The Foster Festival

The Foster Festival (formally known as The Norm Foster Festival) is a professional theatre company and annual theatre festival based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It is inspired by the work of Norm Foster, described by the organization as Canada's most prolific playwright, and it operates as a registered not-for-profit charitable organization. The Festival's stated mission is to celebrate Norm Foster's work and legacy while developing and producing new Canadian plays that embody humour, humanity and connection. The Festival presents an annual season of Canadian theatre in the Niagara region. Its programming is built around plays written by Norm Foster as well as new Canadian works, and the organization runs a play development program that includes workshops, public readings and full productions. According to its mandate, the Festival seeks to advance knowledge and appreciation of arts and culture through theatrical performances and community programs, to provide education and instruction in the theatre arts, to advance the development of theatre in Canada, and to conduct an annual Canadian theatre festival in Niagara. It also states a commitment to supporting local artists and to developing new works by Canadians, with particular attention to voices represented by women and members of the BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ communities whose work aligns with its mission. The Festival emphasizes that its plays are Canadian, directed by Canadians, designed by Canadians and performed by Canadians. Its creative leadership includes Emily Oriold, who served as the Festival's Founding Executive Director and is its Artistic Director, and Jamie Williams as Artistic Associate. Norm Foster himself is identified as the Festival's playwright. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, chaired by David Hulley, with Rhiannon Barry as Vice-Chair. As a not-for-profit charity, the Festival relies on sponsors, supporters and community engagement. It promotes an e-newsletter and ticket sales through its website, and it has published annual reports, including a 2025 Annual Report. Its seasons have featured productions such as "1812" by Norm Foster (2022 world premiere), "The Foursome" (2022), "Screwball Comedy" (2025) and "On A First Name Basis" (2025). Looking ahead, the Festival has announced a 2027 season under the banner "Cruise into the 2027 Season," which its Artistic Director describes as an exciting new chapter that builds on the momentum of recent seasons while staying true to the Festival's heart: bringing people together through laughter, storytelling and exceptional Canadian theatre.

The Foster Festival is a professional theatre company and annual theatre festival located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It is inspired by the work of Norm Foster, whom the organization describes as Canada's most prolific playwright, having written almost 80 plays and being the most produced playwright in the country's history. The Festival operates as a registered not-for-profit charitable organization (Charitable Organization #81051 0180 RR0001). The organization's formal mandate is broad: to provide interest in and the study of the Canadian arts generally; to advance knowledge of and appreciation for arts and culture through theatrical performances and community programs; to provide education and instruction in the theatre arts; to advance the development of theatre in Canada; and to conduct an annual Canadian theatre festival in Niagara. Its mission is to celebrate Norm Foster's work and legacy while developing and producing new Canadian plays that embody humour, humanity and connection. A central part of the Festival's activity is its play development program, which supports new Canadian work through workshops, public readings and, ultimately, productions. The Festival states that it seeks to support local artists and to develop and establish new works by Canadians, specifically seeking voices represented by women and members of the BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ communities whose work aligns with its mission. It emphasizes that its plays are Canadian, directed by Canadians, designed by Canadians and performed by Canadians. Emily Oriold is identified as the Festival's Founding Executive Director and serves as its Artistic Director; she is described as a professional artist for 25 years. Jamie Williams serves as Artistic Associate, with 30 years in the theatre industry. John McHenry is Development Manager. Norm Foster is the Festival's playwright. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by David Hulley, Director of Customer Experience at Vineland Estates Winery, with Rhiannon Barry, a social worker and visual artist, as Vice-Chair. The Festival has presented seasons featuring Norm Foster's plays and other Canadian works. Its 2022 season included the world premiere of "1812" by Norm Foster, directed by Jim Mezon, and a production of "The Foursome," directed by Jamie Williams. Its 2025 season included "Screwball Comedy" and "On A First Name Basis." The Festival has also published annual reports, including a 2025 Annual Report. For 2027, it has announced a season under the banner "Cruise into the 2027 Season," which Artistic Director Emily Oriold describes as an exciting new chapter that builds on the momentum of past seasons, expanding what the Festival does while staying true to its heart: bringing people together through laughter, storytelling and exceptional Canadian theatre.

• The Foster Festival is established as a professional theatre company in St. Catharines, Ontario, inspired by the work of Norm Foster.

• 2022 season includes the world premiere of '1812' by Norm Foster, directed by Jim Mezon, and a production of 'The Foursome' directed by Jamie Williams.

• 2025 season includes 'Screwball Comedy' and 'On A First Name Basis' by Norm Foster.

• The Foster Festival publishes its 2025 Annual Report.

• The Foster Festival announces its 2027 season under the banner 'Cruise into the 2027 Season.'

A professional not-for-profit theatre festival celebrating Norm Foster and developing new Canadian plays with humour, humanity and connection.

• 1812 by Norm Foster (2022 world premiere)

• The Foursome by Norm Foster (2022)

• Screwball Comedy by Norm Foster (2025)

• On A First Name Basis by Norm Foster (2025)

1. 1Home - The Foster Festivalfosterfestival.com
2. 2About us - The Foster Festivalfosterfestival.com
3. 3Our Creative Team - The Foster Festivalfosterfestival.com
4. 4Board of Directors - The Foster Festivalfosterfestival.com
5. 5The Norm Foster Festival - Wikidatawikidata.org