Stratford Festival names Jonathan Church as its next artistic director

By Canadian Press on October 1, 2025.

TORONTO — The Stratford Festival has named Jonathan Church as its next artistic director.

The festival says he will succeed Antoni Cimolino, who recently announced that 2026 will be his final season in the role.

Church has been signed for an initial term of five years and officially assumes the role of artistic director on Nov. 1, 2026.

Stratford Festival board chair David Adams says Church has a rare combination of vision, experience and leadership.

Church has directed more than 50 productions, including repertory, West End, touring and international plays and musicals.

In 2002, he directed the U.K. premiere of Timothy Findley’s Elizabeth Rex, which was commissioned by the Stratford Festival.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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