Stratford opening cancelled after bomb threat
For the first time in the Stratford Festival’s history, the opening night was cancelled Monday after a bomb threat was issued.
Around 6:45 p.m, Stratford police received a call saying explosives had been placed at the festival. The Festival Theatre was evacuated, with 1,830 people ordered to leave. The Avon Theatre, where staff were working, was also evacuated as a precaution.
Officers were searching the scene Monday evening and advised the public to stay away from the grounds.
“We’re saddened to announce that there was a bomb threat made against a Festival Theatre tonight. To ensure the safety of our patrons and staff we have cancelled the opening of The Tempest,” the Stratford Festival said in a tweet. “All ticket buyers will be contacted and reimbursed by us.”
Artistic director Antoni Cimolino said, “We will make information public as it becomes available.” He added: “I am sitting with Martha Henry who is holding Prospero’s staff. She will work her magic soon.”
Henry, a veteran of Canadian theatre, was set to play a gender-swapped version of the lead role in Shakespeare’s play. Those in attendance for the opening included former governor general Adrienne Clarkson and former Ontario premier David Peterson.
Karen Fricker, a theatre critic for the Star and an assistant professor at Brock University, was at the theatre Monday night. She said theatregoers were already inside the lobby, the box office was shut, and people were making their way toward their seats when police cars started to arrive.
Fricker noted that the box office was shut at the time, though it should have been open half an hour before the show. Around 7:10 p.m., the people were told by a volunteer to evacuate, and once they arrived at Stratford’s Bruce Hotel, they were informed of the bomb threat. The company was informed around the same time.
Cimolino said performances will resume tomorrow, but with increased security procedures, such as bag checks.
“We’re hoping to find out that this is some kind of hoax,” he said.
Speaking to theatregoers and media at the hotel after the performance was cancelled, Henry, 80, said in reference to whoever made the bomb threat: “When we find this little blank blank, we are going to put him in a room with 15 women from the company and make him cry.”