MThere are many reasons to visit Stratford - the legendary theatre (of course!), the incredible culinary scene, the arts, the beautiful setting, and the kind and interesting people who live there.

For whatever reasons you're visiting Stratford, there's ONE thing you need to do first. We did, and it informed and influenced our entire visit.

Visit the Costume Warehouse.

What?

Yes. For this town, rich in theatre, has many treasures. But the costume warehouse is, by far, one of the greatest treasures in the entire nation of Canada. It goes right along with the Stratford Festival - first conceived by Tom Patterson in 1952, and started with its first Artistic Director Sir Tyrone Guthrie (you know I love the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis!) and actors Alec Guiness and Irene Worth. 

Each displayed costume has a tag on it with details

Now, many years later, the Stratford Festival Costume Warehouse, located in an enormous building that looks like a short aircraft hangar, holds over 55,000 costumes, props, and gear. As with any theatre production, costumes and sets are very important. Much work goes into them, more than we can ever imagine. At Stratford Festival, such a long history means plenty of costumes, hats, shoes, and set pieces - and a need for such storage. 

The small doors in the very large Stratford Theatre Costume Warehouse. Do you feel Lilliputian?

Walk in past the welcome desk and head to the chairs to wait for your tour to start.

The tour starts in a small area with chairs, where your guide talks about making props - and some are handed around, so you can feel how light and durable they are. 

A shrimp dish prop - very light!

There's much to look at in the prop display area:

Then, you walk through many, many racks of clothes, listening to the guide describe each section and how the theatre (and rentals to other theatres) uses them. Such colors! What a variety of materials! The talent that made these is incredible to imagine. I couldn't stop looking around...I felt like an owl swiveling her head around to see everything.

Racks of clothing filled the warehouse - it was mindboggling to see. The clothes are organized by type, era, and color.

At the ends of the aisles of clothing (three rows high!), there are displays of hats, helmets, footwear, and period outfits.

Don't forget the hats!

Then you'll walk past a section of shelves and shelves of hats (incredible) to furniture and props. Take a look...

Does anyone need a coffin?

Oh! A new friend, mixed in with some kingly thrones:

Endless table choices

Or perhaps old wheelchairs, or barrels?

Wedding dress pre- and post-blood and dirt stains

Undergarments to make the actors bigger

Roasting dinner

A WHOLE section of hats for men

Lastly, at the end of the warehouse, where the large props are stored, there are racks of costumes to... TRY ON!!!! We toured with a class, and it was so much fun to see what they chose. I loved the hats the most.

Large props were very, very cool...

And wending our way out (I hated to leave):

The work here is extraordinary - and what a cool chance to see this glimpse behind the scenes of the world of costumes and props for such an incredible professional theatre company.

Stratford Festival Costume Warehouse Tour Details:

Available during the entire theatre season - Spring through October. There are several tours each morning. 

Tickets are under $10, and there is senior and student pricing.

Each tour lasts 45 minutes, and is led by trained volunteers.

The tour is handicap accessible (I was in my wheelchair scooter), but because the tours can hold up to 30 people, you might not hear everything if you can't get close in.

This tour is fun for everyone - classes, families, and anyone who loves theatre.

Even though you've seen many photos here, nothing can replace BEING there. You can go 100 times, and see it differently each time. 

Learn more:

https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/WhatsOn/PlaysAndEvents/Tours/Warehouse-Tour

Other tours available with the Stratford Festival Theatre:
* Stratford Perth Museum Tour
* Festival Theatre Tour
* Archives Tour
* Garden Tour
* Set Changeover Tour

Fun resources:

A Podcast over at Theatregeeks on Costuming the Stratford Festival

Where to eat - my tips over at i8tonite

Taking the Grandkids to Stratford, over at Journeywoman

Savour Stratford Food trails (GO! You'll thank me):
Chocolate Trail 
Maple Trail 
Pumpkin Trail 
Bacon & Ale Trail 

Spring Maple Trail

Victorian Christmas Trail