The Victoria Fair affair
Date
1988
Authors
Ashton, Sandra Ann
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is the researching, documenting, and recording of an idea whose time seemed to have come. VICTORIA FAIR was a festival of classical theatre held annually through the University of Victoria during the summer seasons of 1969-1971. While VICTORIA FAIR was a multi-arts summer festival, this thesis will be confined to documenting the historical development of the theatre programme which was its main focus. Utilizing a thematic outline, the thesis attempts to detail the history of VICTORIA"FAIR by first establishing a cultural context, followed by an account of the issues that eventually led to the FAIR' s demise. It is hoped that a later study will include the other facets of the Fair's programming.
Rarely is one afforded the opportunity to record theatrical history, from a contemporary point of view. More often the writer must depend upon secondary sources, supplemented by fragmentary and/or questionable primary sources. With respect to VICTORIA FAIR, primary evidence is abundant in both quantity .and quality. Many individuals who were instrumental in the development of the FAIR have generously provided insight and personal accounts of the events.
Thirty-six people whose functions in VICTORIA FAIR ranged from producer, director, designer, technician, actor, to volunteer, were asked to complete questionnaires varying according to their connection to the festival; twenty-five responded, eight of them opting for personal interviews rather than using the questionnaire format, and three of them utilizing the questionnaire format plus opting for a personal interview. Appendix 1 contains samples of the questionnaires and details concerning the respondents. In addition to the thirty-six contacted with the questionnaire format, nine more individuals were asked for personal interviews; all nine responded favourably. Appendix 2 contains details concerning those interviewed. While dates and details have occasionally, through the years, become confused and hazy, ample information was readily available in the Faculty of Fine Arts Files in the University of Victoria Archives and the Provincial Archives of B.C Newspaper clippings, press releases, promotional materials, programs, production stills, periodicals, private and public correspondence, and financial records, have also provided a wealth of information which has also added to my understanding of VICTORIA FAIR. Therefore the problem of collecting source material has not been so great as that of selection.
Prior to and throughout my research I have kept a primary objective in mind: I have not looked for a culprit or culprits upon whom blame for the FAIR's failure can be placed; rather, I have looked at the idea of VICTORIA FAIR as one with the best of intentions and one that should have worked, but did not. This thesis attempts to explore the development of VICTORIA FAIR and identify possible reasons for its failure.