This short film depicts how a small Canadian city, bearing the name of Stratford and by a river Avon, created its own renowned Shakespearean theatre. The film tells how the idea grew, how a famous British director, international stars and Canadian talent were recruited, and how the Stratford Shakespearean Festival finally became a triumphant reality.
Local journalist Tom Patterson decided that is was time for a Shakespearian festival in Stratford. Not the one in Warwickshire, though - this one is to be several thousand miles away in another Stratford. Ontario. Armed with just C$125 he heads to New York to gauge interest and then against the odds manages to get funding to build a tented theatre and then to entice the director of London's Old Vic Theatre, Tyrone Guthrie, to come and give them some advice. Be bold, take risks and expect to spend cash! The first two they have little problem with, but these hugely enthusiastic people have to find C$15,000 over a weekend or they have arranged the travel of their play's director Guthrie as well as Irene Worth, Michael Bates and Alec Guinness for nought. Two mysterious donors solve that problem at the last minute and next we watch rehearsals for Richard III ahead of a sell out performance in this town of 30,000 people on July 13th 1953. The actual documentary itself delivers this story well here, with some good fly-on-the-wall observations of their logistical problems and of the actors preparing to stage this innovative version of a combative and lively play under canvas. The photographer manages to get himself into some wonderful vantage points as the play gets going, showing us just how seriously and professionally this cast took their task. Well worth a look.