2013 Stratford season sees return of Brians Dennehy and Bedford

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival has unveiled its offerings for the 2013 season, a stuffed slate that welcomes back Brian Dennehy and Brian Bedford.

The season features The Merchant of Venice withBedfordas Shylock, Romeo and Juliet directed by Tim Carroll, Fiddler on the Roof directed by Donna Feore and Othello directed by Chris Abraham.

The season will mark thefirst with Antoni Cimolino as artistic directorand he will direct The Merchant of Venice and Mary Stuart. Theatre veteran Cimolino marked his 25th season with the festival in 2012, having been an actor, director andsince 2006general director of Stratford.

Other shows include The Three Musketeers, directed by Miles Potter, Measure for Measure, helmed by Martha Henry, and Blithe Spirit directed by Bedford.

Two productions star Dennehy: Mary Stuart and Waiting for Godot.

Des McAnuff, whosetenure as artistic director ends this season, returns to direct a revival of his Tony and Olivier Award-winning production The Who's Tommy.