CISDF 2025: Senior School Program – From "Page to Stage" and Back Again!

CISDF combines collaboration, creation and celebration of the Dramatic Arts in Stratford, Ontario.

On April 23rd, 2025, students from multiple CIS Ontario schools embarked on a three-day whirlwind filled with collaboration, creation, and celebration of the Dramatic Arts in Stratford, Ontario. The CISDF—CIS Ontario Drama Festival was once again hosted by Stratford Festival, which gave the students a chance to not only watch professionals in their field but also engage with and learn from them.

CISDF also gives the unique opportunity for schools to create and perform pieces on the Stratford Studio Stage and connect the performers with adjudicators to help guide and reflect on their creative choices. Performing for the adjudicators and their peers is easily one of the participants' stand-out experiences; this year, eight schools signed up to perform an up to 20-minute piece over two nights. The CISDF started in full swing with two schools working on their "tech time" before the official welcome. The energy was buzzing as friends recognized each other from across the Studio Theatre and embraced with squeals of "Are you performing?!" — followed by rundowns of their shows (no spoilers, of course!).

The official welcome gave way to mingling and familiarizing themselves with Stratford through a challenging scavenger hunt. Once the winners were declared, students were off to the first of five workshops, all delivered by professionals from Stratford, some of whom they would see later in the week during the performance of Anne of Green Gables. The offerings were vast, including, but not limited to, Theatre Tech, Directing, Improv, Comedy, Clown, and the most popular new addition: The Props and Costume Warehouse tour.

Each night of performances brought new laughs, gasps, and wonders as the schools showcased their works. The eclectic performances ranged from inspired classics to original creations and took the audience from dystopian lands to their own classrooms. The adjudicators, Arielle Zamora and Andrew Tribe, were positive, endearing, and full of wisdom for the younger performers to engage with both in the public adjudication and the post-workshop.

Not only did the students interact with the professionals at Stratford, but through the scavenger hunt and various scrumptious meals throughout the CISDF, they were also fortunate to meet the citizens of Stratford.

CISDF capped off by having the students all enjoy one more piece of professional theatre as they travelled to the Avon Theatre to take in Kat Sandler's dazzling adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic novel, Anne of Green Gables, followed by a talkback with the cast from the show.

After a full three days of celebrating the Dramatic Arts at the CISDF, students left Stratford with new friends, infinite memories, and inspiration for their show next year!

Christina McCourt
Dramatic Arts Teacher
St. Clement's School