Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia
Leyshon, Glynis
British Columbia-based actor and director, a graduate of the Vancouver Playhouse acting school. Glynis Leyshon served as Artistic Director at Belfry Theatre (1986-97) and Vancouver Playhouse (1997-2009). Her directing credits for the Playhouse include productions of Wit (2001), and The Beauty Queen of Leenane. In 1994, her production of Oleanna won Vancouver's Jessie Richardson Award.
She has also directed at the Shaw Festival (Mrs. Warren's Profession 1990, The Devil's Disciple 1996, The Simpleton of the Unexpected Isles 1996, The Children's Hour 1997 among others); Canadian Stage; Tarragon Theatre; and Arts Club Theatre.
She has directed several premieres of Canadian plays including works by Sally Clark (Moo at Alberta Theatre Projects playRites Festival, 1988); Joan MacLeod (The Hope Slide, Tarragon, 1992); Michel Garneau (Warriors, playRites, 1990); and Kevin Loring (Where the Blood Mixes, Luminato in Toronto, and Magnetic North Festival in Vancouver, 2008). In June 2013, she directed For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again by Michel Tremblay at the Magnetic North Theatre Festival in Ottawa. In 2017, she directed acclaimed productions of The Last Wife; and in 2018, The Virgin Trial, both by Kate Hennig, for Alberta Theatre Productions.
As an opera director, Glynis Leyshon has directed twenty operas for the Pacific Opera, Victoria, and for opera companies across Canada, most recently La Traviata for the Calgara Opera Company. From 2002-04 she was Head of the Opera as Theatre Program at the Banff Centre for the Arts, working with John Murrell in the production of new works. She also collaborated with Keith Turnbull on an opera adaptation of Mary's Wedding.
As an actor, she appeared in the Belfry production of Kilt (October, 2000).
Glynis Leyshon is the recipient of Canada’s Commonwealth Medal for her contributions to the arts. She has conducted master classes for opera training programs in Calgary, Victoria, Courtenay, and Banff, and has offered courses at the University of Victoria, William Head Penitentiary, the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and the University of British Columbia, where she serves as an Adjunct Professor.
Last updated 2020-06-12
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