Arts·Stratford Festival

It's the next best thing after front row tickets to the Stratford Festival

Starting Sunday, Aug. 20 with Macbeth, catch the best of the Stratford Festival on CBC. Here's how to watch!

Starting Sunday, Aug. 20 with Macbeth, catch the best of the Stratford Festival on CBC

CBC Arts · Posted: Aug 18, 2017 12:57 PM EDT | Last Updated: August 18, 2017

Better than front-row seats, watch the Stratford Festival's production of Macbeth on CBC Sunday, Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. Ian Lake and Krystin Pellerin star. (David Hou/Courtesy of Stratford Festival)

It's Canada's foremost Shakespeare festival, renowned around the world. So what if we told you that CBC is taking you to the Stratford Festival?

No, really!

The Stratford Festival's newest round of HD films are on CBC TV this summer, starting Sunday, Aug. 20 with Macbeth.

Starring Ian Lake as the power-mad Scottish King and Republic of Doyle's Krystin Pellerin as a charming but devious Lady Macbeth, the show was among the festival's top-selling tickets of all time when it appeared at the Festival Theatre last season. Directed by Antoni Cimolino for the stage, with music by Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies), tune in at 1 p.m. Sunday for your front row seat.

After that chilling tale, try the lighter side of Shakespeare. Sunday, Aug. 27 at 1 p.m. the Stratford company brings you one of his earliest comedies, Love's Labour's Lost. The director of that one is John Caird. Born in Edmonton, he's a Tony Award-winning theatre artist who directed the world premiere of a little musical called Les Miserables. If this romantic romp of kings and princesses is new to you, consider this your spectacular introduction.

Busy Sunday?

No need for drama. After the broadcast, you can find both programs online. Look for Macbeth and Love's Labour's Lost at cbc.ca/watch.