Christopher Newton
Christopher Newton OC (11 June 1936 – 20 December 2021) was a Canadian director and actor,[1] who served as artistic director of the Shaw Festival[2] from 1980 to 2002.
Early life and education
Newton was born in
Summer jobs at the Vancouver Festival in 1959, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the next two summers, led Newton into acting. Bucknell University hired him as acting head of theatre department, where he continued to learn acting on the job.[3]
Career
Newton performed with the Canadian Players, at the
In 1968, Newton founded Theatre Calgary where he served as artistic director until 1971. In 1973, he was appointed artistic director of the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company. There, he founded the Playhouse Acting School with his friend and mentor Powys Thomas.
Shaw Festival
In 1979, after thrice refusing, Newton accepted an appointment as artistic director of the Shaw Festival. During his tenure, Newton continued the work to expand and enrich the Shaw Festival repertory company.
Newton directed a number of critically acclaimed productions, including
As artistic director, he brought in directors such as Tadeusz Bradecki,
Newton's final season as artistic director of the Shaw was in 2002, and he invited Jackie Maxwell to join him for the season as artistic director designate to ensure a careful transition of leadership. Since his departure, he worked as a freelance director and actor for companies such as the Canadian Opera Company, the Vancouver Playhouse, Theatre Calgary, and the Stratford Festival. He also returned to the Shaw Festival in 2004 to direct Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest and in 2005 to direct R. C. Sherriff's Journey's End.
Honours
Newton was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1995. He was named an Officer in 2018.[4] Christopher Newton's other awards include the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts (2000), the Molson Prize; and, from the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), the Thomas DeGaetani Award, all honouring his lifetime contribution to the theatre.
Personal life and death
Newton died on 20 December 2021, at the age of 85.[5]
References
- ^ a b Johnston, Denis (4 March 2015). "Christopher Newton". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
- ^ Portman, Jamie (5 January 1981). "Shocks in store for Shaw festival". Calgary Herald. p. B13. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
- ^ "Newton, Christopher." Legend Library Interview Archived 10 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Order of Canada: Christopher Newton". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
- ^ family
External links
- An Interview with Christopher Newton, Legend Library, TheatreMuseumCanada
- Entry at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca