Toronto theatre heavyweights boycott the Factory Theatre following Ken Gass’s dismissal
Atom Egoyan, Judith Thompson, Seana McKenna and George F. Walker are only some of the prominent members of the Toronto theatre community who have banded together to boycott the Factory Theatre—both as performing artists and patrons—after the abrupt firing of long-time artistic director Ken Gass last month. According to a petition to reinstate Gass (which has amassed an impressive 3,600-plus signatures and plenty of impassioned comments), the 25-year theatre vet was let go over a dispute with the board regarding how public funds would be used to develop the theatre. (The board cited the Factory’s need to move in a different direction as the reasoning behind his dismissal, while Gass’s own version of the story can be read on the boycott site). This could get interesting.
The full boycott letter:
TO THE FACTORY THEATRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
We, the undersigned, believe that the Factory Theatre Board of Directors showed astoundingly poor judgement [sic] in its firing of Artistic Director Ken Gass. We urge the board to reinstate Mr. Gass immediately, and to enter into meaningful negotiation to resolve the crisis that led to his firing.
It’s our intention to boycott Factory Theatre, as artists and as patrons, until Mr. Gass is reinstated as artistic director.Sincerely,
Maja Ardal
Tom Barnett
Nancy Beatty
Morwyn Brebner
Lora Senechal Carney
Leah Cherniak
Layne Coleman
Sean Dixon
Richard Donat
Atom Egoyan
David Ferry
Barry Flatman
Florence Gibson
Dean Gilmour
Janet-Laine Green
Kyra Harper
Deb Hay
Michael Healey
Martha Henry
Fiona Highet
Janelle Huchison
Maggie Huculak
Stuart Hughes
Brooke Johnson
C. David Johnson
Arsinee Khanjian
Janet Land
Michelle Latimer
Diana LeBlanc
Paul Ledoux
Patricia Ludwick
Kate Lynch
Ross Manson
Matthew McFadzean
Seana McKenna
John Mighton
Andrew Moodie
Tony Nappo
Lisa Norton
Rebecca Picherak
Gordon Pinsent
Rena Polley
Irene Poole
Miles Potter
Michael Redhill
Fiona Reid
Maria Ricossa
Erika Ritter
Lloyd & Nancy Robertson
Rick Roberts
John Roby
Dani Romain
Booth Savage
Tyrone Savage
Pamela Sinha
Michelle Smith
Tim Southam
Judith Thompson
Kristen Thomson
RH Thomson
Maria Vacratsis
Patricia Vanstone
George F. Walker
Trudy Weiss
Ron White
UPDATE: Things are heating up in the ongoing Ken Gass vs. Board of Factory Theatre debacle: in an interview with the National Post, Gass revealed that he plans to take legal action against the theatre’s board of directors over the sketchy circumstances surrounding his termination. As Gass told the Post, “There are issues of accountability. The irregularities in the termination process are huge”—and it seems the now 4,000+ signatures dotting the petition for his reinstatement as artistic director would agree. [National Post]
