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Hutt to Speak about Career, Donation to U of G Archives
Honorary patron of Shakespeare - Made in Canada festival to reminisce about his life
BY RACHELLE COOPER
U of G is hosting a lecture by William Hutt, Canada's leading classical actor, Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m. in Rozanski Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
Hutt will be discussing his recent donation of personal papers and records to U of G's L.W. Conolly Theatre Archives. He will also reminisce about his life and career in Canadian theatre.
"The University and the library are thrilled that William Hutt will be on campus speaking about his career, his collection and his life in the theatre," says chief librarian and chief information officer Michael Ridley. "This time the great actor will play himself."
Born in 1920 in Toronto, Hutt served in the Second World War and studied at the University of Toronto's Trinity College before landing a role at the Stratford Festival at age 33.
Hutt has performed more Shakespeare than Sir Lawrence Olivier or Christopher Plummer. He retired in 2005 after taking part in 39 seasons at Stratford, stretching back to the festival's opening in 1953. Hutt has also appeared on stages in London, Toronto and New York.
In addition to his recent gift, Hutt has donated scripts, reviews and articles, correspondence, essays, photos and personal documents, which make up the McLaughlin Library's William Hutt collection.
"The Conolly archives are an extraordinary gathering of diverse materials and resources," says Ridley, "and the addition of William Hutt's collection extends the archives in a wonderful way. Hutt is a legend of Canadian theatre. His acting and directing career parallels the evolution of the Canadian stage from fledgling newcomer to world-class professionalism. Through his materials, students and scholars will see theatre from a new and very personal perspective."
Hutt is the honorary patron of the Shakespeare - Made in Canada festival, a series of regional Shakespeare events hosted by U of G, the Stratford Festival, the Guelph Arts Council and the City of Guelph and set to run January to May 2007. Its goal is to create a regional cultural synergy focusing specifically on Canadian interpretations, adaptations and exhibitions of the Bard's work.