On Tuesday, October 21st, 2025, the Upper School ventured out for our annual day-trip to the world famous Stratford Festival, in Stratford, Ontario. This year, we were so fortunate to see one of the very last performances of the hit show Sense and Sensibility, Kate Hamill’s ‘amazing!!’ (Hawthorn students’ unanimous descriptor!) adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved classic novel. We absolutely loved our entire theatrical experience, and were especially thrilled to meet the actors outside the Stage Door after the play. We met Thomas Duplessie who played Edward Ferrars/Robert Ferrars and greeted Jessica B. Hill (who played Elinor Dashwood, one of our very favourites!) with great applause and praise. We were so happy to get photos with them!
Our graduating class is now particularly enthusiastic about exploring Pride and Prejudice in English class, and we are all encouraged to read Austen and see the movie adaptations of her witty, insightful social commentaries on the lives of women. We left the Festival Theatre with joy-filled hearts, reminded of the power and importance of love and belief in our shared humanity.
As well as delighting in the comedic genius of Jane Austen springing to life on stage before our eyes, our excursion offered us the wonderful opportunity to explore the beautiful town of Stratford in all its fall glory and, finally, to enjoy supper together at a great dinner out in Kitchener, Ontario, to break up our trip home. It was so good to share all of these incredible memories with each other.
Thank you to Dr. Helmers in Upper School English for spearheading this memorable, fun thespian experience for us, and to Ms. Zupan, our Director of Academics, for her help in organizing this outing for our entire Upper School. We really did love it!
