Explore past events to experience the depth, diversity, and imagination that shape our programming, and step into the conversations, performances, and moments that define our festival’s spirit.
Trophy X Dream Weavers transforms Stratford’s historic Grand Trunk site into a glowing village of ten intimate tents, each one home to a powerful tale of transformation, hope, and the dreams that shape who we are. Inside each softly lit space, local storytellers share personal stories that reflect the heart of our region—its turning points, quiet awakenings, and bold aspirations. This was a Provocation Ideas collaboration.
A powerful, genre-blurring performance that weaves spoken word, dance, and rap into one unified artistic experience. The performances flow between spoken word poet Heidi Sander who breathes life into words, dancer Deltin Sejour who reinterprets that emotion and imagery through movement, and clean rapper Karim Rushdy who reshapes the poem, through flow, lyric, and rhythm, adding a sharp, lyrical edge that deepens the emotional terrain.
Step into a quiet, immersive space where words steep slowly and tea speaks in scent, warmth, and memory. Infused Words is a unique sensory gathering with poet Claire Chapple and tea sommelier Karen Hartwick, that blends the elemental rituals of tea with the lyrical beauty of poetry—pairing five distinctive poems with five carefully chosen teas.
In this intimate and thought-provoking panel, poets Melissa Powless Day and Sadiqa de Meijer come together to explore how language, land, and lineage shape their poetic voices and lived experiences.
Creative Bibliotherapy is a process of reading and reflecting, using literature as a self-care tool. Join us for a session of seasonal poetry, where we will read and respond to Autumnal selections using the bibliotherapy process. In this session you will learn techniques that you can use to incorporate bibliotherapy into your own everyday reading habits.
Poetry for Health and Harmony with Anna Yin is a poetry reading enriched with music, film, and personal stories. This event explores how poetry can nurture emotional well-being, foster inner peace, and deepen human connection.
PJoin local poetry groups, Poetry Stratford and the Huron Poetry Collective, for an intimate and informal gathering that blends live readings with heartfelt conversation.
An intimate conversation with author Merilyn Simonds, as she explores the intertwined themes of aging, friendship and creativity through the poetic lens that runs throughout the book.
A unique workshop that offers a rare opportunity to gain insights and tips on performance techniques from seasoned professional actor Marion Adler.
Bring your poems to life with power, presence and authenticity in this engaging hands-on workshop designed to help poets achieve the optimal performance of their work. Your poems may work beautifully on the page, but delivering your work verbally with a sense of command and emotional resonance is what truly connects with an audience. With Poet David Stones, this session will explore key techniques such as vocal variation, pacing, breath control, articulation, and volume, as well as expressive use of body language, eye contact, and physical presence.
