Janet Munsil announces her departure from Intrepid Theatre

After 25 years, Intrepid Theatre’s Artistic Director Janet Munsil will step down at the end of the 30th Anniversary season
Intrepid Theatre has announced that Artistic Director Janet Munsil will be leaving the company in the fall of 2016, after producing more than 45 festivals in her twenty-five year tenure.

“Intrepid, its audiences and the Greater Victoria community have been extremely fortunate to have Janet at the artistic helm of the company. We will miss her artistic vision, creativity, leadership, and commitment to supporting local emerging artists. Janet has positioned Intrepid to thrive as it continues to present innovative and fearless theatre.” – Pamela Vivian & Anna-Lise Ter Mors, Co-Presidents

Since Munsil joined the company in 1992, Intrepid Theatre has grown as an adventurous and innovative driving force in the local and national independent performing arts scene: transforming the theatrical landscape in Victoria as the producer of the Victoria Fringe Festival (30th year), Uno Fest (19th year) and the new OUTstages Festival; as presenter of dozens of international and national touring theatre productions (most recently Ronnie Burkett’s Theatre of Marionettes); and as creator of emerging artist programs and downtown venues (The Metro Studio and Intrepid Theatre Club), home to Intrepid’s programs and available for rental by dozens of community and touring groups.

Munsil said of her departure, “I’m proud of the work I’ve done as part of this team over the years, and I see the impact of Intrepid’s work on the changing expectations and tastes of audiences – and emerging contemporary artists – in this city.”

Beyond Victoria, Munsil is better known as a playwright, with plays produced across Canada and internationally, including in London’s West End, The Arts Club (Stanley Theatre), and the National Arts Centre (Ottawa). In 2014, her play That Elusive Spark was a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for Literature.

Over the next two years, she will be writing new plays for Real Wheels Theatre in Vancouver and The Powerhouse in Vernon, and other projects – including directing Twelfth Night for the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival this summer.

Intrepid Theatre’s current General Manager Heather Lindsay has been appointed to Executive Director and will take on the artistic oversight of the company, which is undergoing restructuring to provide opportunities for new festival curators and guest programmers. Munsil will continue on through the upcoming festival season.

“Janet’s humble yet unstoppable dedication to include the next generation’s artistic voice, while continually introducing Intrepid Theatre’s audience to the NOW of contemporary theatre, is one of the many reasons why she is a pioneer in the Canadian arts and culture community. I am honoured that I have been able to learn from and work by her side these last 4 years.” – Heather Lindsay

“This milestone year is a great time to go – Intrepid is in great shape and in the best hands. But it’s hard to leave, because I can’t think of a better place to work or people to work with,” says Munsil. “It’s been a huge part of my life.”