February 13 – December 2025
Mandeville Theatre, Ridley College, 2 Ridley Road, St. Catharines
Celebrate the magic of live theatre at The Foster Festival 2025, running from February 13 to December 2025 at the Mandeville Theatre, Ridley College, 2 Ridley Road, St. Catharines. Dedicated to the works of celebrated Canadian playwright Norm Foster, the festival offers a captivating lineup of heartwarming comedies and thought-provoking performances. With its signature blend of humour and humanity, The Foster Festival promises an unforgettable theatre experience that will leave audiences laughing, reflecting, and inspired. Discover the full season lineup and ticket details at fosterfestival.com.
2025 Foster Festival Plays
February 13-15, 2025 | Special Event
Love Letters
by A.R. Gurney
Vineland Estates Winery, Vineland
https://fosterfestival.com/love-letters
This unique and imaginative theatre piece is comprised of letters exchanged over a lifetime between two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences. An evocative, touching, and frequently funny piece.
March 21-23, 2025 | Weekend Festival
Fostered Playwrights Festival 2025
Three New Plays
Firehall Theatre, Niagara Falls
https://fosterfestival.com/playwrights-festival-2025
Emerging and established Canadian playwrights submit their new scripts for consideration. Three selections are professionally performed and directed in public readings over a weekend. One of the three will, ultimately, be chosen for a full production during our 2026 Season.
May 28-June 1, 2025 | Special Community Event
Bedtime Stories
by Norm Foster
Firehall Theatre, Niagara Falls
https://fosterfestival.com/bedtime-stories
What does a shock-radio jock, a dying man, two thieves, an aging rock star, an accident-prone stripper, and a woman leaving her husband have in common? Find out in Bedtime Stories, featuring a cast from the Niagara Region’s community theatre scene.
July 3-17, 2025 | Subscription Series
On A First Name Basis
by Norm Foster
Mandeville Theatre, Ridley College
https://fosterfestival.com/bedtime-stories
A very successful, but cantankerous novelist suddenly discovers that he knows nothing about his maid of 25 years. She, on the other hand, knows absolutely everything about him! He makes it his mission to learn all he can about her in a most engaging conversation.
July 23-August 3, 2025 | Subscription Series
Screwball Comedy
by Norm Foster
Mandeville Theatre, Ridley College
https://fosterfestival.com/screwball-comedy
An homage to those zany screwball comedies of the 1930s, full of snappy dialogue, outrageous characters, and humour that packs a punch. It’s 1938 and newcomer, Mary Hayes, is trying to break into the male-dominated world of newspaper journalism.
August 14-24, 2025 | Subscription Series
Mechanically Inclined
by Steve Ross
Mandeville Theatre, Ridley College
https://fosterfestival.com/mechanically-inclined
Shakespeare isn’t your typical fare for the amateur, but when Abby gets her chance to direct A Midsummer Night’s Dream with a cast of community misfits, she discovers more drama outside the rehearsal hall than in it. A hilarious look at the purpose and meaning of theatre.
October 2-5, 2025 | Special Event
Stakeout
by Norm Foster
Old Pelham Town Hall, Fenwick
https://fosterfestival.com/stakeout
Two cops are assigned to conduct a stakeout at a bus stop across the street from a house where suspected drug deals are being made. With nothing but time on their hands they try to remain as inconspicuous as possible while maintaining their cover as a married couple.
November/December 2025 | Subscription Series
A Niagara Christmas Carol
adapted by Jamie Williams
Mandeville Theatre, Ridley College
https://fosterfestival.com/niagara-christmas-carol-production
We have taken Dickens’ beloved holiday ghost story and have set it in 19th-century St. Catharines at the time of the Welland Canal’s second build. A Niagara Christmas Carol is a uniquely Canadian take on the traditional story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s redemption.
About Foster Festival
The Foster Festival is a Canadian theatre company located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2016 by renowned Canadian actor and playwright Norm Foster, the festival aims to celebrate the work of Norm Foster, one of Canada’s most prolific and popular playwrights, by producing his plays alongside works by other Canadian playwrights.
The festival runs during the summer months, presenting a season of plays that often include Norm Foster’s comedies, which are known for their wit, humour, and relatable characters. The Foster Festival’s productions have garnered critical acclaim for their quality and entertainment value, attracting both local audiences and visitors to the Niagara region.
In addition to its mainstage productions, The Foster Festival also engages in community outreach and educational initiatives, including workshops, readings, and other events aimed at promoting Canadian theatre and fostering a love of the performing arts.
