Factory Theatre

Last updated
The Factory Theatre
Factory Theatre.jpg
The Factory Theatre
Factory Theatre
Address125 Bathurst Street M5V 2R2
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Years active1970 - Present

Factory Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded as Factory Theatre Lab in 1970 by Ken Gass and Frank Trotz, and it was run for almost 20 years by Dian English.

Contents

Factory theatre was the first to announce that it would exclusively produce Canadian plays, but it soon became a widely emulated policy by other theatre companies. Factory became known as the home of the Canadian playwright and is often associated with George F. Walker, most of whose plays premiered there.

Building History

Architects Gundry and Langley designed the building in 1869. J.M. Cowan is considered the subsequent architect/consultant.

Factory Theatre consists of two main buildings. The first is the original 1896 house and the second is the 1910 addition. The building is also known as the John Mulvey House. It was given heritage status by the Ontario Heritage Board in 1987.

The original house was constructed in a classic Queen Anne Gothic design for the prominent Toronto merchant John Mulvey in 1869.

It is attributed to architects Gundry & Langley. The house’s architectural features include:

In 1909, the property was sold to the Roman Catholic Church, Parish of St. Mary, and was used as their Arts and Literary Centre.

The larger addition to the complex was built in 1910 and designed by J.M. Cowan. It includes a church hall set up in theatre style with an overhanging balcony still in use today.

The addition’s main architectural features all face Adelaide Street. They are:

Before Factory Theatre occupied the building in 1983, it had been used as a residence, a manse, and a daycare.

Leadership History

In 1977, Gass's play, Winter Offensive aroused widespread criticism because of what was regarded as its gratuitous depiction of sex and violence amongst the upper echelons of the Nazi party. Frustrated by what he saw as the conservatism of the community, Gass resigned. Dian English took over the role of managing director of the Factory (1977–1995) and moved the theatre to its current location in the historic building at the corner of Bathurst and Adelaide (125 Bathurst Street, Toronto, On) and pulled the struggling theatre out of debt into fiscal solvency.

Gass was succeeded as artistic director of Factory by Bob White (1977–87), then Jackie Maxwell (1987–95). During much of this time,George F. Walker came on as the in-house writer with plays such as The Art of War, Criminals in Love, Love, and Anger , Escape from Happiness , Theatre of the Film Noir and Nothing Sacred . Other notable works included Crossing Over by Neil Munro, The Rez Sisters by Tomson Highway, Rick Mercer's one-man show, Robert Lepage's The Dragon's Trilogy, and The Kids in the Hall.

Michael Springate replaced English as creative director for the 1995–96 season after he left in 1995. The theatre had hit a rough patch financially at this point, and there was widespread concern that it might permanently close. But Gass came back in 1996 to take over as creative director once more with the goal of getting the theatre back on its feet. His decision to perform all six of the plays in George F. Walker's Suburban Motel as a full season brought the theatre a remarkably swift return to popularity, relevance, and financial prosperity.

Factory purchased its heritage facility in March 1999. [1]

Gass was fired as artistic director in 2012 amid controversy. [2] Several playwrights, including Walker and Judith Thompson, pulled their work from the theatre in protest, and figures including Atom Egoyan, Gordon Pinsent, Fiona Reid, and R. H. Thomson called for a boycott of the company. Since then, theatre professionals and community partners have publicity supported Factory Theatre and its existing pursuit of New Canadian voices. [2] Nina Lee Aquino and Nigel Shawn Williams were named the new artistic directors in late 2012. [2]

In December 2014, Factory Theatre presented a rebranding as "Factory. Theatre with Grit" and announced that Aquino was appointed sole artistic director. Factory's artistic team came to include Aquino as artistic director, Williams as associate artistic director, and Jonathan Heppner as artistic producer.

Aquino served as Artistic Director of Factory Theatre from 2014 up until 2022 (after which she was appointed Artistic Director of the National Arts Centre English Theatre). [3] Mel Hague assumed the Artistic Directorship of Factory Theatre in May 2022. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meteorological Service of Canada</span> Weather and meteorological institute

The Meteorological Service of Canada is a branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada, which primarily provides public meteorological information and weather forecasts and warnings of severe weather and other environmental hazards. MSC also monitors and conducts research on the climate, atmospheric science, air quality, water quantities, ice and other environmental issues. MSC operates a network of radio stations throughout Canada transmitting weather and environmental information 24 hours a day called Weatheradio Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stratford Festival</span> Theatre festival in Ontario, Canada

The Stratford Festival is a theatre festival which runs from April to October in the city of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Founded by local journalist Tom Patterson in 1952, the festival was formerly known as the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, the Shakespeare Festival and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. The festival was one of the first arts festivals in Canada and continues to be one of its most prominent. It is recognized worldwide for its productions of Shakespearean plays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Arts Centre</span> Centre for the performing arts located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The National Arts Centre (NAC) is a performing arts organization in Ottawa, Ontario, along the Rideau Canal. It is based in the eponymous National Arts Centre building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarragon Theatre</span> Theatre in Toronto, Canada

The Tarragon Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and one of the main centers for contemporary playwriting in the country. Located near Casa Loma, the theatre was founded by Bill and Jane Glassco in 1970. Bill Glassco was the artistic director from 1971 to 1982. In 1982, Urjo Kareda took over as artistic director and remained in that role until his death in December 2001. Richard Rose was appointed artistic director in July 2002, and Camilla Holland was appointed general manager in July 2006. Mike Payette assumed the role of artistic director in September 2021 upon Rose's retirement.

Canadian Stage is a Canadian non-profit contemporary theatre company, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

George F. Walker is a Canadian playwright and screenwriter. He is one of Canada's most prolific playwrights, and also one of the most widely produced Canadian dramatists both in Canada and internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Western Hospital</span> Hospital in Toronto, Ontario

The Toronto Western Hospital (TWH) is a major research and teaching hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the University Health Network (UHN). It has 256 beds, with 46,000 visits to its emergency department annually. It is known for neurosurgery and was one of the first centres in Canada to use the gamma knife. It is also home to the Donald K. Johnson Eye Centre and the Krembil Discovery Tower where the Krembil Research Institute is based.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randolph Theatre</span>

The Randolph Theatre is a 518 seat theatre in Toronto, Ontario, that is housed in a former church. The Gothic revival building is located at 736 Bathurst Street at the intersection with Lennox Street. The theatre is in the former church sanctuary, while the 100-seat Annex Theatre is in an adjoining building at 730 Bathurst Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government House (Ontario)</span> Official residences in Toronto, Canada

Government House was the official residence of the lieutenant governor of Upper Canada and Ontario, Canada. Four buildings were used for this purpose, none of which exist today, making Ontario one of four provinces not to have an official vice-regal residence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Centre for the Performing Arts</span>

The Young Centre for the Performing Arts is a theatre in the Distillery District in downtown Toronto, Canada. It is a brand-new theatre built into 19th-century-era Victorian industrial buildings. It is home to the Soulpepper Theatre Company and the theatre school at George Brown College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen Thomson</span> Canadian actress and playwright

Kristen Thomson is a Canadian actress and playwright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fashion District, Toronto</span> Neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Fashion District is a commercial and residential district in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located between the intersection of Bathurst Street to the west, Spadina Avenue to the east, Queen Street West to the north and Front Street to the south. Google Maps extends the district further east of Spadina Avenue to Peter Street.

Canada's National Ballet School, also commonly known as the National Ballet School of Canada, is a classical ballet school located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Along with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, it is a provider of professional ballet training in Canada. Mavis Staines has been the Artistic Director of the school since 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enoch Turner School</span> Ontario Heritage Trust historic site and museum in Ontario, Canada

Enoch Turner Schoolhouse is a historic site and museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a former school owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust. The school was built in 1848 when it was known as the Ward School. The building is located at 106 Trinity Street between King Street East and Eastern Avenue. It is the oldest school standing in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Langley (architect)</span> Canadian architect

Henry Langley was a Canadian architect based in Toronto. He was active from 1854 to 1907. Among the first architects born and trained in Canada, he was a founding members of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1880 and was instrumental in establishing the Ontario Association of Architects in 1889. A conservative in architectural design, he is primarily known for designing numerous churches in the Toronto area, although he designed many secular buildings as well including residential, commercial and public buildings. Langley designed 70 churches throughout Ontario. He was the first chair of the Department of Architecture at the University of Toronto, where he taught during the 1880s and 1890s.

David Yee is a Canadian actor and playwright. His play lady in the red dress was a shortlisted nominee for the Governor General's Award for English language drama at the 2010 Governor General's Awards. His play carried away on the crest of a wave won this award at the 2015 Governor General's Awards. In 2023, David was named as the Laureate of the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, which recognizes artists whose groundbreaking work is advancing the art form. The Siminovitch jury praised David's unique and prolific voice as well as his advocacy in the Asian Canadian community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Street Baptist Church</span>

Alexander Street Baptist Church was a Baptist church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada located on the south side of Alexander Street between Yonge and Church streets. The congregation was founded in 1866 and the church building, designed by Henry Langley, was completed the following year. When the congregation relocated in 1888, it was sold to the Anglican Church and eventually demolished in the mid-1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randolph College for the Performing Arts</span>

The Randolph College for the Performing Arts is a private career college specializing in singing, dancing and acting. It was founded on September 8, 1992, by George C. Randolph Jr. It is located in Toronto, Ontario, on the southwest corner of Lennox Street and Bathurst streets, just south of the former Honest Ed's. The building that was formerly the Bathurst Street Theatre houses the school.

Nigel Shawn Williams is a Canadian actor and theatre director from Toronto, Ontario.

Nina Lee Aquino is a Filipino-Canadian theatre director who was the founding artistic director of Toronto's fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company.

References

  1. ↑ "Our Story — Factory TheatreFactory Theatre". Factory Theatre. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  2. 1 2 3 "The Interview: Factory Theatre’s artistic directors Nina Lee Aquino and Nigel Shawn Williams" Archived 2013-11-29 at the Wayback Machine . Toronto Life , January 24, 2013.
  3. ↑ Nothof, Anne (May 28, 2022). "Aquino, Nina Lee". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Athabasca University. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  4. ↑ Cristi, A.A. (May 31, 2022). "Factory Theatre Announces Mel Hague As Incoming Artistic Director". Broadway World. Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved 22 January 2023.

43°38′44″N79°24′10″W / 43.645573°N 79.402721°W / 43.645573; -79.402721

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.