Media Advisory - Provincial plaque memorializes Stratford Shakespeare
Festival founder Tom Patterson

STRATFORD, ON, July 8 /CNW/ -

    
    Date:        Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.
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    Location:    Festival Theatre Grounds, 55 Queen Street, Stratford
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    Directions:  From Highway 401 west, take Exit 278 for Highway 8 west at
                 Kitchener. Merge onto Highway 8 west through Kitchener and
                 join Highway 7/8 west to Stratford. Turn right at Queen
                 Street.

                 From Highway 401 east, take Exit 222 and follow County
                 Road 6 (becomes County Road 113) north to Stratford. Merge
                 right onto Erie Street (Highway 7). Turn right onto Ontario
                 Street. Turn left onto Queen Street.

                 Parking is available off Queen Street on Lakeside Drive
                 along the Avon River.
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    Photo        Unveiling of a provincial plaque
    opportunity:
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    Contact:     Gordon Pim
                 Senior Web Communications and Marketing Specialist
                 Telephone: [phone]
                 Email: [email protected]
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Join the Ontario Heritage Trust and the Perth County Historical Foundation for the unveiling of a provincial plaque commemorating Stratford Shakespeare Festival founder Tom Patterson (1920-2005).

From its inception, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival was a leading cultural institution in North America. It grew from the dream of Stratford native Tom Patterson, whose determination and perseverance led to the immediate success of the festival. During the early 1950s, Patterson approached Stratford city council to discuss the idea of establishing a Shakespearean festival in his hometown. He gained support from the mayor and the local council, and from British Shakespearean director Tyrone Guthrie. On July 13, 1953, Richard III opened the festival. It received rave reviews from critics, as did the Theatre as a whole.

Patterson remained with the festival until 1967. He was also founding director of the Canadian Theatre Centre and founding president of the National Theatre School. He became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1977.

The Ontario Heritage Trust's Provincial Plaque Program commemorates significant people, places and events in Ontario's history. Since 1953, over 1,200 provincial plaques have been unveiled.

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For further information: Gordon Pim, Senior Web Communications and Marketing Specialist, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]