Paul Thompson O.C. (born May 4, 1940 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)[1] is a Canadian playwright and theatre director.[1] Best known for his term as artistic director of Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto, Ontario from 1970 to 1982,[1] Thompson was known for pioneering techniques of collective creation, in which actors, playwrights and directors would collaborate on the creation of a play through field research and acting improvisations.[1] Plays on which Thompson was credited as a primary or collaborating writer during this era included Doukhobors (1970), The Farm Show (1972), 1837: The Farmers' Revolt (1973, with Rick Salutin), I Love You, Baby Blue (1975), Far As the Eye Can See (1977, with Rudy Wiebe) and Maggie and Pierre (1980, with Linda Griffiths).[1]
Thompson later served as director general of the National Theatre School in Montreal, Quebec from 1987 to 1994.[1] He continues to direct theatre productions for Theatre Passe Muraille, Centaur Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, the Blyth Festival, Native Earth Performing Arts and De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group.[1]
Thompson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2008, for his "profound influence on Canadian theatre."[2]
Thompson was granted an honorary doctorate by Algoma University in 2017.[3]
He is married to actress Anne Anglin.[4]
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