Here For Now Theatre Company (HFN) is an award-winning, feminist theatre company that offers an off-Broadway experience in Stratford, ON. The company was founded by Artistic Director Fiona Mongillo in 2012 and began producing plays in pop-up venues around Stratford. In 2020, HFN produced its first, full-scale repertory season of 6 plays on the backyard lawns of the Bruce Hotel for small, socially distanced audiences. This “Open-Air” season put HFN on the map and the company has been thriving ever since.

2022 marked the first season HFN was featured in articles outside of Canada, including The Chicago Tribune and The New York Times. HFN’s production of Girls & Boys was picked up by Crow’s Theatre in Toronto and gained recognition on several ‘Best Of’ lists in Ontario.

Here For Now became a registered charity in June of 2022, an essential step in moving towards the longer-term goal of becoming a permanent fixture in Stratford.

HFN diversifies the cultural ecosystem in Stratford by producing new one-act plays in a stripped-down fashion with a focus on quality acting and writing. This style of work acts as a counterpoint to the Stratford Festival and larger scale, polished productions and helps to support the artistic community as a whole.

In 2024, Here For Now was named Critic’s Pick Company of the Year by My Entertainment World.

Over the last 4 years, HFN has rented a variety of intimate pop-up venues, but the company has now outgrown this model and is planning to move into a permanent home in downtown Stratford.

Stay tuned for an announcement soon!

Mandate:

Here For Now is an independent feminist theatre company based in Stratford Ontario,

that challenges and inspires its audiences by producing a bold annual theatre season

comprised of new or underproduced plays.

Mission Statement:

To produce a theatre season annually, with a focus on new works.

To offer compact and compelling stories in a primarily one act format.

To tell a variety of stories centering around ‘othered’ voices and silenced or lost histories, especially those of women. 

To engage local artists and contribute to the Canadian Canon of theatre by providing a showcase for new playwrights. 

To support other artists and artistic structures in our local community by seeking ways to collaborate with each other.

To employ and feature primarily Stratford-based artists.

To optimize the company’s finances through fundraising, donations and otherwise.