roy Hansen-robitschek

roy Hansen-robitschek

In a 1984 essay, written for the catalogue of Canada's team submission to the Prague Quadrienalle, roy postulated that as a designer of sets, costumes and lighting for the theatre he was not an artist, but rather a toy-maker—a craftsperson—who makes toys for actors and directors to play with. Now older and wiser, he has come to terms with the role that the artist assumes in the collective creation of wonderful stuff.

roy discovered the Theatre in 1972, in Ottawa, at Woodroffe High School and learned about Theatre as a profession from Rae Ackerman at the National Arts Centre: tentatively, at first, doing work experience at the NAC while in high school and later, as a Production Assistant out of the University of Ottawa. roy drafted, built models (his very best and most careful was for Micheal Eagan's design for "Le Songe" for the 1980 Prague Quadriennalle). Rae then sent roy to the National Theatre School of Canada to hone his skills, whereafter he returned to the National Arts Centre before graduation to design "Rock and Roll" for John Gray who was directing.

Subsequently, he sent his portfolio across the country and followed it by train and worked and worked and worked as a designer.

His work has always been a "little different". Being Ottawa-born, it was a natural choice to work in English et en Français. He feels a responsibility to be "Canadian".

It made sense to work in small theatres at ground level, doing original work, and in the end that brought him to Newfoundland, which he feels is  the planet's most beautiful place. He and his wife Krista, who is an equity Stage Manager, now have three children and they, like he, are thriving....

More from this designer:

• View roy's costume designs in The Secret Life of Costumes