John Hirsch was a Canadian theatre director and producer who achieved great success in his field while remaining true to his artistic vision. He was born in 1926 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and grew up in the city’s Jewish community.
Hirsch began his career as an actor and director in Winnipeg’s Little Theatre Movement in the early 1950s. His innovative productions helped to shape Canadian theatre, and soon he moved on to produce and direct for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He directed his first feature film in 1965, and went on to work on several more.
In 1974, Hirsch moved to Toronto to become artistic director of the Stratford Festival. Here, he directed some of the greatest works of drama ever produced, including Shakespeare’s King Lear, Oedipus Rex, and The Tempest, as well as modern works such as The Life and Times of Nicholas Nickleby and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Hirsch’s productions were acclaimed for their originality and his ability to bring the stories to life. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail and a desire to create productions that were both visually stunning and emotionally moving.
Hirsch was also a pioneer in the development of Canadian television. He was one of the first producers of a CBC-TV series, and he was instrumental in the creation of the CBC Drama Department.
In 1987, John Hirsch was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the highest honours bestowed by the Canadian government. He was also awarded the Governor General’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Performing Arts.
John Hirsch passed away in 1989. His legacy lives on in the many productions he directed, as well as in the enduring impact he had on the Canadian theatre and television industries. He was a passionate advocate for the arts and a leader in the development of Canadian culture.
