Tracey Blake says she is thrilled that Stratford will once again host the 2016 Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival for Taranaki.
"Stratford is exactly where the festival should be held, given the town's links with Shakespeare's birthplace."
Tracey says it is even more meaningful this year given it is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death.
Tracey, who is the head of drama at St Mary's Diocesan School as well as regional co-ordinator for the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, says this year is extra special as a former Taranaki woman is returning to judge the event.
Hilary Penwarden studied speech and drama with Tracey to diploma level and first experienced Shakespeare in 1998 when she had a role in the now closed Te Kiri Primary School's end of year production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.