We are so sad to hear of the too-soon passing of the formidable Mary Vingoe, one of Nightwood Theatre’s four co-founders. Mary’s life was full of personal and professional accomplishments, which included her passionate commitment to creating contexts for women playwrights, directors, and performers to soar.

In a 1984 Laidlaw grant application she wrote, “Our wider purpose is to stimulate a better awareness of the female aesthetic in the theatre, a field which even today is dominated (90%) by men.”

She flourished in her various roles as a director, writer, actor, and artistic director — including her passion for founding companies — and lived her beliefs to the fullest. She was quoted as saying, “the theatre has always had the power to shock public consciousness into an awareness of our true social values.”

Though our current team didn’t know her well, our former Artistic Director, Kelly Thornton, had this to say: “I had the privilege of working with Mary during my tenure at Nightwood, first when she programmed The Danish Play in the Magnetic North Theatre Festival, and later when I directed her compelling play, Refuge. With her sharp wit, brilliant mind, and strong sense of justice that she brought to the work, she leaves a lasting impact on Canadian Theatre, and on the many artists that have followed the trail that she blazed. She will be deeply missed.”

Sending love to her family, friends and colleagues of this extraordinary woman.

- Nightwood Theatre

Photo: Mary Vingoe.