Redlight Theatre

The Redlight Theatre was Toronto’s first professional feminist theatre company, operating from 1974 to 1977. Diane Grant, Marcella Lustig, and Francine Volker, who were actors and playwrights in Toronto’s alternative theatre scene, founded Redlight Theatre to give women artistic, technical and administrative opportunities in theatre. Grant, Lustig, and Volker served as Co-Artistic Directors and the theatre was run by a combination of hired staff and volunteers.

The Redlight Theatre mounted a wide range of productions addressing feminist topics such as the women’s history, gender stereotyping, and abortion. It produced original plays and commissioned work from playwrights such as Carol Bold and Margaret Hollingsworth. The Redlight Theatre’s most acclaimed production was What Glorious Times We Had written by Diane Grant, which told the story of Nellie McClung and the suffrage movement in Manitoba. What Glorious Times We Had premiered in 1974 and toured Canada for International Women’s Year in 1975. Other notable productions include Entrances (1974) written by Marcella Lustig and Francine Volker, Strange Games (1975) by Elinore Siminovitch, and Queen of the Silver Blades (1976) by Susan Swan and Margaret Dragu. The Redlight Theatre also sponsored Cleo Laine’s first concert in Canada.

In 1975, Redlight Theatre created the Playwrights Workshop to encourage women to develop professional skills in writing for the theatre. Plays that emerged from this workshop include Inside Looking In by Joann MacIntyre, Lies My Mother Told Me by Gay Claitman and Nancy White, and 10,000 Hellcats in Deepfreeze by Suzette Couture, Marcella Lustig, and Jacqueline Swartz.

Established with a grant from the Local Initiatives Program, the Redlight Theatre also received funding from The Secretary of State, the Canada Council, and the City of Toronto. The theatre never acquired sufficient funds to secure a permanent location so productions were staged in various venues, including the Matador Club, the Bathurst Street United Church, the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, and St. Paul’s Centre. After three seasons, the Redlight Theatre closed due to lack of funding in 1977.
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Le Redlight Theatre a été la première compagnie théâtrale professionnelle féministe de Toronto, qui a fonctionné de 1974 à 1977. Diane Grant, Marcella Lustig et Francine Volker, actrices et dramaturges de la scène théâtrale alternative de Toronto, fondent le Redlight Theatre pour offrir aux femmes des possibilités artistiques, techniques et administratives dans le domaine du théâtre. Grant, Lustig et Volker sont codirectrices artistiques et le théâtre est géré par une combinaison d'employés et de bénévoles.

Le Redlight Theatre a monté un large éventail de productions abordant des sujets féministes tels que l'histoire des femmes, les stéréotypes de genre et l'avortement. Il a produit des pièces originales et commandé des œuvres à des dramaturges tels que Carol Bold et Margaret Hollingsworth. La production la plus acclamée du Redlight Theatre est What Glorious Times We Had, écrite par Diane Grant, qui raconte l'histoire de Nellie McClung et du mouvement pour le suffrage au Manitoba. What Glorious Times We Had a été créée en 1974 et a fait l'objet d'une tournée au Canada à l'occasion de l'Année internationale de la femme en 1975. Parmi les autres productions notables, citons Entrances (1974) de Marcella Lustig et Francine Volker, Strange Games (1975) d'Elinore Siminovitch, et Queen of the Silver Blades (1976) de Susan Swan et Margaret Dragu. Le Redlight Theatre a également parrainé le premier concert de Cleo Laine au Canada.

En 1975, le Redlight Theatre crée le Playwrights Workshop afin d'encourager les femmes à développer des compétences professionnelles en écriture théâtrale. Parmi les pièces issues de cet atelier, citons Inside Looking In de Joann MacIntyre, Lies My Mother Told Me de Gay Claitman et Nancy White, et 10 000 Hellcats in Deepfreeze de Suzette Couture, Marcella Lustig et Jacqueline Swartz.

Créé grâce à une subvention du Programme d'initiatives locales, le Redlight Theatre a également reçu des fonds du Secrétariat d'État, du Conseil des Arts du Canada et de la ville de Toronto. Le théâtre n'a jamais obtenu suffisamment de fonds pour obtenir un emplacement permanent. Les productions ont donc été montées dans divers endroits, notamment au Matador Club, à l'église unie de Bathurst Street, à l'Enoch Turner Schoolhouse et au St. Après trois saisons, le Redlight Theatre ferme ses portes en 1977, faute de financement.