PGC's Tom Hendry Has Passed Away

[David Ferry]

Tom was indeed an extraordinary man of our theatre.

He and John Hirsch both studied under James Reaney when Reaney was teaching in Winnipeg...his influence to these two young theatre nuts according to Tom in an interview I did with him a few years ago was very significant. Surely, they both evolved an extraordinary sense of the importance of the "local" and of "nation" and went on to be theatrical nation builders. MTC became the model for the regional theatre system in Canada and had significant influence in the US regional system as well. Tom's work with Free Theatre (and Playwright's) was an absolutely fundamental building block in the creation of the modern Toronto theatre evolution. Imagine an exciting theatre featuring some of the most exciting of our actors doing theatre for free admission today?

MTC did a very nice press release in honour of Tom's passing. And they have a fabulous statue of Tom and John outside their theatre. Sadly, I can find no mention on CanStage's web site regarding Tom's passing...I wonder if they even know how important Tom is to the origin of the company? As for a statue....well, this is Toronto after all.




David Ferry
Appledore Productions
416 433 5826
www.davidferryactor.com

On Dec 8, 2012, at 12:05 PM, Ric Knowles <rknowles at UOGUELPH.CA> wrote:

> Dear all,
> 
> I was really saddened to get the message below from PGC about Tom Hendry's passing, and I've been astonished since not to have seen an obit in the major papers, or indeed on Candrama (unless I've missed something).
> 
> I only knew Tom in recent years as a member of the board of Playwrights Canada Press, but he was an unassuming giant: co-founder of Manitoba Theatre Centre, AND Toronto Free Theatre AND Playwrights Union, playwright, administrator, accountant (!)--and above all a huge champion of Canadian playwrights right up until the end of his life. He was also a person of extraordinary good humour, and a great story teller. I, for one, will miss him.
> 
> I'm not in a position to write a formal obituary--and I didn't know him that well--but I hope the Canadian theatre community will do something significant to mark his life, and his passing.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Ric
> 
> Co-editor, Theatre Journal
> Professor of Theatre Studies
> University of Guelph
> Guelph, Ontario, Canada
> N1G 2W1
> 
> ph: 519-824-4120, x52931 (w)
> FAX: 519-824-0560
> email: rknowles at uoguelph.ca
> http://www.uoguelph.ca/sets/sets-ric-knowles
> 
> 
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> From: "Playwrights Guild of Canada" <communications at playwrightsguild.ca>
> To: "Ric" <rknowles at uoguelph.ca>
> Sent: Monday, December 3, 2012 11:49:34 AM
> Subject: PGC's Tom Hendry Has Passed Away
> 
>        
> 
> 
> 
>    
> 
> PGC - Special Announcement    December 3, 2012 
> 
> Playwright and PGC-founding member Tom Hendry Has Passed Away. 
> Playwrights Guild of Canada has just learned that playwright and PGC-founding member Tom Hendry (1929-2012) passed away over the weekend. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time of mourning. 
> 
> 
> In memory of his many achievements, PGC will be collecting personal remembrances and condolences from our members and friends, which we will then compile and send to his family. If you are interested in adding your voice, please send your message to: communications at playwrightsguild.ca 
> Remembering Tom Hendry 
> Tom participated in this year's AGM in Winnipeg, via video conferencing. If you'd like to watch Tom's interview, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYx80fwirqE&feature=plcp 
> 
> We will be publishing more news and information as it becomes available, so please check our website and Facebook page regularly for further details. 
> 
> (back to top) 
> 
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