First Run at a List of Women in Canadian Theatre

[Louise . Forsyth]

Hi David,

 

How that captures the imagination! the idea/image/fact of a living quilt -
with patches carefully stitched by many -- circulating among us on the wings
and erotic energy of our shared passions, living memories and carefully
researched information!

 

I have no idea how it could be made to happen, but several of you have
written to tell me that you love the suggestion you are making, David.

 

Regards to all,

 

Louise

 

  _____  

From: david ferry and appledore [mailto:appledor at sympatico.ca] 
Sent: June 28, 2010 18:48
To: Louise . Forsyth; CANDRAMA at LISTSERV.UNB.CA
Subject: Re: First Run at a List of Women in Canadian Theatre

 

Louise,

 

Thank you for reaching out with this request..it is one of the great things
about this CanDrama list..the knowledge and generosity in sharing it brings
about.

 

I have a crazy idea--let's create an electronic paper version of one of
those quilts that get made to celebrate wonderful things in a community's
life. Where everyone adds a patch. Perhaps, with Louise's permission, we can
all open up the attached document and add detail and other names with their
details and keep passing it around until we have a fully blossoming throw to
keep us all warm. 

 

I remember the fantastic women that were really the backbone of the
community theatre world that was my start in Newfoundland--Alice Matheson
who was a fine (and deaf) director; Florence Paterson..a superb actor who
went on to national acclaim; Betty Ferry the first director to direct stage
plays live on TV in the 50's in St. John's; Lynne Lunde , first
administrator and co-founder with Chris Brookes of The Mummers Troupe; Ronda
Payne feminist theatre administrator and artist; Sylvia Wigh teacher and
children's theatre director; Donna Butt, co-founder of Rising Tide
Theatre--- I can only imagine the huge number you all can collectively list
of equally not so well known (and famous)  woman teachers, directors, actors
, designers stage managers, techs and administrators that form the real
golden thread that stitches together the patches of the Canadian theatre
quilt. 

 

This can be a living document that gets passed on..it will turn up at
conferences where someone can add new names, it can can passed on to
students and colleagues..lest we forget.

 

respectively,

 

daf

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Louise . <mailto:louise.forsyth at SHAW.CA>  Forsyth 

To: CANDRAMA at LISTSERV.UNB.CA 

Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 6:28 PM

Subject: First Run at a List of Women in Canadian Theatre

 

Dear colleagues,

 

I am awestruck at the response I have received to my query regarding women
in anglophone Canadian theatre. Thank you so much for your generosity and
interest.

 

I am also awestruck by the number of wonderful artists which we have
mentioned in just a couple of days. What a rich theatrical and cultural
heritage this represents! - many regions, many areas of creative activity,
many historical periods. Drama and theatre would simply not be what it is in
Canada and would not hold such exciting promise for the future without all
of these women.

 

I have made a first synthesis of this list. It remains in no particular
order. When you sent details about the careers and work of these wonderful
women, I have plagiarised blatantly to retain the information. If this is
not an area of interest for you, please just delete. But if anything on or
about the list clicks for you, I would be delighted to receive comments and
further suggestions.

 

Obviously, it will not be possible for me to make entries in this dictionary
Des femmes for more than a few (5-10) of these theatre artists. However, it
will certainly be possible to provide at least an overview of the vital role
they have played and continue to play. I plan particularly to highlight the
rich diversity and creativity of women's work in theatre. This derives from
aboriginal peoples, regional diversities, the rich variety of cultural
traditions, and the boldness with which innovation and experimentation have
been carried out, often pioneering in fields of interculturalism and
intermediality. I believe that this is something Europeans and francophones
around the world will find particularly interesting.

 

Thank you ever so much again for your powerful responses. I loved hearing
from you.

 

Louise

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