Canada Exchange

Faringdon Dramatic Society currently have an exchange partnership with the Garrison Little Theatre in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada. A number of times now they have come here and we have gone there to put on a production. The objective of the ‘twinning’ was, and still is, to give theatregoers from around Faringdon and Fort Erie the opportunity to see plays that would otherwise rarely, if ever, cross the Atlantic. Fort Erie is on the border of Canada and the USA and is very close to Niagara Falls.

GLT came to Faringdon in September 2007 to perform Lend Me a Tenor.
FDS went to Fort Erie in May 2008 to deliver a performance of Outside Edge.

GLT came again to Faringdon in October 2011 to do a joint production of London Suite.
FDS went again to Fort Erie in June 2012 to deliver a repeat performance.

GLT came again to Faringdon in early May 2015 to do a production of Office Hours.
FDS went again to Fort Erie in May 2016 with Side Effects.

GLT came again to Faringdon in May 2019 to do a production of Airport Tales.
FDS hoped to be returning with Ladies’ Day in July 2021 but it had to be cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.

How it works

When we go to Canada

We rehearse a play, put it on in Faringdon and then soon afterwards travel to Canada where we rehearse on their stage and perform for two or three nights to a Canadian audience.

They build the stage and do advertising, programmes, etc. The Canadians love community theatre and our plays have always been well attended and supported.

We get picked up from Toronto airport and stay with members of their society.

We have trips out sightseeing each day together.

We usually arrive on a Sunday, rehearse Monday and Tuesday evening, perform Thursday, Friday and Saturday and leave on the Sunday.

You have to pay for your flights but other than this you would just need money for a couple of meals and entry into attractions.

You can arrange you own flights and perhaps extend your journey, moving off to explore more of the country as you wish.

It is very exciting becoming international performers and everyone has always had an amazing time.

If you wish your partner can come with you.

When the Canadians come to Faringdon

We pick them up from the airport and host them in our homes.

We schedule activities and places to visit (we normally find out what they would like to see and do before they arrive).

In the past we have been to Stratford and seen a play, had a private tour of Buscot house, had a private tour of Faringdon house, toured the Cotswolds, been to Salisbury, Bath, Stonehenge etc. They normally have a day in London when we would take them and pick them up from the train station.

We build the set and advertise and sell tickets.