Andrew Allan and Lister Sinclair: Collaboration

Canadian radio drama saw the day with the CNRV Players, who broadcast weekly readings of popular plays, notably those of Shakespeare. However, it would not reach its zenith until the mid 1940s, thanks to a chance encounter leading Andrew Allan and Lister Sinclair to meet. Over the course of three decades, the pair would write, adapt and broadcast some 400 radio dramas. Sinclair’s love for Shakespeare was showcased by his adaptions which were incredibly well-liked by the audience.

In 1944, Allan introduced Stage: Canada’s National Theatre, a series aiming to lay the groundwork for professional Canadian theatre which, until then, had been dominated by American and British troupes. The program began as half-hour broadcasts presenting works by Canadians, about Canadians. In 1947, broadcasts of Stage were lengthened to hour-long productions, many of which were Sinclair’s abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays such as Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and Henry IV (presented in two installments). They captivated Canadians on Sunday nights, for over a decade. 

In 1947, Harry Boyle introduced and supervised Wednesday Night which was produced byAndrew Allan, Esse Ljungh, J. Frank Willis and Rupert Caplan. The weekly broadcast was lengthier than Stage, and aimed at a more elite audience. It was a cultural program that presented a wide array of dramatic productions, both existing and original, or documentaries, followed by related talks or music. Initially the plays were rebroadcasts of Sinclair’s abridged versions of Stage productions, but full-length presentations of Shakespeare’s plays were later aired. 

Even after the rise of television in the 1950s, theatre in Canada gained popularity, though the medium had changed. Many CBC radio actors went off to act in live-audience stage plays, notably at the Stratford Festival, in 1952, which is still a widely popular event. Allan and Sinclair both pursued other endeavors, both in radio and on television, but the fact remains that Allan had accomplished his goal of creating a professional Canadian theatre and Sinclair will always be remembered for his contributions as well.