From the Artistic Director’s Chair Series – #3
“All the World’s a Stage”
by Emily Oriold

All the World’s a Stage… and Ours Has 16 Days to Get Ready.

During our post-show talkbacks, there’s one question that pops up quite frequently: “How long do you rehearse a show?”

The answer often surprises people—12 days in the rehearsal hall, and 4 days in the theatre to pull all the technical elements together before our first audience arrives. That’s it. That is all the time that the majority of theatre companies in Canada—certainly those the size of The Foster Festival—have to put a professional production on its feet.

And here’s the part that never ceases to amaze me: the professionals we hire are so good at what they do that they memorize their lines, learn their blocking, fine-tune their backstage traffic patterns, and craft truthful, compelling characters all in that window of time. It is astonishing. Truly. And they do it with such joy and generosity that the rehearsal hall becomes a space where community lives, in the truest sense of the word—a space where everyone brings their skills, focus, and creativity to the table. Because at its core, that’s what theatre-making is: a collective act of puzzle-building.

Each actor holds a piece. The director shapes the corners. The designers slide in their colours and textures. And once the technical crew joins us, the picture suddenly sharpens, deepens, comes to life. No single piece is more important than another. Without each one, the full image simply wouldn’t exist.

This is a value we take seriously at The Foster Festival: we all have a part to play, and we play those parts together. That’s why we often refer to our team as the “Foster Family.” And with our upcoming production, A Niagara Christmas Carol, adapted by Jamie Williams, our actors have been juggling more puzzle pieces than ever. When you come see the show in December, you’ll know exactly what I mean. They’ve tackled it all with grace, good humour, and a remarkable amount of positivity.

Now, just because the end result seems effortless it doesn’t always mean the process is. There’s a moment—predictable enough to set your watch by—when the wheels wobble.

Second Thursday of week two. Every. Single. Time.

Lines drop, confidence dips, and suddenly everyone is convinced we’ll never be ready for that first preview audience. But here’s the secret every theatre-maker knows: it always comes together. And somehow, the final product is more beautiful than any of us imagined.

I truly believe that those of us who have chosen a career in the performing arts have one of the most satisfying and meaningful jobs. We are of service to our communities. We bring people joy. We gather strangers together and offer them a few hours of shared experience—experiences that will never be repeated in quite the same way. And there is nothing more fulfilling than knowing audiences leave the theatre feeling lighter, happier, or more connected than when they arrived.

As we head into the holiday season, I’m reminded of how lucky we are to gather together—artists, audiences, neighbours, friends, family—and share in the simple magic of storytelling. Much like the best holiday traditions, theatre invites us to slow down, connect, and feel a little more wonder than we did the day before.

So when you join us for A Niagara Christmas Carol this December, I hope you’ll feel the warmth, laughter, and heart our whole “Foster Family” has poured into this production. May it lift your spirits, spark your imagination, and send you back out into the winter night with a fuller heart.

I’ll see you at the theatre!

Emily Oriold,
Artistic Director & Founder