peer into the Playbill and Monday Night Music.

Dante’s Inferno: A Fusion of Text, Music and Thought

Presented by DopoLavoro Teatrale (DLT)

Lazaridis Hall, Tom Patterson Theatre
Friday, June 12 to Saturday, June 14
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Additional Performances

Thursday, August 28 to Saturday, August 30

Thursday, September 11 to Saturday, September 13

“Dante and Shakespeare divide the world between them. There is no third.” T.S. Eliot

This dynamic work of language, music and insight, commissioned by the Stratford Festival, promises to transport you into the heart of The Divine Comedy, one of Western literature’s most profound works. Spectators will be immersed in this creation by DLT, revelling in the musicality of medieval Italian spoken by Florentine artist Daniele Bartolini and enhanced with original music by renowned composer Andrea Gozzi. Guiding the experience is Dr. Donato Santeramo of Queen’s University. At the heart of the Inferno is Dante Alighieri – the Everyman, a middle-aged Florentine from the Middle-Ages – and his descent into hell, where he comes to see the absurdity of life’s disappointments and the politics that have ripped his home city in two.

Concept, Direction, and Interpretation: Daniele Bartolini

Dramaturge and narrator: Donato Santeramo

Immersive Live Music: Andrea Gozzi

Dante Scholar and co-dramaturge: Rino Caputo

Collaboration to the Direction: Danya Buonastella

Assistant Director and Stage Manager: Christoph Ibrahim

A DLT creation commissioned by the Stratford Festival

Please note: The spoken medieval Italian text will be subtitled in English.

Support for Dante’s Inferno: A Fusion of Text, Music and Thought is generously provided by Mark Monette & Judy F. Lane.

Pride Week

June 9 to June 15

Learn from award-winning 2SLGBTQ+ authors and guest speakers in these events curated and hosted by a Canadian theatre power couple: author, playwright and actor Ann-Marie MacDonald and Alisa Palmer, former Artistic Director of both Nightwood Theatre and the English section of the National Theatre School of Canada.

The Queer Female Voice: A Conversation with Emma Donoghue, Catherine Hernandez and Ann-Marie MacDonald

Lazaridis Hall, Tom Patterson Theatre
Saturday, June 14
10:30 a.m. to noon

Gain understanding from a panel of extraordinary female writers as they explore the question: Is there a distinct lesbian/queer female voice in writing? Through an engaging discussion moderated by Alisa Palmer, panelists will delve into how this voice manifests across various literary forms. Among the topics: Do a writer’s sexual orientation and experiences influence their work? What challenges do lesbian artists face, both internally and externally? Acclaimed author Emma Donoghue, known for her bestselling novel Room and its Academy Award-nominated adaptation; Catherine Hernandez, celebrated author, screenwriter and winner of the Canadian Screen Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Scarborough; and award-winning author/playwright Ann-Marie MacDonald, come together to exchange personal experiences while examining representation and creativity in the literary world.

In Conversation with Tegan and Sara Quin: Music, Literature and Advocacy

Tom Patterson Theatre
Sunday, June 15
10:30 a.m. to noon

Join us for an exclusive interview event with Tegan and Sara Quin, Canadian icons and role models celebrated for their impactful contributions in music, literature and advocacy. Hosted by Ann-Marie MacDonald and Alisa Palmer, this conversation will dive into the sisters’ incredible career journey and personal stories. We’ll explore their efforts in advancing LGBTQ+ justice and equality through the Tegan and Sara Foundation, a powerful force raising funds and awareness for LGBTQ+ issues. This intimate conversation will be a rare opportunity to hear firsthand from Tegan and Sara about their passion, purpose and vision for a more inclusive world.

The Guardian at Stratford

Join us as novelist, essayist and cultural commentator Stephen Marche, author of How Shakespeare Changed Everything and a regular contributor to The Guardian, leads two fascinating conversations. (Guardian Stage editor Chris Wiegand was originally scheduled for these events but is unable to be here.)

Events include:

Re-imagining Shakespeare

Lazaridis Hall, Tom Patterson Theatre
Friday, June 20
10:30 a.m. to noon

Shakespeare’s characters, plotlines, and language have proven timeless, giving artists and directors the freedom to explore various genres and eras. While there are traditionalists who strongly believe that Shakespeare should only be presented in period costumes with swords, others embrace the chance to connect with audiences through modern interpretations. Stephen Marche, author of How Shakespeare Changed Everything, joins Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and veteran actor André Sills, assistant director of this season’s Macbeth, as they discuss the ongoing journey of reimagining the Bard’s work.

Adapting Anne

Lazaridis Hall, Tom Patterson Theatre
Saturday, June 21
10:30 a.m. to noon

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved story has inspired numerous adaptations for stage and screen. But how does a playwright translate the essence of the written word into a dramatic form? Join novelist, essayist and cultural commentator Stephen Marche for a lively discussion with playwright and director Kat Sandler about the art of adaptation and all things related to Anne of Green Gables.