Mary Kerr
Mary Kerr
| Mary Kerr | |
|---|---|
| Born | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Scenography |
| Honours | Fellow of the Royal Society, Royal Canadian Arts Society, Doctor of Canon Law (honoris causa) St. John’s College, Winnipeg, Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) University of Manitoba |
| 🌐 Website | https://marykerr.ca |
Mary Kerr, FRSC,[1] RCA[2], is a pioneering Canadian production, costume, and set designer, known for her innovative contributions to theatre, dance, opera, film, television, and exhibition design, and is a pioneering figure in Canadian scenography. Kerr’s work is internationally celebrated.
As a production designer, she has created for such companies as The Canadian Opera Company, The Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The New Zealand Opera, The Danny Grossman Dance Company, The National Ballet of Canada, the Shaw and the Stratford Festivals, and most of this country’s regional theatres. She was Production Designer for the 1994 Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games in Victoria.[3]
Early Life and Education
Born in the vast prairie spaces of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mary spent her first 20 years in her mother’s dance studios, eventually teaching dance, baton twirling, and designing costumes for their large end-of-year theatrical dance recitals. This helped her earn her way through university and pay for her summer student travels to Europe.[4]
Kerr originally hoped to be a sculptor or dancer and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Manitoba in sculpture and English Literature. A bad whiplash injury caused her to switch to graduate studies at the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto's Centre for Medieval Studies, where she designed her first medieval plays and studied with cultural theorists Marshall McLuhan and Northrop Frye.[4] When she met fellow student director Stephen Katz, who inspired her to design for theatre and creating sculpture that moved on stage.
Styles, Themes and Influences
“Her stage design has been described as " kinetic sculpture on stage" and is characterized by experimentation with architectural concepts, scale, imaginative materials and colours, non-realism and often-satiric cultural commentary on the human condition through her unique sets and costumes.” -The A.A. Bakhrushin Central State Theatre Museum in Moscow, Russia[5]
Movement and Sound (Selected Dance and Opera)
Dance and Musicals: Mary‘s extensive dance and classical piano training gave her a unique insight to interpret and design movement, costumes and sets in unusual ways for a wide range of dance disciplines: 28 world premieres for the Danny Grossman Dance Company (1974-2000), the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg and National Ballet of Canada, the Florida Ballet, Judy Jarvis, Entre Six, and Anna Wyman.
Opera Director of the San Francisco and Canadian Opera, Lotfi Mansouri roped her into designing for opera and musicals (Candide at Stratford) Kerr has since designed productions for the Canadian Opera Company, New Zealand Opera, the Vancouver and Pacific Opera companies and Banff Opera Festival (Zurich 1916) and the Guelph Spring Festival.[4]
Special Events and Exhibitions
Kerr has designed for World Expos and Opening Ceremonies including:
1967: Expo 67, Montreal, Canada: Tired Feet: The Industrial Schools Pavillion. Kerr designed and co-wrote a 10 panel photographic display that humorously illustrated the ten steps in the design process. Tired Feet won first prize over major world design schools.[6]
1986: Expo 86, Vancouver, BC: The Canadian Pavilion: Kerr designed and co-produced the First Theatre and Production: The Goose and Beaver show discuss Canada (written by Andy Jones).[7]
The Prague Quadrennial: Kerr has represented Canada at five Prague Quadrennials (1983[7], 1999[3], 2003,[8] 2007[3], 2019[9])
1994: the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia. Kerr was the production designer for the opening and Closing Ceremonies for an international exposition that showcased Canadian spirit, innovation and design to a global audience. Broadcast live to a world audience of over 500 million.[7]
TV and Film (selected)
Kerr brought her design sensibilities to television as production designer for The Toy Castle, (2000-2003) an internationally syndicated children’s dance series which won a Gemini Award for best children’s programming in 2003. Other credits include 2 years costume design for The Tommy Hunter Show, a weekly one hour variety show for the CBC (1978-80).[4] Sets and costume for 5 tours of Sharon, Lois and Bram, the video: Sharon Lois and Bram sing A-Z (1992)[10] and films of The Big Top Ballet (Royal Winnipeg Ballet),[4] The Tin Soldier Ballet (Ottawa ballet, 1992) [10] and the Party (National Ballet of Canada)[4]
Feature films as a production designer/art director: Nothing Personal, featuring Donald Sutherland and Suzanne Somers (1980), and Double Negative (also released as Deadly Companion), featuring John Candy and Anthony Perkins (1980)[10]
Stage Production Design (Selected)
Kerr began her career in Toronto, designing for small theatres with very limited resources and found she loved working collaboratively with other artists to reach an audience. She became known and awarded for her unusual work, and her career expanded to designing for ballet, opera, film, exhibitions and TV series
Kerr has designed over 300 productions for an eclectic range of theatrical disciplines across Canada, including:
| Year | Productions | Theatre | Location |
| 1971 | The Stag King[4] | Tarragon Theatre | Toronto |
| 1974 | La Mandragola[4] | Vancouver Playhouse | Vancouver |
| 1974 | The Admirable Bashville[4] | The Shaw Festival | Niagara-on-the-Lake |
| 1975 | A Party[11] | The National Ballet of Canada | Toronto |
| 1979 | Candide[4] | Stratford Festival | Stratford |
| 1982 | Dreaming and Duelling[4] | Young Peoples Theatre | Toronto |
| 1982 | The Desert Song[4] | The Shaw Festival | Niagara-on-the-Lake |
| 1983 | Private Lives[4] | The Shaw Festival | Niagara-on-the-Lake |
| 1983 | In the Jungle of Cities[4] | Toronto Free Theatre | Toronto |
| 1984 | Genus[4] | The Paris Opera Ballet | Paris |
| 1986 | The Big Top Ballet[12] | The Royal Winnipeg Ballet | Winnipeg |
| 1986 | Expo 86: The Goose and Beaver Show[7] | The Canadian Pavilion | Vancouver |
| 1988 | In the Land of the Spirits[4] | Canadian Native Arts Society, National Arts Centre | Ottawa |
| 1988 | Once in a Lifetime[4] | The Shaw Festival | Niagara-on-the-Lake |
| 1988 | Nothing Sacred[13] | Canadian Stage Company | Toronto |
| 1989 | The Three Penny Opera[14] | Canadian Stage Company | Toronto |
| 1992 | The Magnificent Voyage of Emily Carr[4] | Belfry Theatre | Victoria |
| 1993 | If We Are Women[4] | The Vancouver Playhouse, Canadian Stage | Vancouver |
| 1994 | The Opening and Closing Ceremony of the 1994 Commonwealth Games[15] | Centennial Stadium, University of Victoria | Victoria |
| 1999 | Zurich 1916[16] | Banff Opera Festival | Banff |
| 2000 | Into the Woods[4] | Citadel Theatre | Edmonton |
| 2007 | The Wind in the Willows[17] | Phoenix Theatre | Victoria |
| 2011 | Sweeney Todd[4] | Citadel Theatre | Edmonton |
| 2011 | Copper Thunderbird[4] | National Arts Center | Ottawa |
| 2011 | Bella: The Colour of Love[18] | The Philadelphia Museum of Art | Philadelphia |
| 2012 | Eurydice[19] | Phoenix theatre | Victoria |
Indigenous Collaboration
Kerr has production-designed three significant productions to assist the acknowledgement of First Nations artists and history. Kerr’s production design for 1994 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony championed visualizing and featuring the oldest creation legend of the Kwakwaka’wakw on the west coast of British Columbia: The Legend of Kawadilikala from Kwaxistalla Chief Adam Dick’s box of treasures.[7]
Other respectful collaborations include: In the Land of the Spirits, the first Indigenous ballet produced by the Canadian Native Arts Society (at the Opera of the National Arts Centre).
Copper Thunderbird, the life story of the great Ojibway shaman painter Norval Morrisseau, whose art and use of colour were major influences on Kerr’s art practice (National Arts Centre).[4]
Teaching
Kerr has taught design at the University of Waterloo, Ryerson Theatre Department, Interior Design and Photo Arts, York University and The University of Victoria since 1996, after moving to Victoria to care for aging relatives.[4]
Accolades (selected)
1997: Elected to The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCAA)[2]
2010: Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada[1]
2020: Awarded the $50,000 Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prize for contributions to the development of a Canadian Culture[20]
Dora Mavor Moore Awards
| Year | Category | Production | Production Location |
| 1984 | Costume Design[21] | In the Jungle of Cities | Toronto Free Theatre (Toronto, Ontario) |
| 1986 | Costume Design[22] | The Desert Song | The Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario) |
| 1988 | Costume Design[13] | Nothing Sacred | Canadian Stage (Toronto, Ontario) |
| 1984 | Set Design[21] | In the Jungle of the Cities | Toronto Free Theatre (Toronto, Ontario) |
| 1986 | Set Design[22] | The Desert Song | The Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario) |
| 1988 | Set Design[13] | Nothing Sacred | Canadian Stage (Toronto, Ontario) |
Sterling Awards
| Year | Category | Production | Production Location |
| 1989 | Outstanding Set and Costume Design[23] | Nothing sacred (#2) | Canadian Stage (Toronto, Ontario) |
| 2000 | Outstanding Costume design[24] | Into the Woods | The Citadel Theatre (Edmonton, Alberta) |
Gemini Awards (English tv)
| Year | Category | Production | Production Location |
| 1989 | Costume Design[25] | The Big Top Ballet | The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (Winnipeg, Manitoba) |
| 1994 | Costume Design[26] | The Tin Soldier | National Arts Center (Ottawa, Ontario) |
| 2003 | Best Children’s Show[27] | The Toy Castle | The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (Winnipeg, Manitoba) |
External Links
- Mary Kerr Studio: marykerr.ca
- The Mary Kerr Archival Collection: The Metro Toronto Public Research Library 1960’s-1990: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/books-video-music/specialized-collections/performing-arts-centre-archival.jsp#M
- Anne Northof, Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia: https://www.canadiantheatre.com
- Michael Kruse ( April2, 020 ) The Title Block Podcast: (#58) Mary Kerr: https://www.thetitleblock.com/episodes/2020/1/27/58-mary-kerr
- Rewa, Natalie (2004) Scenography in Canada: Selected Designers, University of Toronto Press, https://books.google.com/books?id=rleOtrzoi9IC
- 1992: Shelagh Plunkett, Women Scenographers: Astrid Jansen and Mary Kerr, Canadian Theatre Review, CTR70, Spring 1992. https://utppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3138/ctr.70.004
- 1986: Robert Enright, An Invitation to Memory: The Designing Art of Mary Kerr, a featured profile on Mary Kerr in Border Crossings Magazine, Winter 1986. https://bordercrossingsmag.com/magazine/issue/issue-21
- Bernadette McDonald (editor), Inspiring Creativity, The Banff Centre Press (2008) https://a.co/d/hDNEJ6b
- Toronto Reference Library Costume and set design Collection and the Prague Quadrennial: June 1, 2011/ TRL Arts https://torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/arts_culture/2011/06/toronto-reference-library-costume-and-set-design-collection-and-the-prague-quadrennial.html
- Mary Kerr: (1974). Mandragola: A Designer’s Portfolio, with photographs, discussing the creative process and collaboration with director Stephen Katz for Mandragola at the Vancouver Playhouse, in Canadian Theatre Review, Spring 1974 https://utppublishing.com/doi/10.3138/ctr.2.004
Publications
Articles Published In Refereed Journals by Mary Kerr
- 2021: Alistair Newton and Mary Kerr (2021) Dreaming New World: Katz and Kerr in the1970’s: Theatre Research in Canada, May, 2021 [28]
- 2005: Mary Kerr (2005) Pat Martin-Bates: Destinations, Navigations, Illuminations, a scholarly review, in Border Crossings Magazine, November, 2005 [29]
- 1974: Mary Kerr (1974) Mandragola: A Designer’s Portfolio, with photographs, discussing the creative process and collaboration with director Stephen Katz for the groundbreaking production of Mandragola at the Vancouver Playhouse, in Canadian Theatre Review, Spring 1974 [30]
Books, Chapters, Monographs featuring Mary Kerr
- 2019: PQ2019: ‘Fragments Exhibit’ at Prague Quadrennial 2019 where she was presented as the Canadian Design ‘Legend.’ (Ming Cho Lee: USA), Pamala Howard (Great Britain), Dorita Hanna (New Zealand) represented their countries among others [31]
- 2015: A.A.Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum in Moscow Exhibition catalogue: Costume at the Turn of the Century 1990-2005: a curated international exhibition at the A.A.Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum in Moscow of significant costume design of the last 25 years. Two of her shows (The Three Penny Opera and Zurich 1916) were chosen to represent Canada. This exhibit continues to travel the world [32]
- 2017: Costume at the Turn of the Century 1990-2015: Linda Pisano (limited edition catalog) Edited by Igor Roussanoff and Dmitry Rodionov, Published by A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum, 2017 [33]
- 2012: World Scenography, Volume 1: 1975-1990-curated international publication on World Scenography [34]
- 2014: World Scenography, Volume II:1990-2005, a curated international publication on World Scenography [35]
- 2008: Bernadette McDonald, Inspiring Creativity, The Banff Centre Press [36]
- 2008: Copper Thunderbird: Invention, Inspiration and Transformation: The Legacy Gallery, Victoria, B.C. Catalogue and artists statement [37]
- 2004: Prof. Natalie Rewa (Queens’ University), Scenography in Canada: Selected Designers, University of Toronto Press, the first book published on Canadian set and costume design [38]
- 1992: Shelagh Plunkett, Women Scenographers: Astrid Jansen and Mary Kerr, Canadian Theatre Review, CTR70, Spring 1992 [39]
- 1986: Robert Enright, An Invitation to Memory: The Designing Art of Mary Kerr, a featured profile on Mary Kerr in Border Crossings Magazine, Winter 1986 [40]
Exhibitions of Set and Costume Designs with Catalogues (selected)
Kerr has been represented at world design exhibitions and gallery shows:
- 2019: The Fragments Exhibition: The Prague Quadrennial 2019: Prague where Kerr was chosen/exhibited as Canada’s Design Legend for PQ19.[41]
- 2015-2022: Costume at The Turn of The Century: 1990 -2015 - A curated international exhibition at the A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum in Moscow of internationally significant costume design of the last 25 years. ( Zurich 1916/The Three Penny Opera) [42]
- 2008: Copper Thunderbird: Invention, Inspiration and Transformation: The Legacy Gallery, Victoria, B.C,. A co-exhibit of Norval Morrisseau’s paintings and Mary Kerr’s designs and costumes for Copper Thunderbird: a theatrical piece that was presented on Morrisseau at the National Arts Center in 2007. [43]
- 2007: Representing Canada at The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space Prague, Czechoslovakia [44]
- 2003: Representing Canada at The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space Prague, Czechoslovakia [45]
- 1999: Representing Canada at The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space Prague, Czechoslovakia[46]
- 1999: Royal Canadian Academy West: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. [47]
- 1983: Representing Canada at The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space Prague, Czechoslovakia [48]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Prof. Mary Kerr". The Royal Society of Canada. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ab673acaf2096105eaa2f14/t/65fc2e6bb8e03314598476fe/1711025771435/MEMBERS+IN+GOOD+STANDING+MARCH+21+2024+_+MEMBRES+EN+RE%CC%80GLE+21+MARS+2024.pdf
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Mary Kerr". Siminovitch Theatre Foundation. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Kerr, Mary". www.canadiantheatre.com. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ "Gallery - Canada Exhibit - Mary Kerr". www.worldcostumedesign.com. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ Devlin, Mike (July 9 2020). "UVic theatre professor wins $50,000 Molson Prize". The Times Colonist. Retrieved October 7 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=, |date=(help) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Rewa, Natalie (2004-01-01). Scenography in Canada: Selected Designers. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0-8020-8554-2. Search this book on
- ↑ https://pq.cz/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2003.pdf
- ↑ https://pq.cz/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2019.pdf
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Mary Kerr | Art Director, Costume Designer, Production Designer". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ "Repertoire List". National Ballet of Canada. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ "TV REVIEW : Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 'The Big Top'". Los Angeles Times. 1990-06-18. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Nothing Sacred (play)", Wikipedia, 2025-08-20, retrieved 2025-10-07
- ↑ Rasky, Frank (March 23 1989). "Cockney Threepenny is worth plenty of pounds". The Canadian Jewish news. p. 40. Retrieved October 7 2025. Check date values in:
|access-date=, |date=(help) - ↑ "1994 Commonwealth Games", Wikipedia, 2025-10-07, retrieved 2025-10-07
- ↑ https://www.banffcentre.ca/sites/default/files/Performing%20Arts/Opera%20and%20Voice/Performances/1998%20Opera%20-%20Zurich%201916.pdf
- ↑ "Wind in the Willows | Phoenix Theatre". finearts.uvic.ca. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ "The colour of love | Fine Arts Research". finearts.uvic.ca. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ "Eurydice | Phoenix Theatre". finearts.uvic.ca. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ "The 2020 Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prize Winners". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "1984 Dora Mavor Moore Awards", Wikipedia, 2025-05-30, retrieved 2025-10-07
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 "1986 Dora Mavor Moore Awards", Wikipedia, 2025-05-30, retrieved 2025-10-07
- ↑ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e7a74b9b54b2016faefff31/t/5ed585aada27ce7c81e10450/1591051691223/Sterling+Winners+-+1988_89.pdf
- ↑ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e7a74b9b54b2016faefff31/t/5ed488b1dc0c1978e67e9789/1590986929830/Sterling+Winners+-+1999_2000.pdf
- ↑ "4th Gemini Awards", Wikipedia, 2025-08-01, retrieved 2025-10-07
- ↑ "8th Gemini Awards", Wikipedia, 2025-08-01, retrieved 2025-10-07
- ↑ "16th Gemini Awards", Wikipedia, 2025-08-01, retrieved 2025-10-07
- ↑ Kerr, Mary; Newton, Alistair (May 2021). "Dreaming New Worlds: Katz and Kerr in the 1970s". Theatre Research in Canada. 42 (1): 139–152. doi:10.3138/tric.42.1.f03. ISSN 1196-1198.
- ↑ "Issue 96 – Strange Beauty – November 2005". bordercrossingsmag.com. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ Kerr, Mary (March 1974). "A Designer's Portfolio". Canadian Theatre Review. 2: 34–39. doi:10.3138/ctr.2.004. ISSN 0315-0836.
- ↑ Space, Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and. "Prague Quadrennial". Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ "Costume at the Turn of the Century 1990-2015 [Book Chapter]". Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ "Costume At The Turn of The Century 1990-2015 - Catalog". www.worldcostumedesign.com. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ McKinnon, Peter; Fielding, Eric (2012). World Scenography, 1975-1990. OISTAT, International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians. ISBN 978-1-84842-279-7. Search this book on
- ↑ Fielding, Eric; McKinnon, Peter (2014). World Scenography, 1990-2005. OISTAT, International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians. ISBN 978-1-84842-451-7. Search this book on
- ↑ "Inspiring Creativity". www.bernadettemcdonald.ca. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ "Copper Thunderbird: Invention, Inspiration and Transformation | University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries". legacy.uvic.ca. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ Rewa, Natalie (2004-01-01). Scenography in Canada: Selected Designers. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0-8020-8554-2. Search this book on
- ↑ Plunkett, Shelagh (March 1992). "Women Scenographers: Astrid Jansen and Mary Kerr". Canadian Theatre Review. 70: 20–22. doi:10.3138/ctr.70.004. ISSN 0315-0836.
- ↑ "Issue 21 – Robert Archambeau – December 1986". bordercrossingsmag.com. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ Space, Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and. "Prague Quadrennial". Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ "Costume At The Turn of The Century 1990-2015 - Catalog". www.worldcostumedesign.com. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ "Copper Thunderbird: Invention, Inspiration and Transformation | University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries". legacy.uvic.ca. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ https://pq.cz/publications/exhibition-on-the-stage/ https://pq.cz/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2007.pdf
- ↑ https://pq.cz/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2003.pdf
- ↑ https://pq.cz/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/1999.pdf
- ↑ "RCA West". Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
- ↑ https://pq.cz/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/1983.pdf
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