Theatre History in Canada/Histoire du Théâtre au Canada was founded to meet a need for a scholarly publication devoted to the theatrical and dramatic history of Canada. Through its pages we hope to promote research and to provide a forum for the exchange of thoughtful and studied opinion, thereby encouraging the formation of an informed critical perspective within which to view Canadian theatre. The journal will regularly contain articles from a broad range of topics, including the history of resident and touring companies and their impact on Canadian theatre and audiences, studies of individuals who have contributed to the craft of theatre, records and calendars of performance, and analyses of the social and artistic conditions which give rise to theatre in any particular time and place. When appropriate, editions of scripts which are unavailable yet historically significant will be published. A 'Notes and Queries' section will accept brief statements of important new projects and specific requests relating to individual research. There will be reviews and review articles of publications relevant to the field. Indeed, since the history of our theatre dates from the late sixteenth century, the list of topics still to be studied in detail is almost endless. We hope therefore that the journal will be of use to scholars, critics, teachers, students and to all individuals concerned with the tradition of theatre in Canada.
We will endeavour to give as much geographical coverage across the country as possible, and expect through the good offices of our editorial board and the co-operation of scholars everywhere to achieve, in time, a balanced presentation of contemporary work in the areas of criticism and research into theatre history in Canada. To this end we are especially pleased that the journal has been adopted by the Association for Canadian Theatre History/Association d'Histoire du Théâtre au Canada as its official publication. We look to the members of the Association for support and guidance. However, we remain an autonomous body answerable to our entire readership and so encourage submissions from all quarters.
Le Journal de l'histoire du théâtre au Canada se veut le reflet des deux traditions d'étude de l'histoire de l'activité théâtrale au Canada. L'intention de l'équipe de rédaction est d'encourager les recherches et de faciliter les échanges entre tous les chercheurs qui travaillent dans ce domaine. Nous invitons nos lecteurs à soumettre des articles ou des comptes rendus portant sur le théâtre au Canada, qui'il soit québécois, acadien, manitobain ou d'ailleurs. L'auteur du manuscrit rédigera son texte dans la langue de son choix.
Pour élargir les horizons, nous sommes d'avis qu'il conviendrait de faire paraître des études en français sur un aspect du théâtre canadien anglophone et, inversement, des études en anglais sur l'histoire du théâtre francophone.
Notre Journal sera diffusé dans toutes les régions du Canada. Il deviendra certainement un organe indispensable dans la recherche sur l'histoire de l'activité théâtrale. Pour que la revue joue bien son rôle, il faut qu'elle soit bilingue. Nous comptons sur le concours de nos collaborateurs - francophones et anglophones - pour que notre revue devienne dès le début un vrai medium de communication.
Finally, we wish to thank all those who have contributed to making this journal possible. Members of the Canadian Theatre History Research Programme of the University of Toronto provided the original stimulus, which was taken up by the Graduate Centre for Study of Drama, University of Toronto, and the Department of Drama, Queen's University in Kingston. We are grateful to both institutions and to the Christine Bissell Fund, University of Toronto, for financial assistance. Members of the Management and Editorial Boards have already provided staunch support, advice and encouragement; invaluable assistance has come from Laurie Lewis and Helen Mah of the Design Unit of the University of Toronto Press; Lynn McFadgen, Shirley Gibson, Andrée McNamara, Laure Rièse, Ronald Bryden, and our editorial assistant Denyse Lynde have been of untold assistance, as have been the many scholars, both Anglophone and Francophone, who have already given generously of time and knowledge to serve as assessors and advisers. We look forward with pleasure to continuing co-operation.
RICHARD PLANT
ANN SADDLEMYER