History
The organization was started by James Roy, playwright Anne Chislett and local newspaper editor Keith Roulston in 1975. Its primary mandate is to produce and develop local Canadian plays.
In 1975, few scripts that fit the festival's mandate were being written so we jumped into the creation of new work. At that time, the festival was the only summer theatre producing original Canadian plays, and one of the very few, if not the only "500-seat" theatre in Canada producing Canadian plays exclusively.
Today, located in a village of 1000 in rural Huron County, the Blyth Centre for the Arts is a year-round centre of cultural activity for southwestern Ontario. In addition to the Blyth Festival, the Centre includes an Art Gallery that showcases three professional exhibits, one non-juried community show and co-ordinates a student exhibit each season. Choristers participate in the professionally-led Blyth Festival singers and musicians from three counties form the Blyth Festival Orchestra. The theatre brings many outstanding Canadian artists to its stage throughout the off-season.
In addition, the festival acts as a resource for local groups and makes its outstanding facilities available for community use. The Festival plays a major role in the business life of the village and the tourism industry in Huron County.
Read more about this topic: Blyth Festival
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