He was hired as artistic director at the Stratford Festival in Canada in 1975, where he spent six seasons directing many productions and cultivating new talent. Maggie Smith, Richard Monette, Martha Henry and Brian Bedford, among others, were prominently featured during his tenure, and many of his Shakespearean, classical, and contemporary productions won widespread acclaim.[5][6][7][8] In a review of Phillips' 1977 Stratford production of Richard III with Bedford in the title role, The Globe and Mail theatre critic John Fraser wrote: "The production Phillips has mounted is stunning, crackling with nuances and details that are spellbinding, while radiating an over-all economy of dramatic management that demands an intense involvement from any audience".[9] Veteran Stratford actor and director William Hutt compared Phillips to earlier artistic directors by saying: "With Guthrie, the heartbeat of a production was loud, obvious, robust and healthy. With Langham, rhythmic, predictable and safe. With Gascon it ran fast; you suspected high blood pressure. With Phillips the heartbeat is thunderingly silent: it’s the audience’s hearts you hear beating”.[10]
Phillips' energy seemed boundless during his time at the Stratford helm. He directed 36 productions in six seasons (his predecessor Jean Gascon directed 17 productions in seven seasons), and the company, audience, and overall scale of the organization grew considerably.[7][11] But the workload took its toll: exhaustion was cited as the primary reason for his departure when he resigned during the 1980 season.[12] He would later become artistic director at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario and return to Stratford to direct the Young Company in 1987–88. He was also director general at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton from 1990 to 1995.
Phillips was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005.[13] The citation read, in part, "Robin Phillips is revered amongst members of Canada's acting community. ... A tremendous asset to the cultural life of Canada, he is also credited with bringing new life to the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton and to theatres across the country."[13] In 2010, Phillips received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts.[14]
Phillips died in his sleep on 25 July 2015, after a prolonged illness.[15][2] He was survived by a younger sister, Hilary, and by his partner, Joe Mandel (1936–2023), whom he first met in 1962 but who became his partner in 1971.[16]
In film
Though none of his stage productions were captured on film, Phillips is featured in the documentary Robin and Mark and Richard III, in which he guides veteran TV actor Mark McKinney through some key scenes in Shakepeare'sRichard III. Its creators Susan Coyne and Martha Burns had both been directed and mentored by Phillips earlier in their careers, and wanted to capture some of his technique coaching McKinney, a Shakespeare novice. The film was released in 2016, shortly after Phillips' death.[17][18]
^Morrow, Martin (31 July 2015). "Canadian stage greats have actor, director Robin Phillips to thank". The Globe and Mail. (not 1942, as most biographies indicate). According to Joe Mandel, Mr. Phillips's long-time partner, the incorrect date was listed on his first British passport and remained on the records thereafter.
^ abWeber, Bruce (2 August 2015). "Robin Phillips, Director, Dies at 75; Revitalized Canada's Stratford Festival". The New York Times.
^Jennings, Alex (2019). "Phillips, Robin (1940–2015), director, designer, and actor". oxforddnb.com. doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.109899. ISBN9780198614128. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
^Maurice Good. "Every inch a Lear": a rehearsal journal of "King Lear" with Peter Ustinov and the Stratford Festival Company, directed by Robin Phillips. Sono Nis Press, 1982. ISBN978-0-919203-26-6
^ ab"Stratford Gold: Robin Phillips revitalizes Stratford". CBC Digital Archives. 2002. Retrieved 4 April 2019. Includes 24min video.
^"Robin Phillips directing credits". Stratford Festival Archives. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
^Fraser, John (10 June 1977), "Richard III: dark byways of the soul", The Globe and Mail, p. 16
^Cobb, David (30 May 1977), "The master of Stratford", Macleans, p. 34, retrieved 3 June 2019
^Dialogue: Robin Phillips. TV Ontario. 10 August 1997. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
^Martin Knelman, A Stratford Tempest. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1982, 240 p. ISBN978-0-7710-4542-4
at the Wayback Machine (archived 30 April 2008) (2007/06/27). The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30.
Robin Phillips (Aveleyman)
Interview with Stratford Festival costumer Cynthia MacLennan on working with Phillips (Theatre Museum Canada).
August 23, 2023
robin, phillips, february, 1940, july, 2015, english, actor, film, director, phillips, 1973born, 1940, february, 1940haslemere, surrey, england, united, kingdomdied25, july, 2015, 2015, aged, near, stratford, ontario, canadaoccupation, stage, actor, film, stag. Robin Phillips OC 28 February 1940 25 July 2015 was an English actor and film director Robin PhillipsPhillips in 1973Born 1940 02 28 28 February 1940Haslemere Surrey England United KingdomDied25 July 2015 2015 07 25 aged 75 near Stratford Ontario CanadaOccupation s Stage actor film and stage directorYears active1962 1972 as an actor PartnerJoe Mandel 1971 2015 his death Contents 1 Life 2 In film 3 Selected film and TV credits 4 Director 5 References 6 External linksLife EditHe was born in Haslemere Surrey in 1940 1 2 to Ellen Anne nee Barfoot and James William Phillips 3 4 He trained at the Bristol Old Vic where a contemporary was Patrick Stewart and worked as an actor and director for many years in the United Kingdom finishing as artistic director at the Greenwich Theatre from 1973 to 1975 He was hired as artistic director at the Stratford Festival in Canada in 1975 where he spent six seasons directing many productions and cultivating new talent Maggie Smith Richard Monette Martha Henry and Brian Bedford among others were prominently featured during his tenure and many of his Shakespearean classical and contemporary productions won widespread acclaim 5 6 7 8 In a review of Phillips 1977 Stratford production of Richard III with Bedford in the title role The Globe and Mail theatre critic John Fraser wrote The production Phillips has mounted is stunning crackling with nuances and details that are spellbinding while radiating an over all economy of dramatic management that demands an intense involvement from any audience 9 Veteran Stratford actor and director William Hutt compared Phillips to earlier artistic directors by saying With Guthrie the heartbeat of a production was loud obvious robust and healthy With Langham rhythmic predictable and safe With Gascon it ran fast you suspected high blood pressure With Phillips the heartbeat is thunderingly silent it s the audience s hearts you hear beating 10 Phillips energy seemed boundless during his time at the Stratford helm He directed 36 productions in six seasons his predecessor Jean Gascon directed 17 productions in seven seasons and the company audience and overall scale of the organization grew considerably 7 11 But the workload took its toll exhaustion was cited as the primary reason for his departure when he resigned during the 1980 season 12 He would later become artistic director at the Grand Theatre in London Ontario and return to Stratford to direct the Young Company in 1987 88 He was also director general at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton from 1990 to 1995 He directed a musical version of Jekyll amp Hyde 1997 on Broadway winning the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design for his contribution to the scenic design Long Day s Journey into Night in London s West End in 2000 and a stage version of Larry s Party at Canadian Stage and the National Arts Centre in 2001 Phillips was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005 13 The citation read in part Robin Phillips is revered amongst members of Canada s acting community A tremendous asset to the cultural life of Canada he is also credited with bringing new life to the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton and to theatres across the country 13 In 2010 Phillips received the Governor General s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement Canada s highest honour in the performing arts 14 Phillips died in his sleep on 25 July 2015 after a prolonged illness 15 2 He was survived by a younger sister Hilary and by his partner Joe Mandel 1936 2023 whom he first met in 1962 but who became his partner in 1971 16 In film EditThough none of his stage productions were captured on film Phillips is featured in the documentary Robin and Mark and Richard III in which he guides veteran TV actor Mark McKinney through some key scenes in Shakepeare s Richard III Its creators Susan Coyne and Martha Burns had both been directed and mentored by Phillips earlier in their careers and wanted to capture some of his technique coaching McKinney a Shakespeare novice The film was released in 2016 shortly after Phillips death 17 18 Selected film and TV credits EditDoctor Who The Keys of Marinus 1964 Altos The Saint 1 episode 1965 Nigel Perry Broome Stages 6 episodes 1966 Robin Broome The Avengers 1 episode 1966 John Pettit The Forsyte Saga 1967 Wilfred Desert Decline and Fall of a Birdwatcher 1968 Paul Pennyfeather Two Gentlemen Sharing 1969 Roddy Pater David Copperfield 1970 TV David Copperfield Un estate con sentimento 1970 Mark Faulkner Tales from the Crypt 1972 James Elliot segment 3 Poetic Justice final film role Director EditThe House of Bernarda Alba stage 1973 Miss Julie television 1974 The Wars film 1983 References Edit Morrow Martin 31 July 2015 Canadian stage greats have actor director Robin Phillips to thank The Globe and Mail not 1942 as most biographies indicate According to Joe Mandel Mr Phillips s long time partner the incorrect date was listed on his first British passport and remained on the records thereafter a b Weber Bruce 2 August 2015 Robin Phillips Director Dies at 75 Revitalized Canada s Stratford Festival The New York Times Robin Phillips profile at FilmReference com Jennings Alex 2019 Phillips Robin 1940 2015 director designer and actor oxforddnb com doi 10 1093 odnb 9780198614128 013 109899 ISBN 9780198614128 Retrieved 11 October 2019 Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia Maurice Good Every inch a Lear a rehearsal journal of King Lear with Peter Ustinov and the Stratford Festival Company directed by Robin Phillips Sono Nis Press 1982 ISBN 978 0 919203 26 6 a b Stratford Gold Robin Phillips revitalizes Stratford CBC Digital Archives 2002 Retrieved 4 April 2019 Includes 24min video Robin Phillips directing credits Stratford Festival Archives Retrieved 3 June 2019 Fraser John 10 June 1977 Richard III dark byways of the soul The Globe and Mail p 16 Cobb David 30 May 1977 The master of Stratford Macleans p 34 retrieved 3 June 2019 Dialogue Robin Phillips TV Ontario 10 August 1997 Retrieved 11 June 2019 Martin Knelman A Stratford Tempest Toronto McClelland and Stewart 1982 240 p ISBN 978 0 7710 4542 4 a b Order of Canada The Governor General of Canada Retrieved 13 March 2017 Robin Phillips biography Governor General s Performing Arts Awards Foundation Retrieved 11 February 2015 Robin Phillips former head of Stratford Festival dead at 73 CBC News 26 July 2015 Retrieved 26 July 2015 Obituary for Robin Phillips in The Guardian 30 July 2015 Review ROBIN AND MARK AND RICHARD III Retrieved 15 April 2018 Doc screening features Canadian theatre amp TV legends Retrieved 15 April 2018 External links EditRobin Phillips at IMDb Robin Phillips at the Internet Broadway Database Robin Phillips at the Internet Off Broadway Database Radio interview with Phillips in 2007 following the death of William Hutt at the Wayback Machine archived 30 April 2008 2007 06 27 The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Archived from the original on 2008 04 30 Robin Phillips Aveleyman Interview with Stratford Festival costumer Cynthia MacLennan on working with Phillips Theatre Museum Canada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robin Phillips amp oldid 1170526463, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
