FOR YOUR INFORMATION – The bad news from Canada’s beloved Stratford Festival: 495 layoffs affecting 35 full-time staff, 300 seasonal workers and 160 artists. Delayed contracts for another 300 seasonal workers and 140 artists. Payroll until now – $1.8-million.The 2020 season has been postponed by a month. Budget for the 2020 season $76.2-million for 15 repertory productions – some in a new $70-million theatre complex. 62% of revenues come from ticket sales, concessions and the gift shops. Only 5% comes from Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council, which is extremely low by European and British standards.The City of Stratford will suffer along with the Festival. The estimated economic impact is about $135-million annually, which would include the hotel industry, gift shops and local restaurants.Facts and figures from J. Kelly Nestruck’s opinion column in the Globe and Mail, Saturday, March 21/2020.