Village Squire, 1976-10, Page 33THEATRE
Robin Phillips back with 5 -year
contract at Stratford
Robin Phillips, Artistic Director of the
Stratford Festival, has signed a new five-year
contract to take effect November 1, 1976.
In making the announcement, John V.
Killer, President of the Festival's Board of
Governors, explained that Mr. Phillips'
present contract has one year to run but it was
felt that re -negotiation at this lime would give
him.a freer hand in long-range planning.
"We trust it will also show the degree of
confidence the Board of Governors has in Mr.
Phillips and the appreciation we feel for what
he has done in the last three years. We see it
also as an expression of our firm
determination to give him every assistance in
implementing his artistic policy and carrying
out his plans for the future, plants which we
think are not only exciting but capable of
raising the Festival to new heights of artistic
achievement," Mr. Killer said.
Mr Phillips assumed responsibility for the
Festival's artistic direction in 1974, following
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the resignation of Jean Gascon. He has had
two Seasons as head of the organization to
date.
Under Mr. Phillips' artistic leadership, the
Festival has enjoyed tremendous public and
critical acclaim and has moved into
stimulating new directions theatrically. He
has been responsible for the formation of a
Young Company which toured Canada in 1975
and has since built a sizeable and enthusiastic
following among theatre -goers attending
performances in Stratford itself. He has also
attracted some of the world's leading talent to
Canada's Stratford, including Maggie Smith,
Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn this year.
His tenure has also seen a full-scale
production of a new Canadian play on the
stage of the Avon Theatre.
Mr. Phillips' plans for the Festival's 25th
anniversary Season next year include a return
of the celebrated Maggie Smith and of Brian
Bedford, another major talent who was first
A wide vatiety of hand crafts ... like crocheted
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And, as always, the unusual in gifts from
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seen at Stratford in the 1975 Season. In
addition, he has effected the return to the
Festival of Canada's internationally acclaim-
ed Kate Reid. Mr. Phillips has stated this his
policy for the Festival will include the return
of leading Canadian actors, who have been
pursuing careers elsewhere, whenever
possible.
His term of leadership has also brought
numerous offers for the Company to perform
in New York and London's West End but
these offers have been refused so far. "We
are still building a Company," Mr. Phillips
has explained. "When it is ready we'll be
happy to take it to New York and London."
Mr. Phillips has personally directed five of
this Season's ten productions: Antony and
Cleopatra, The Way of the World, A
Midsummer Night's Dream, Measure for
Measure and The Importance of Being
Earnest, and has co -directed productions of
Hamlet and The Tempest. -
ANDERSON'S
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For your fall or winter reading or Christmas gift -
Bibles - Canadiana - Cook Books - Garden Books,
etc.
Paperbacks - Harlequin Romances - other books to
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HALLOWE'EN SERVIETTES, MASKS, ETC.
\ OVERSEAS XMAS CARDS & 1977 CALENDARS
SOUVENIR ITEMS, GAMES, JIGSAW PUZZLES,
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OFFICE SUPPLIES
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VILLAGE SQUIRE/OCTOBER 1976, 31