How to Score Half-Price Rush Tickets at the Stratford Festival
Quick Tip
Rush tickets are released two hours before showtime at the box office and offer up to 50% off regular prices.
Rush tickets at the Stratford Festival cut theatre prices in half — sometimes more. This post breaks down exactly how to grab these seats, where to line up, and what shows offer the best odds. You'll save hundreds on world-class Shakespeare, musicals, and contemporary drama without booking months ahead.
What Are Rush Tickets and When Do They Go On Sale?
Rush tickets are deeply discounted day-of seats released when a performance hasn't sold out. At Stratford, most rush tickets drop at 12:00 PM noon the day of the show — though some Wednesday matinees release at 10:00 AM. You'll find them at the Festival Theatre box office on Queen's Street, the Avon Theatre on Downie Street, and the Tom Patterson Theatre on Lakeside Drive.
The discount is steep — typically 50% off face value. A $120 main floor seat becomes $60. A $95 balcony ticket? Yours for roughly $47. These aren't obstructed-view nosebleeds either. Rush seats include prime orchestra sections, especially for weekday performances.
How Early Should You Arrive to Get Rush Tickets?
Arrive 60 to 90 minutes before the box office opens. On summer weekends and opening weeks, serious theatre-goers start queuing at 10:30 AM for that noon release. Bring a book, a coffee from Reko Coffee on Ontario Street, and patience.
Weekdays — especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays — are far less competitive. You might stroll up at 12:15 PM and still snag excellent seats. Matinees see lighter rush traffic than evening performances. The Tom Patterson Theatre — Stratford's newest venue with just 600 seats — sells out fastest. The Festival Theatre, seating 1,800, offers better odds.
| Day/Time | Arrival Recommendation | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend Evening | 90+ minutes early | Moderate |
| Weekday Matinee | 30 minutes early | High |
| Opening Week | 2+ hours early | Low-Moderate |
| Mid-Run Tuesday | On time | Very High |
Which Stratford Festival Shows Offer the Best Rush Deals?
Shakespeare productions at the Festival Theatre — Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest — release rush tickets most consistently due to the venue's size. Musicals (recent seasons have included Chicago and Guys and Dolls) sell out fastest — arrive earliest for these.
The Studio Theatre — Stratford's experimental black-box space — rarely offers rush tickets. Its capacity is too small. If you're hunting value, target the Avon Theatre's classic dramas and the Festival Theatre's mainstage repertoire.
Worth noting: rush tickets are cash or credit, one or two per person, and non-exchangeable. Miss the show? You're out the money. Also — bring government ID. Stratford Festival policy requires matching identification for rush purchases (they're combating scalpers).
For the full seasonal calendar and to check which performances have availability, visit the official Stratford Festival website. While in town, grab dinner pre-show at Bijou Restaurant — they know the curtain times and pace your meal accordingly.