The Shaw Festival’s 2026 season comes amid a year of significant changes for Canada’s second-largest repertory theatre. The company recently reopened its historic Court House Theatre, which will act as a temporary venue while the festival redevelops the Royal George Theatre across the street. Later this fall, the Shaw Festival will also make a foray into Toronto, presenting several shows at the Harbourfront Centre. So far, the company has announced 11 productions for its 64th season, which runs through December. Here’s a comprehensive guide to all the shows, including reviews from the Star’s theatre critics.
This roundup will be updated throughout the season as more shows open.
Sleuth
Anthony Shaffer’s “Sleuth” certainly takes its time to get going. Don’t be surprised, in fact, if you find yourself thinking in the first few scenes that this is just another stuffy British drama. But if the windup is somewhat slow, the payoff is well worth it. The two smarmy men at its centre are Andrew Wyke (Patrick Galligan) and Milo Tindle (Sepehr Reybod). The former, an accomplished mystery writer, has invited Milo over for a drink to settle some scores. The younger gentleman, we learn, is actually the lover of Andrew’s wife. But what begins as a tête-à-tête turns into a sly game of cat and mouse, filled with role reversals and unexpected twists. Until Oct. 9 at the Court House Theatre.
Read Joshua Chong’s full review of “Sleuth.”
Shows opening later this season
- “Funny Girl”: This semi-autobiographical musical comedy, which originally starred Barbra Streisand, follows the life of Broadway star Fanny Brice, and features hit songs including “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “People.” Eda Holmes will direct this new revival (the sole musical in the 2026 lineup), featuring Canadian theatre star Sara Farb in the lead role. From April 24 to Oct. 3 at the Festival Theatre.
- “Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense”: Director Brendan McMurtry-Howlett will helm this Olivier Award-winning comedy, inspired by the stories of P.G. Wodehouse, about the adventures of a bumbling young aristocrat and his butler. From May 8 to Oct. 10 at the Court House Theatre.
- “The Wind in the Willows”: Fiona Sauder will pen and direct this new play, based on the classic children’s story of the same name and the A.A. Milne play “Toad of Toad Hall,” about an adventurous toad who needs rescue from his friends the Mole, Rat and Badger. From May 22 to Sept. 27 at the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre.
- “One for the Pot”: Crow’s Theatre artistic director Chris Abraham will return to the festival to helm this British farce, about a young man who must prove he’s the rightful heir to a significant inheritance, as other men who share his name also try to stake their claims. Written by Ray Cooney and Tony Hilton, the comedy will star Peter Fernandes. From May 27 to Oct. 11 at the Festival Theatre.
- “Heartbreak House”: Shaw Festival artistic director Tim Carroll will take on this sole Shavian play in the lineup, about the inhabitants and visiting revellers at a bohemian estate, all oblivious as their society teeters on the precipice of war. From June 20 to Oct. 3 at the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre.
- “A New Work in Progress”: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the Tony-winning playwright and one of Broadway’s most in-demand writers, will be embedding himself at the festival to develop an as-of-yet untitled new work, which will be workshopped in front of audiences. From Aug. 1 to Sept. 5 at the Court House Theatre.
- “Ohio State Murders”: Philip Akin will direct Sophia Walker in this acclaimed play by Adrienne Kennedy, which follows a celebrated Black author who’s forced to confront disturbing memories from her past as she gives a lecture at her alma mater. From July 19 to Oct. 3 at the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre.
- “Amadeus”: Perhaps best known for inspiring the Oscar-winning film adaptation of the same name, Peter Shaffer‘s bristling drama imagines a thrilling rivalry between the composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. Shaw Festival artistic director Tim Carroll will direct this revival starring Tom Rooney as Salieri and Michael Therriault as Mozart. From July 8 to Oct. 4 at the Festival Theatre.
- “A Year with Frog and Toad”: Jonathan Tan will direct the children’s musical “A Year With Frog and Toad,” based on Arnold Lobel’s beloved book series. From Nov. 5 to Dec. 23 at the Court House Theatre.
- “Cinderella”: Kimberley Rampersad will direct a new revival of this classic family musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, starring Kelsey Verzotti. From Nov. 8 to Dec. 23 at the Festival Theatre.
