Tyrone Guthrie

First Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival Theatre

Star Location: In front of the Avon Theatre (1 on MAP)

Tyrone Guthrie was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent England on July 2, 1900. He attended Oxford University and worked at the Oxford Playhouse as well as making his first professional appearance there. He began working at the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1924 producing plays for radio. 

Guthrie directed plays at various theatres and at the Shakespeare Repertory Company from 1936 to 1945. In the 1940s Guthrie began to direct operas in New York at the Metropolitan Opera. In 1953 he directed the first four seasons at the Stratford Festival of Canada. This move proved to be influential in the progression of Canadian Theatre.

Guthrie won a Tony award in 1956 for Best Director for Thornton Wilder’s The Matchmaker and was knighted in 1961. He also wrote two novels about effective drama in the theatre.

Tyrone Guthrie was married to Judith Brethertonand died in Newbliss, County Monaghan, Ireland at the age of 70 on May 15, 1971.