Just 60 km / 39 mi north-east of London, Stratford (pop. 25,000) is internationally famous for its Festival. Named after the Bard's birthplace by 19th C immigrants from Stratford, England, it sprang to fame in 1950 when a local newspaper editor organized the first festival. The 2250-seater Festival Theatre has been staging plays between May and
October since 1953, with pride of place going to Shakespeare, but also, by public demand, putting on Molière, Brecht, and the like, not to mention the occasional Mozart opera.