Dora Mavor Moore
Dora Mavor Moore was a pioneering Canadian actress, director, and producer, born in Glasgow, Scotland, on April 8, 1888. At the age of four, her family immigrated to Canada, where she pursued her passion for acting, studying at the University of Toronto and the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, from which she became the first Canadian graduate in 1912. Following her education, Moore toured with the Pastoral Players and worked with the notable Old Vic Theater Company during World War I. Upon returning to Canada, she balanced raising her three sons with her commitment to local theater, producing and directing plays for various institutions. In 1938, she established the Village Players, which evolved into the New Play Society, known for its influential satirical review, "Spring Thaw," which became a staple in Toronto's theater scene until 1971. Moore's contributions extended beyond performance, as she engaged with the Canadian Mental Health Association to showcase the talents of mental-health patients. Her legacy is commemorated with Dora Mavor Moore Day in Toronto and the annual "Doras" theater awards, recognizing excellence in Canadian theater.
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Dora Mavor Moore
Actress
- Born: April 8, 1888
- Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
- Died: May 15, 1979
Biography
Dora Mavor Moore was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on April 8, 1888. When she was a child of four, the family migrated to Canada. She studied acting at the University of Toronto and the Margaret Eaton School of Literature in Toronto. Because of her acting abilities, she received a scholarship to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. In 1912, she became the first Canadian to graduate from the prestigious theater school. After school, she returned to North America, where she studied in New York City under actor/producer Ben Greet. She joined Greet’s ensemble, the Pastoral Players, and toured with the group from 1912 to 1914. From 1914 to 1916, she was a member of the Old Vic Theater Company in London.
In 1916, she married Francis John Moore, and went to England with him during World War I. She acted in a production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in 1918, playing the character of Viola. After the war, the couple returned to Canada to begin their family. While she was raising her three sons, Moore continued to act in local theater productions. She began producing and directing plays for the Margaret Eaton School, the Toronto Public Library Dramatic Club, and the University College Players.
Moore formed her own amateur theater company, the Village Players, in 1938. For many years, the group performed Shakespeare plays at local high schools, and they introduced playwrights such as Bertolt Brecht to Canadian audiences. In 1946, the Village Players became a professional organization, and renamed themselves the New Play Society. The most lasting contribution of this group to the Toronto theater scene was a satirical review of local events, Spring Thaw. Originally intended to only run for one season, the review was so popular that it was updated annually until 1971. In 1950, the New Play Society opened a school, and Moore served as a teacher and education director until the school closed in 1968.
During her lifetime, Moore was known for her many contributions to the Toronto theater scene, including the writing of Spring Thaw and the adaptation of Maurice Maeterlinck’s play The Blue Bird for radio. As well, she worked with the Canadian Mental Health Association to produce pageants which featured the talents of mental-health patients. Among her many professional accomplishments are the Silver Ladle Award presented by the Heliconian Club of Toronto, a Canadian Council arts fellowship, a Canadian drama award, a Centennial medal, and B’nai B’rith Woman of the Year for Toronto. In 1971, the city of Toronto established Dora Mavor Moore Day, and in 1979, the Toronto Theater Alliance created national theater awards that were nicknamed “Doras” in her honor.