Lib Spry

Lib Spry is a Canadian director, playwright, and academic. She is a co-founder of Company of Sirens and Straight Stitching Productions and served as the artistic director of Passionate Balance.

Lib Spry
Years active1986-pres.
Known forCo-founder of Company of Sirens
Parents

Career

In 1986, Spry co-founded the feminist theatre company, Company of Sirens, with Lina Chartrand, Aida Jordão, Catherine Glen, Shawna Dempsey, and Cynthia Grant.[1] With Company of Sirens, Spry created the play, The Working People's Picture Show, which was first staged in 1987.[2][3] With Shirley Barrie, Spry co-founded Straight Stitching Productions in 1989.[4] Spry served as the artistic director of the Ottawa-based theatre company, Passionate Balance. In 1992, she co-developed, with Rob Thompson, the play Collateral Damages. The play used techniques of the Theatre of the Oppressed.[5]

In 2012, Spry directed Where the Blood Mixes by Kevin Loring.[6][7] In 2013, Spry was set to direct the mini-musical, Marg Szkaluba (Pissy's Wife), written by Ron Chambers, at the Rialto Theatre in Montreal; however, the show was indefinitely postponed when the show's star, Carolyn Fe, became ill.[8]

Spry has taught at the University of Ottawa, Queen's University, and Concordia University. She currently teaches at McGill University.[9]

Personal life

Spry has an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College[9] and a PhD in cultural studies from Queen's University. Her parents are Graham and Irene Spry and she has two brothers named Robin and Richard.[10]

Plays
  • Bungsu and the Big Snake
  • Collateral Damages (co-written with Rob Thompson)
  • Peace and Plenty (co-written with Peggy Sample)
  • Playing Robin Hood
  • A Princess Never Should
  • Trance for Matron[11]
  • The Working People's Picture Show (co-created with Lina Chartrand, Aida Jordão, Catherine Glen, Shawna Dempsey, and Cynthia Grant)

References
  1. McGuigan, Lynn (2018-01-19). "Company of Sirens". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Athabasca University. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  2. Bell, Laurie (1987). "Working People's Popular Appeal" (PDF). Broadside: A Feminist Review. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  3. Sweet, Lois (1987-02-27). "Show portrays women's issues in an entertaining manner: [FIN Edition]". Toronto Star. p. B4. ISSN 0319-0781.
  4. Nothof, Anne (2019-01-31). "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Barrie, Shirley". www.canadiantheatre.com. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  5. Hawkins, Mary (1992). "Collateral Damages: Within and Without". Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada. 27 (4): 11.
  6. Donnelly, Pat (2012-09-13). "Where the Blood Mixes Traces the Aftermath of First Nations Residential Schools". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  7. Murdoch, Chandra (2012-09-17). "Review: Where the Blood Mixes". Cult MTL. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  8. Donnelly, Pat (2013-05-15). "Blues Singer Carolyn Fe Cancels Pissy's Wife Due to Allergies". montrealgazette. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  9. Nothof, Anne (2020-06-12). "Spry, Lib". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  10. "Irene Mary SPRY Obituary (1998) The Globe and Mail". Legacy.com. 1998-12-18. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  11. Chan, Crystal (2013-05-30). "Stretch your festival stomach at the Montreal Fringe!". Nightlife. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
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