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Heather Lindsay announces her departure from Intrepid Theatre
After 9 seasons with the company, Artistic & Executive Director Heather Lindsay will leave Intrepid Theatre at the end of January. After joining the company in the summer of 2012 as General Manager, Lindsay was promoted to Executive & Artistic Director in 2016. Her career has included roles in theatre and film, including at Caravan Farm Theatre, Rumble Theatre, the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Theatre SKAM, and producing the Leo award winning short film, Alchemy and Other Imperfections. Under her leadership, the company has seen growth in audiences, funding, donors and the expansion of programming including the launch of an Indigenous Guest Curator program at UNO Fest, the implementation of OUTstages as a dedicated festival in the company’s season, and partnerships with local community groups, festivals and presenters across the city, country and internationally.
Lindsay says of her departure, “I am abundantly proud of my 9 years leading Intrepid, the artists that have shared their work on our stages and in our festivals, the continued growth of the company as an internationally recognized platform for launching new work, and the ongoing accomplishments that the collaborative Intrepid team has navigated together.”
Lindsay’s strong financial acumen has guided the company as COVID-19 continues to challenge the foundation of the arts community and has placed Intrepid Theatre in a strong position in this difficult time for theatre companies and arts venues during the pandemic. She has led capital upgrades at The Metro Studio, including the installation of much-needed HVAC upgrades in 2012 and the upgrades of theatrical equipment and structures that will be done later this year as part of ‘The Next Phase Campaign’ that launched in 2020.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I thank Heather for her years of dedication to Intrepid Theatre Company. Intrepid simply would not be the company we are today without her” said Tom Daly, president of the Intrepid Theatre Company Board of Directors. “Heather’s passion for bringing brave, boundary pushing art to Victoria audiences has been invaluable and her leadership will be greatly missed. We wish Heather much success in her future pursuits and can’t wait to see her again in the theatre.”
Fostering new voices, establishing an international presence, and making space for multiple curatorial voices has been a hallmark of Lindsay’s artistic vision. Over the last few seasons, Lindsay has programmed new work from local artists including Eddi Wilson, J. McLaughlin, Lindsay Delaronde, Kerri Flannagan, Hank Pine and God’s Lake from Castlereigh Theatre and national artists including Yolanda Bonnell, Makambe K Simamba, Kevin Matthew Wong, Haley McGee, Darla Contois and the community integrated performance piece, Trophy. During her tenure, Intrepid Theatre has brought UK performance artist Lucy McCormick’s Triple Theatre, which has played at New York’s The Public Theatre, and the Dublin & Edinburgh Fringes to Victoria audiences; the Irish dance competition solo show The Humours of Bandon from Ireland’s Fishamble made its Canadian debut at UNO Fest; and Australian multidisciplinary performer Nicola Gunn blew the roof off The Metro Studio with the critically acclaimed Piece for Person and Ghetto Blaster. Most recently, she oversaw the shift of UNO Fest 2020 from its planned live version, to an online festival with the cancellation of in-person events last March.
As the company moves forward in 2021 while navigating COVID-19 and awaiting the return to live performance, Managing Director Justine Shore and Co-Artistic Director Sean Guist will lead Intrepid Theatre’s operations and programming.
“It has been a challenging and thrilling 9 seasons at this company that punches far above its weight and brings some of the country’s most acclaimed artists to Victoria, programming them alongside local powerhouses and brand new work. I am proud to have helped to create a collaborative model and to introduce multiple curatorial voices across Intrepid’s festivals and programs” says Lindsay. “ I want to thank the board and the phenomenal Intrepid team for their support through this transition and their dedication to the vibrancy of arts and culture in our community.”
A few photos looking back at Heather’s time at Intrepid Theatre.
