# Lib Spry

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**Lib Spry** is a Canadian director, playwright, and academic. She is a co-founder of [Company of Sirens](/source/Company_of_Sirens) and Straight Stitching Productions and served as the artistic director of Passionate Balance.

## Career

In 1986, Spry co-founded the feminist theatre company, [Company of Sirens](/source/Company_of_Sirens), with [Lina Chartrand](/source/Lina_Chartrand), [Aida Jordão](/source/Aida_Jord%C3%A3o), Catherine Glen, [Shawna Dempsey](/source/Shawna_Dempsey_and_Lorri_Millan), and [Cynthia Grant](/source/Cynthia_Grant_(director)).[1] With Company of Sirens, Spry created the play, *The Working People's Picture Show*, which was first staged in 1987.[2][3] With [Shirley Barrie](/source/Shirley_Barrie), Spry co-founded Straight Stitching Productions in 1989.[4] Spry served as the artistic director of the Ottawa-based theatre company, Passionate Balance. In 1992, she co-developed, with Rob Thompson, the play *Collateral Damages*. The play used techniques of the [Theatre of the Oppressed](/source/Theatre_of_the_Oppressed).[5]

In 2012, Spry directed *Where the Blood Mixes* by [Kevin Loring](/source/Kevin_Loring).[6][7] In 2013, Spry was set to direct the mini-musical, *Marg Szkaluba* *(Pissy's Wife)*, written by Ron Chambers, at the [Rialto Theatre in Montreal](/source/Rialto_Theatre_(Montreal)); however, the show was indefinitely postponed when the show's star, [Carolyn Fe](/source/Carolyn_Fe), became ill.[8]

Spry has taught at the [University of Ottawa](/source/University_of_Ottawa), [Queen's University](/source/Queen's_University_at_Kingston), and [Concordia University](/source/Concordia_University). She currently teaches at [McGill University](/source/McGill_University).[9]

## Personal life

Spry has an MFA in [creative writing](/source/Creative_writing) from [Goddard College](/source/Goddard_College)[9] and a PhD in [cultural studies](/source/Cultural_studies) from [Queen's University](/source/Queen's_University_at_Kingston). Her parents are [Graham](/source/Graham_Spry) and [Irene Spry](/source/Irene_Spry) and she had two brothers named [Robin](/source/Robin_Spry) and Richard, and a nephew Jeremy.[10]

## Plays

- *Bungsu and the Big Snake*
- *Collateral Damages* (co-written with Rob Thompson)
- *Peace and Plenty* (co-written with Peggy Sample)
- *Playing Robin Hood*
- *A Princess Never Should*
- *Trance for Matron*[11]
- *The Working People's Picture Show* (co-created with Lina Chartrand, Aida Jordão, Catherine Glen, Shawna Dempsey, and Cynthia Grant)

## References

1. McGuigan, Lynn (2018-01-19). ["Company of Sirens"](http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Company%20of%20Sirens). *Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia*. [Athabasca University](/source/Athabasca_University). Retrieved 2020-07-29.

1. Bell, Laurie (1987). ["Working People's Popular Appeal"](http://broadsidefeminist.com/images/issues/Broadside0806.pdf). *Broadside: A Feminist Review*. Retrieved 2020-07-29.

1. Sweet, Lois (1987-02-27). "Show portrays women's issues in an entertaining manner: [FIN Edition]". *[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star)*. p. B4. [ISSN 0319-0781](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0319-0781)

1. Nothof, Anne (2019-01-31). ["Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Barrie, Shirley"](http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Barrie,%20Shirley). *www.canadiantheatre.com*. Retrieved 2022-01-04.

1. Hawkins, Mary (1992). "Collateral Damages: Within and Without". *Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada*. **27** (4): 11.

1. Donnelly, Pat (2012-09-13). ["Where the Blood Mixes Traces the Aftermath of First Nations Residential Schools"](https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/theatre/where-the-blood-mixes-traces-the-aftermath-of-first-nations-residential-schools). *Montreal Gazette*. Retrieved 2022-01-05.

1. Murdoch, Chandra (2012-09-17). ["Review: Where the Blood Mixes"](https://cultmtl.com/2012/09/review-where-the-blood-mixes-kevin-loring-lib-spry/). *Cult MTL*. Retrieved 2022-01-05.

1. Donnelly, Pat (2013-05-15). ["Blues Singer Carolyn Fe Cancels Pissy's Wife Due to Allergies"](https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/theatre/blues-singer-carolyn-fe-cancels-pissys-wife-due-to-allergies). *montrealgazette*. Retrieved 2022-01-05.

1. Nothof, Anne (2020-06-12). ["Spry, Lib"](https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Spry,%20Lib). *Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia*. Retrieved 2022-01-05.

1. ["Irene Mary SPRY Obituary (1998) The Globe and Mail"](https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/irene-spry-obituary?pid=189703754). *Legacy.com*. 1998-12-18. Retrieved 2022-01-06.

1. Chan, Crystal (2013-05-30). ["Stretch your festival stomach at the Montreal Fringe!"](https://nightlife.ca/2013/05/30/stretch-your-festival-stomach-montreal-fringe/). *Nightlife*. Retrieved 2022-01-05.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lib Spry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lib_Spry) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lib_Spry?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.