Wayne Fairhead, NTS Festival Executive Director

Wayne Fairhead had an illustrious career in education for 38 years, teaching and advising at all levels-elementary, secondary and tertiary. He retired from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT) in 2004. Wayne has been a member of several Dora Mavor Moore and Chalmers Awards juries for Theatre for Young Audiences, including the inaugural juries for both Awards. He Co-chaired the Arts Education Expert Panel for the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training that reviewed and reinvigorated Arts Education at that time.

Wayne was the Executive Director of the Sears Ontario Drama Festival from1991 until its recent transition into the National Theatre School (NTS) Festival. He instigated equivalent Festivals in BC and Atlantic Canada a decade ago. All are now NTS Festivals. During his leadership with the Festivals he has partnered them with SummerWorks, IATSE and Playwrights Canada.

Publications include: DRAMA VOICES (Editor); “Establishment or alternative: Two Canadian models” in Learning Through Theatre (Author); “Empowerment and the changing curriculum” in the Australian  drama education magazine ADEM (Author); “Drama in Education: Canada” in Contemporary Canadian Theatre: New World Visions(Author);TYA5: Theatre for Young Audiences, Playwrights Canada,1998 (Co Editor); and Festival Voices Playwrights Canada Press, 2010 (Co Editor).

Wayne is a Lifetime Member of the Council of Drama in Education (CODE), an inaugural member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Theatre Museum and a former member of the Board of Theatre Direct Canada. In 1996 and 1998 respectively he was the recipient of the MAGGIE BASSETT AWARD (administered by Theatre Ontario) for outstanding contribution to theatre and the FABIAN LEMIEUX AWARD (administered by the Ontario Arts Council) for his sustained and outstanding support for Arts Education. Wayne was given a HAROLD AWARD (2008) for his outstanding contribution to theatre in Toronto.

As the Congress Director for the International Drama/Theatre and Education Association’s (IDEA) Fifth Congress (IDEA2004) held in Ottawa in early July 2004 Wayne welcomed delegates from 70 countries to Canada. Two Sears Ontario Drama Festival productions (one each in English and French) were presented for the 1000 delegates.

Contact Wayne