Tom Hendry facts for kids

Tom Hendry (1929 – 2 December 2012) was a very important person in Canadian theatre. He helped start the Manitoba Theatre Centre in 1958. This theatre became a big part of the arts in Canada. Later, in 2008, one of the theatre's buildings, the MTC Warehouse Theatre, was named after him to honor his work.

Who Was Tom Hendry?

Tom Hendry was born in Manitoba, Canada. He started studying at the University of Manitoba in 1947. He was always interested in the arts and helping creative people.

Building Theatres and Helping Writers

Tom Hendry was a leader in the theatre world. He worked as the main manager for the Manitoba Theatre Centre until 1963. After that, he moved on to help other important theatre groups.

• He became a manager at the famous Stratford Festival. This festival is known for its amazing plays.
• In 1972, he helped create two new groups: the Playwrights Guild of Canada (PGOC) and Toronto Free Theatre. The Playwrights Guild helps Canadian writers get their plays produced.
• In 1974, he started the Banff Playwrights Colony. This was a special place where writers could go to work on their plays and get support.

A Writer's Life

Besides helping to run theatres, Tom Hendry was also a talented writer himself. He wrote plays for the stage and scripts for television shows.

• He wrote for the popular CBC Television series King of Kensington. This show was a favorite for many Canadians.
• Some of his plays included How Are Things With the Walking Wounded? (written in 1970), Fifteen Miles of Broken Glass, Gravediggers of 1942, and Satyricon. These plays showed his creative mind.

His Legacy and Honors

Tom Hendry's hard work and dedication to Canadian theatre were recognized in many ways.

• In 1995, he was given a very special award. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a Canadian citizen can receive. It shows that he made a huge difference to the country.
• The MTC Warehouse Theatre being named after him in 2008 is another lasting tribute to his important contributions. He helped shape the theatre scene in Canada for many years.