The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Founded in 1962, the Shaw was known for many years for presenting the dramatic and comedic works of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries. In 2002, Jackie Maxwell became artistic director, and changed the mandate to feature forgotten plays from Shaw’s era, as well as classics and new works by Canadian playwrights. In 2017, Tim Carroll took the reins, and expanded the mandate further. Now, the Shaw is putting on plays “inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw” and creating “unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want.” The lineup has become eclectic. One summer it included a solo show written and performed by Stephen Fry; a family-oriented adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew; and the romantic comedy Stage Kiss, a 2-hour romp about two bitter exes forced to play lovers on stage. Of course, the lineup included two Shaw plays, too, but they’re no longer the big draws.

As impressive a destination for theater-goers as Stratford, the Shaw runs from April until the third weekend of December and plays in the exquisite Shaw Festival Theatre, the Royal George Theatre, and the intimate Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre.

Daily Toronto-Niagara Shaw Express buses run between downtown Toronto and Niagara-on-the-Lake from April to October. The luxury buses run from Wednesday to Sunday, departing at 10am from the Royal York Hotel at 100 Front Street and returning at 5pm. Book online at www.shawfest.com or all the box office at tel. 800/511-7429. Note: If you book before January 31, you can snag tickets for $10 round-trip.

Festival prices range from $35 to $132; some “special matinees” offer tickets for $48 seniors and $25 students. For more information, contact the Shaw Festival (tel 800/511-7429 or 905/468-2172).