Jonathan Church has been appointed Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada, taking up the role in autumn 2026.

The announcement comes as Trafalgar confirmed that the development and operations of all theatre projects under Jonathan Church Theatre Productions (JCTP) will continue uninterrupted within its family of companies

Howard said: “We are excited for Jonathan on his appointment at Stratford Festival, returning to his Artistic Director roots in the subsidised sector, and we know he will bring wonderful entertainment to its audiences. We are proud of the work created since 2019 in partnership with Jonathan, under the Trafalgar Entertainment umbrella, and such theatrical development, production, and management will continue forward with JCTP’s creative and production partners. I’m pleased to confirm that Jonathan will continue to work closely with Trafalgar, in coordination with Becky Barber (JCTP’s executive producer), over the next year as he transitions into his new role. We see this as a new chapter in our collaboration with Jonathan and will be cheering on all his endeavours in Stratford.”

Jonathan added: “I have treasured the time working, in collaboration with my colleagues at Trafalgar Entertainment, on the projects that have been developed and produced under the JCTP banner. I am heartened to know such work will continue with all stakeholders and creative teams of each project and they will remain in the safest of hands. I want to thank Howard and Rosemary for their unwavering support over the last seven years and the tireless and exceptional work from the JCTP team. I’m dedicated to this thoughtful transition and together ensuring the continued success of all our projects.”