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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-07-21, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2016. PAGE 19. Entertainment & Leisure Doc. to tell Thompson's story ahead of Donnelly show Capturing to film Paul Thompson, right, is many things to many people, including a theatre legend and a Member of the Order of Canada. But to documentarian Rachel Thompson, left, he is her father. Rachel has endeavoured to capture the life of her father, with a focus on the 1970s, in her new film Theatre Beyond Walls with Paul Thompson. (Photo submitted) By Denny Scott The Citizen Paul Thompson may be best known locally for his work both with and leading up to the Blyth Festival, however the tale of how he came to return to Huron County may not be as well known as it could be. Fortunately, Paul's daughter, filmmaker and teacher Rachel Thompson, is looking to remedy that and show what her father was doing in the 1970s that made him the theatre legend he is. Paul, a member of the Order of Canada, is a familiar face in Blyth since he was originally part of The Farm Show in 1972, directed The Outdoor Donnellys and has returned to Blyth this year to direct Last Donnelly Standing and to be part of the Fighting 61st. In her film, Theatre Beyond Walls with Paul Thompson, Thompson hopes to show how Canadian theatre became so popular and what part her father played in that change. "My editor friend, Scott Blackett, who is married to Heather Morton of Belgrave, was always fascinated with my father and convinced me to start filming him," she said. "I didn't think people would be interested in his story, but, on my second maternity leave, I started following dad when he did the play Hirsch several years ago at the Stratford Festival." Thompson said the play marked a special moment, as it was the first time her father directed a collective play that was part of the Stratford Festival which is where he started as an Assistant Director. "I saw some of what people had talked about all along with his work and from there, applied to the Ontario Arts Council, who gave me a grant for the project. Their belief in me was the final push I needed." Thompson said that telling the stories of people in the theatre industry is an important one, especially with people like Thompson getting older. The long haul Paul Thompson, seen here pulling a car in the 1970s, is the subject of a new documentary being directed by his daughter Rachel. The film focuses on that decade, an important one for Thompson and Canadian theatre as a whole. (Photo submitted) BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED 41• •a RAP IF 8 ""ine%n1G/ Make Your Own Beer, Wine, Coolers and Fruit Wine (r' here or at hornet)RIP 84 Kingston St., GODERICH 524-2323 . P*5Ct Bittf tag Doug SPiacu `To Our Die Hard Leaf Fan Lots of Love from Deb and Faint)/ • "We need to talk about what is happening and document what has happened," she said. "What went on in the 1970s with Canadian theatre was quite exceptional, and, while it would be easy to downplay it, the risk-taking that was done then is why theatre is happening the way it is today in this country." Thompson chose the 1970s because, of her father's 46 active years directing Canadian works, they were the years about which she knew the least. "He's produced and directed hundreds of plays so it's a huge span to work with and a little overwhelming," she said. "I chose the 1970s because it's the part that I didn't know. I was just born. I wanted to find out what started it and I wanted to find out why people call him the grandfather of Canadian theatre. I guess, when it comes down to it, I was curious about what makes my dad tick." Thompson said she has a great relationship with her father as he supports both her and her sister Severn, who has followed him into theatre. As for what makes him tick, Thompson said she wanted to find out why her father got into theatre because it doesn't seem to be the Happy 5o" Wedding • Anniversary July 23rd, 2016 • to O Dave and Alice • Marks Brussels CJ Love from your family and friends • • Cj• . C7 • path she would picture for him. "He grew up in a small town [Listowel], was into sports and went to university to become a French professor," she said. "I don't know how someone like that ends up in theatre." She said she understood why her mother, Anne Anglin, was drawn to acting as it was something she had pursued at a young age, but didn't know how her father, one of three children raised by a widowed mother, became involved with it. "That was the interesting part to me," she said. "He's very creative, but very practical about financial stability. Why would someone like that choose theatre, which is one of the most unstable careers someone can find?" Thompson may have found the answer to that query when she started looking back. "What I learned was he went to France in 1965 to improve his French but ended up studying with Roger Planchon, a very popular theatre persona and leader of company Theatre National Populaire, until 1967," she said. "Planchon revived old theatre and wanted it to be relevant to everyone, not just the upper class," she said. Continued on page 20 FL -57 -gr‘ It's official Jim, lim-Bits, lames Button is turning 65 and retiring Come celebrate with him at the Blyth Lions Park on Sunday, July 31, 2016 from 1 pm to 5 pm Best wishes only rVK MVVIt INI- JKMAIIVN... l www.movielinks.ca long distance?1-800-265-3438 to"." HURONNn*.C:iauk DISTRIBUTION CENTRE Please join us for dinner, music, silent and live auctions Thursday, August 4 Libra Community Hall in Clinton doors open at 5:30 pm This is our third annual Gala "Send out your Light" All proceeds go towards making hunger non-existent in our communities. The cost is $50. per plate - with a $25. charitable receipt issued. For ticket information please call 519-913-2362 or email zielman@huroncountyfoodbank.org Come and make a difference in your community!!