The Winter’s Tale starts performances at the Stratford Festival
Stratford, ON… Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino’s production of The Winter’s Tale starts performances today, 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 Paulina.
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 deSalaiz, 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.
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 Choreographer Adrienne 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, Peggy Ptasznik in memory of Vic Ptasznik.
CAST (in alphabetical order)
Graham Abbey Leontes
David Collins Antigonus
Aidan deSalaiz Military Lord, Shepherd/Ram Satyr, Second Gentlemen
Paul Dunn Waiter, Lord, Shepherd/Satyr, Servant/Poet
Austin Eckert Florizel, Roman Guard
Katarina Fiallos Mopsa, 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
Philip 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
