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Founding Chairman: Herbert Whittaker Chair: Marlene Smith Directors Advisory Members Regional Advisors |
About Us
Theatre Museum Canada is a registered Canadian cultural charity, with a volunteer board of directors, an expanding collection, engaging activities and a growing membership. If you’d like to know more about supporting us and/or becoming a member, please visit our Support page.
Contact Information Theatre Museum Canada
Our Mandate Theatre Museum Canada seeks to share the wonder of Canada's rich theatre legacy with Canadians and theatre enthusiasts everywhere.
Our Vision Our objectives are:
A Brief History It all began in Vancouver in 1982 when Theatre Research in Canada (then called Theatre History in Canada) recognized the need for a theatre museum. The idea was championed by a few key people, including producer/director/designer Jean Roberts, and the drama critic for Toronto’s Globe and Mail, Herbert Whittaker. A feasibility study followed. The Canadian Museums Project, funded by the Samuel and Sadye Bronfman Family Foundation, had the support of Ann Saddlemyer (chair), Jim Aikens, Curtis Barlow, Guy Beaulne, Jean-Cleo Godin, Anthony Ibbotson, John Lindsay, Richard Plant, Jean Roberts, Ross Stuart, William Taylor, Anton Wagner and Herbert Whittaker. Bilingual questionnaires were sent across Canada, achieving favourable conclusions. When Ms. Roberts’ health prevented her from continuing, “Herbie” took on in the lead role. In 1991 The Theatre Museum Corporation, was established. Its mandate was to collect, document, preserve, study, display and interpret the heritage of theatre in Canada, and to enhance the public appreciation of the historical context of theatre in Canada. Many people, devoted to the concept of the Theatre Museum, have served on the board and volunteered their time over the ensuing years. While a physical site is still in the future, Theatre Museum Canada has enlisted the support of key members of the theatrical community and continues to gain momentum and enlarge its collection. It has also evolved with the times, recognizing the value of a virtual site, which can bring together the theatrical experiences of each region in the country. Today our activities include recording our Legend Library of oral histories and programming an entertaining and informative series of speakers’ panels that enlighten our audience about the people and events behind the creative processes of the performing arts in Canada. We are also committed to caring properly for our collection of donated artifacts, and upgrading this website so that it can best serve the curiosity of theatre students, professionals and enthusiasts. And we are planning for the day when we have a year-round home for our exhibitions and educational programming. |
