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Two play posters, featuring illustrations & yellow text, side by side. Left: The 39 Steps. Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock - against a blue background. Above the text, a silhouette of a man running toward an ascending staircase, a biplane in pursuit in the cloudy sky above. Right: Heratio by Genevieve Adam on a purple background. Below the text, a white skull wearing gold crown, with a purple flower at its temple.
Two play posters, featuring illustrations & yellow text, side by side. Left: The 39 Steps. Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock - against a blue background. Above the text, a silhouette of a man running toward an ascending staircase, a biplane in pursuit in the cloudy sky above. Right: Heratio by Genevieve Adam on a purple background. Below the text, a white skull wearing gold crown, with a purple flower at its temple.

Slapstick meets suspense Slapstick meets suspense

+ Shakespeare, family fun & music at Scarborough’s annual summer theatre tradition.

Home Events Performance Guild Festival Theatre 2025 Summer Season

Guild Festival Theatre 2025 Summer Season

From Thursday, July 10 to Sunday, August 24, 2025: Guild Festival Theatre’s (GFT) 2025 summer season features a world premiere inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet and a tour-de-force comedy spy thriller based on a Hitchcock classic, as well as the fourth edition of their popular Family Fest. The season kicks off with an exciting launch party on Thursday, July 3, featuring Aqua’s Red Rhythm & Blues group!

“Audiences are going to love the reimagined classics in our 2025 season. This summer, the Greek Theatre will be alive with comedy and thrills, as well as the energy and enthusiasm of Family Fest!”

– Helen Juvonen & Tyler J. Seguin, Co-Artistic Directors

An Indigenous woman wearing a blue hat and red fringed coat, holding a blue and white patterned drum behind her back, stands in a forest, her back to us with her face in profile, eyes closed.

(Photo credits: Guild Festival Theatre. Aqua, from Aqua’s Red Rhythm & Blues.)

Launch party featuring Aqua’s Red Rhythm & Blues (July 3)

Bringing stories of Indigenous hope and resilience to the Greek Theatre, this one-night only performance will feature music, hand drumming and dance. Aqua, just as their name suggests, is an elemental force. They bring a unique take on blues music and have created their own genre, IndigiBlues – inspired by their life stories as an IndigiQueer person of mixed ancestry and rooted in their Anishinaabe heritage. As a survivor and warrior, Aqua brings poetry to rhythm with the help of their hand drum. Accompanied by their queer guitarist Valentina Morelli, talented violinist Alex George, and fancy shawl dancer Nichole Leveck, this group creates space for healing through the soothing sounds of strings and unforgettable harmonies. They engage with the audience in a beautiful way, bringing together traditions that span Nations and generations. Storytelling is at their core, leaving each person with the feeling that they are not alone. Read more about them here.

“Aqua graced the Greek Theatre Stage during our 2021 collaboration with Women in Song and returned for a set at last year’s Guild Alive With Culture festival. We are thrilled that they’ll be returning to launch our season. Their uplifting performances are full of hope and joy and will be the perfect start to our summer in Guild Park!”

– Helen Juvonen & Tyler J. Seguin, Co-Artistic Directors

A man wearing a patterned shirt and shorts performs on stage, with a painted skyline in the background and a painted brick wall to the right. The brick wall has a window, from which a painted image of the man looks out at him from behind blue curtains.

(Photo credits: Guild Festival Theatre. Family Fest. M. John Kennedy in Fireside Munsch: Classic Munsch Mayhem.)

Family Fest (July 10 – 13)

Scarborough’s biggest celebration of young audiences, the fourth annual Family Fest offers free performances and activities for all ages, featuring some familiar faces and new acts! See the full schedule here; some events require registration. Check out the highlights:

  • Thursday, July 10 @ 6:30 PM ET: Nagata Shachu. Family Fest begins with a bang with a returning audience favourite. Join this taiko and music group as they lead you in a thirty-minute drum and movement workshop using authentic Japanese hand-drums. The workshop will be followed by a one-hour thunderous and heart-pounding performance. Due to the expected crowd size, seating will not be provided for this event – please bring your own chair or blanket!
  • Friday, July 11 – Sunday, July 13 @ 6:00 PM ET: Fireside Munsch: Classic Munsch Mayhem. Fun for the entire family, M. John Kennedy’s hit solo show Fireside Munsch is a high-energy performance featuring four of Robert Munsch’s classic stories performed as one wacky storytelling play.
  • Saturday, July 12 @ 12:30 PM ET: Giant Puppet Party. Join Carousel Players and their resident Giant Puppet, Nadine the Ondine, for the Giant Puppet Party! Gather with a group for a guided workshop where you will design and create your very own giant puppet. Then join Nadine for a choreographed dance routine and free style dance party with your puppet. The perfect way for families to celebrate creating art through music, dancing and laughter! Suggested age: 4+ with help from grown-ups during the workshop.
  • Sunday, July 13 @ 2:00, 3:30 & 5:30 PM ET: The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin: The Game. Play out events of The Tale of the Squirrel Nutkin with Grand Salto Theatre! This interactive experience based on the stories of Beatrix Potter is recommended for ages 4 and up. Parents/caregivers are asked to join in on the fun for any children aged 10 and under.

“Family Fest is one of the most exciting parts of our summer in Guild Park! For four days the Greek Theatre will come alive with performances ranging from Japanese drumming to Métis fiddling to classic Robert Munsch stories. There’s truly something for everyone at Family Fest and we cannot wait to welcome audiences of all ages to the park.”

– Helen Juvonen & Tyler J. Seguin, Co-Artistic Directors

A poster for a play, featuring illustration & yellow text on a blue background. The 39 Steps. Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Above the text, a silhouette of a man running toward an ascending staircase, a biplane in pursuit in the cloudy sky above.

(Photo credits: Guild Festival Theatre. The 39 Steps.)

The 39 Steps (July 17 – August 3)

Part Hitchcock masterpiece, part classic spy novel, part Monty Python comedy, The 39 Steps is a hilarious and fast-paced whodunit featuring a cast of four actors playing over 100 characters. Richard Hannay, a Canadian in London, is leading a boring life when he meets a mysterious woman who claims to be a spy. After she is murdered in his home, Hannay is mistakenly accused and goes on the run to Scotland with an enigmatic organization called “The 39 Steps” hot on his trail.

The 39 Steps is filled with non-stop laughs, fast-paced fun, thrilling action and some old-fashioned romance! Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan and the movie by Alfred Hitchcock, and directed by GFT Co-Artistic Director Tyler J. Seguin, the cast features Sébastien Heins, Georgia Findlay, Isaiah Kolundzic and Kiana Woo.

A poster for a play, featuring illustration & yellow text against a purple background. Heratio by Genevieve Adam. Below the text, a white skull wearing gold crown, with a purple flower at its temple.

(Photo credits: Guild Festival Theatre. Heratio.)

Heratio (August 7 – 24)

Guild Festival Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Genevieve Adam’s Heratio, a bold re-imagining of Hamlet that picks up the story after Shakespeare’s ending. Through a delightful blend of humour, mystery and melancholy, the play gives the stage to the women and servants who are left to clean up the mess created by the intrigues of princes and kings.

Heratio was developed through In Conversation with Classics, Guild Festival Theatre’s program for new plays. Directed by GFT Co-Artistic Director Helen Juvonen, the cast features Janelle Hanna, Philippa Domville, Jack Davidson, Siobhan Richardson, Rashaana Cumberbatch and Phoenix Fire.

About Guild Festival Theatre

For more than a decade, Guild Festival Theatre (GFT) has enchanted patrons at beautiful open-air productions at the stunning Greek Theatre in Scarborough’s iconic Guild Park & Gardens. Scarborough’s only professional theatre, GFT is proud to champion local arts and culture and has been honoured with numerous awards and commendations, including Best Live Theatre (Scarborough Mirror), the Urban Hero Award (Metroland Media), the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award and two Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

Two play posters, featuring illustrations & yellow text, side by side. Left: The 39 Steps. Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock - against a blue background. Above the text, a silhouette of a man running toward an ascending staircase, a biplane in pursuit in the cloudy sky above. Right: Heratio by Genevieve Adam on a purple background. Below the text, a white skull wearing gold crown, with a purple flower at its temple.

(Photo credits: Guild Festival Theatre.)

 

Event details

Hosted by: Guild Festival Theatre

Type of event: outdoor theatre performances

Dates & times: GFT’s summer season runs Thursday, July 10 – Sunday, August 24, 2025, with a launch party on Thursday, July 3 (please refer to individual events/productions for specific dates/times):

  • Launch party, featuring Aqua’s Red Rhythm & Blues: Thursday, July 3 @ 7:30 PM ET
  • Family Fest: Thursday, July 10 – Sunday, July 13 @ various times. See the link for specific events, dates & times. All events are free & some events require registration.
  • The 39 Steps: Thursday, July 17 – Sunday, August 3. Performances on Tuesdays – Saturdays @ 7:30 PM ET & Sundays @ 5:30 PM ET.
  • Heratio: Thursday, August 7 – Sunday, August 24. Performances on Tuesdays – Saturdays @ 7:30 PM ET & Sundays @ 5:30 PM ET.

Cost: Please note there is a C$3.00 processing fee.

  • Tickets for the Launch party, featuring Aqua’s Red Rhythm & Blues: C$15.00
  • Family Fest events are free. Some events require registration (see the Booking link below).
  • Single preview performance tickets for the plays: C$16.25 (The 39 Steps on July 17 & Heratio on August 7)
  • Single tickets for the plays after previews: C$22.50 Youth 17 & under, $27.50 Students/Seniors/Arts workers & $32.50 General admission
  • Passes for the plays (includes The 39 Steps and Heratio): Pick 1 C$32.50 & Pick 2 $55.00 (with the purchase of a pass, you will be sent a voucher code that can be used to select your desired performance dates).

Location: The Greek Theatre, Guild Park & Gardens, 201 Guildwood Parkway, Scarborough, ON, M1E 1P5

Public transit: From Kennedy subway station, take the 116 or 116A eastbound bus to the Guild Inn stop on Guildwood Parkway. Enter the gate into the park.

Booking links:

  • Book your tickets for the Launch Party, featuring Aqua’s Red Rhythm & Blues here.
  • Family Fest events are free and some events require registration. Reserve your spot here by scrolling to the event you wish to attend and clicking on the Buy Tickets button.
  • Book passes for The 39 Steps and Heratio here.
  • Book individual tickets for The 39 Steps here.
  • Book individual tickets for Heratio here.

Contact details: Guild Festival Theatre, 19 Earswick Drive, Scarborough, ON, M1E 1C7, Canada; (647) 250-7438, boxoffice@guildfestivaltheatre.ca, guildfestivaltheatre.ca

Content warning: Please refer to the individual production details for age recommendations.

Accessibility: Guild Park, where GFT performs, is wheelchair accessible and offers hearing assistance. Guild Park and Gardens has a public washroom trailer. It is a short distance from the theatre and requires steps. Accessible washrooms are available at the Clark Centre for the Arts during its regular business hours and at the Guild Inn Estates. Scroll down to the Accessibility section for details here.

Refund policy: Due to limited seating availability, Guild Festival Theatre does not provide refunds. Exchanges can be processed at a cost of C$5.00 per ticket. However, exchanges in the case of weather cancellations will not be subject to a fee (please see their Weather Policy for further information). If you have further questions about these policies, please contact the box office at boxoffice@guildfestivaltheatre.ca.