From the Artistic Director’s Chair Series – #7
“The Art of Building a Season”
by Emily Oriold

This month, I want to address a question I get asked quite often. What does being an Artistic Director mean?

The answer is not quite as simple as people expect. Yes, it’s about choosing plays. Yes, it’s about shaping a season. But more than anything, it’s about listening—listening to stories, to artists, to audiences—and then finding a way to bring all of those voices together into something meaningful, cohesive, and alive.

Every year, I sit down with the same question: what stories do we want to tell, and how do they speak to one another?

There’s a certain alchemy to building a season of theatre—something equal parts instinct, experience, and a willingness to take risks.

It’s never just about selecting great plays. It’s about balance. About blending the right amount of broad, joyful comedy with something a little more heartfelt and reflective. It’s about creating a journey—one that invites you in, makes you laugh, maybe catches you off guard, and ultimately leaves you feeling a little more connected than when you arrived.

One of my favourite seasons remains the year we programmed Outlaw alongside Jenny’s House of Joy. Pairing those two plays—something that had never been done before—felt both daring and deeply right. They complemented each other in unexpected ways, reminding us that comedy can be as layered and expansive as any dramatic form.

Of course, not every season is built under ideal circumstances.

There have been years where forces beyond our control pushed us to the edge of what we thought was possible. And yet, those very challenges sparked some of our most creative thinking. We found ourselves producing plays on golf courses, at historic forts—reimagining what a theatrical space could be, and bringing the Foster canon to life in ways that had never been done before. It was fresh, exciting, and pushed traditional boundaries.

On the flip side, during that time, there were moments of exhaustion. Yes, even moments punctuated by a few colourful words. But through it all, there was always a guiding light: you.

Your presence, your willingness to show up, to laugh, to engage became our compass. Because as creators, we never make theatre for ourselves. We make it for a shared community. For our Foster Friends.

There is nothing quite like the sound of collective laughter echoing through a space, no matter how unconventional that space may be. Real laughter. Real emotion. Real human connection. Not a one-way interaction with a screen, but something alive, immediate, and shared.

And that will never go out of style.

Which brings me to this season.

After celebrating ten seasons, each with its own triumphs and challenges, I felt a pull to return to our roots. To the foundation on which this festival was built. And so, in 2026, we are embracing a full Foster season: five comedies, including one beloved classic and four world premieres.

“Get Your Foster Fix in 2026” is more than a tagline, it’s an invitation.

An invitation to step into a season filled with laughter, warmth, and joy. A reminder that even in complicated times, there is more light than dark in this world. Sometimes, we simply need to lift our heads, look up from our devices, and recognize the goodness that surrounds us—in real time, in real moments of connection.

And as we stand tall in the foundation of our beginning here at The Foster Festival, we are also looking ahead.

Deepening our commitment to Canadian stories and Canadian voices has never felt more important. The Foster Festival is evolving into a place where playwrights (aspiring, emerging, and established) can come to learn, to grow, and to refine their craft.

We believe in the power of Canadian theatre. And we believe in the artists who create it.

Thank you for continuing to support and champion homegrown work alongside us. Your belief in what we do makes everything possible.

And as always, we invite you to bring even more Foster Friends along for the ride.

I’ll see you at the theatre!

Emily Oriold,
Founder & Artistic Director