{{Short description|Canadian theatre and opera director}}
{{Infobox person | name = Peter Hinton-Davis | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|07|23}} | birth_place = Kingston, Ontario, Canada | other_names = Peter Hinton-Davis | occupation = Stage director, opera director, dramaturg, playwright | alma_mater = Toronto Metropolitan University | spouse = HAUI (m. 2018) }}
'''Peter Hinton-Davis''' {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OC}} is a Canadian stage director, opera director, dramaturg, and playwright. He has worked with theatre companies across Canada and has held several artistic leadership roles throughout his career.
==Early life and education== Hinton was raised in Kingston, Ontario, in an academically oriented family. According to The Globe and Mail, being gay created tensions within his household, an experience that later informed the themes he explored and the research-driven approach he employs as a director.<ref name="GlobeAlice2016">{{cite news |last=Nestruck |first=J. Kelly |title=Shaw Festival’s Peter Hinton goes down the rabbit hole |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/shaw-festivals-peter-hinton-goes-down-the-rabbit-hole/article29915012/ |work=The Globe and Mail |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=2016-05-06 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
==Career==
===Early career=== Hinton began his career as an actor before moving into directing. His early directing work included productions at independent and new-play development companies. In 1986, he directed Franz Xaver Kroetz’s ''Michi's Blood'' for Crows Theatre Company, presented at the Brecht Colloquium in Toronto.<ref name="Jeu1987">{{cite journal |last=Lévesque |first=Solange |title=« Michi's Blood » par le Crow's Theatre |journal=Jeu |number=43 |year=1987 |pages=142–143 |url=https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/27263ac |publisher=Cahiers de théâtre Jeu inc. }}</ref> In 1993, Peter directed a production of The Witch of Edmonton for Equity Showcase Theatre, featuring a young Sandra Oh as Cuddy Banks.<ref name="WymerWitch">{{cite journal |last=Wymer |first=Rowland |title=A Performance History of ''The Witch of Edmonton'' |journal=Early Modern Literary Studies |volume=17 |issue=2 |year=2014 |pages=2–3 }}</ref>
Other early works include:<ref name="UofGArchive">{{cite web |title=Search results for "Peter Hinton" — University of Guelph Theatre Archives |url=https://archives-catalogue.lib.uoguelph.ca/informationobject/browse?topLod=0&sort=relevance&query=peter+hinton |website=University of Guelph Archives |access-date=2025-12-01 }} </ref> * Bachelor-Man (Theatre Passe Muraille, 1987) * The Phoenix Cabaret (Factory Theatre, 1988) * Abingdon Square (Theatre Passe Muraille, 1989) * West Memphis Mojo (Theatre Passe Muraille, 1989; co-directed) * Possible Worlds (Canadian Stage, 1990) * The Comedy of Errors (Canadian Stage — Dream in High Park, 1990) * Hush (Theatre Passe Muraille, 1990; co-directed) * Geometry in Venice (Theatre Plus, 1990) * As You Like It (Dream in High Park, 1991) * The Wars of the Roses cycle (Canadian Stage, 1992; co-directed) * Flowers (Canadian Stage, 1993) * Ratbag (Theatre Columbus / Canadian Stage, 1993; co-directed) * Scary Stories (Alberta Theatre Projects / New Play Centre / Buddies in Bad Times, 1993–95) * Frida K. (Tarragon Theatre / The Grand Theatre, 1995–96) * Atlantis (The Grand Theatre, 1996) * Picasso at the Lapin Agile (The Grand Theatre, 1998) <ref name="UofGArchive"/>
===Development and dramaturgy=== He held roles in new play development and dramaturgy at Theatre Passe Muraille, the Canadian Stage Company, the Playwrights Theatre Centre, and Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal. He also worked as an artistic associate at the Stratford Festival.<ref name="CTE2023">{{cite web |title=Hinton, Peter |website=Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia |publisher=Athabasca University |url=https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Hinton%2C%20Peter |access-date=2025-12-01 |last=Castle |first=Corey |author2=Nothof, Anne |date=2023-05-19 }}</ref>
===National Arts Centre=== From 2005 to 2012, Hinton served as Artistic Director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre. During his tenure he led the resident acting company and programmed seasons featuring Indigenous and Canadian works.<ref name="CBCTeardown">{{cite news |last=Varga |first=Christine |title=NAC’s English Theatre head Peter Hinton to step down |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/nac-s-english-theatre-head-peter-hinton-to-step-down-1.1119406 |work=CBC News |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2012-03-02 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref> He also produced an all-Indigenous production of King Lear<ref name="CBCKingLear2012">{{cite news |title=Ottawa King Lear spotlights all-Aboriginal cast |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/ottawa-king-lear-spotlights-all-aboriginal-cast-1.1260368 |date=2012-05-03 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref> and the stage adaptation of Margaret Atwood's ''The Penelopiad'' with the Royal Shakespeare Company.<ref name="CBCPenelopiad">{{cite news |title=Canadian, U.K. theatres plan co-production of Atwood's The Penelopiad |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/canadian-u-k-theatres-plan-co-production-of-atwood-s-penelopiad-1.588224 |work=CBC News |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2007-03-21 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
===Shaw Festival=== Hinton has directed multiple productions at the Shaw Festival, including:
* When the Rain Stops Falling by Andrew Bovell<ref name="GlobeRain2011">{{cite news |last=Nestruck |first=J. Kelly |title=When the Rain Stops Falling: Haunting, simple and beautiful |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/when-the-rain-stops-falling-haunting-simple-and-beautiful/article629655/ |work=The Globe and Mail |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=2011-09-01 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
* Cabaret (musical) by John Kander and Fred Ebb<ref name="GlobeCabaret2014">{{cite news |last=Nestruck |first=J. Kelly |title=Cabaret: A concept on top of a concept musical |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/theatre-reviews/cabaret-a-concept-on-top-of-a-concept-musical/article18656426/ |work=The Globe and Mail |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=2014-05-14 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
* Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde<ref name="GlobeWindermere">{{cite news |last=Nestruck |first=J. Kelly |title=Lady Windermere’s Fan an essential stop at the Shaw Festival this summer |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/summer-entertainment/lady-windermeres-fan-an-essential-stop-at-the-shaw-festival-this-summer/article12446018 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=2013-06-10 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
* Pygmalion (play) by George Bernard Shaw<ref name="GlobePygmalion">{{cite news |last=Nestruck |first=J. Kelly |title=Pygmalion: Shaw’s classism study deftly dropped into modern times |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/theatre-reviews/pygmalion-shaws-classism-study-deftly-dropped-into-modern-times/article25184550/ |work=The Globe and Mail |date=2015-06-29 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
* Major Barbara by George Bernard Shaw<ref name="GlobeMajorBarbara">{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Aisling |title=Shaw Festival’s Major Barbara unpacks the historical balance of good and evil with style |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/article-shaw-festival-2025-major-barbara-review/ |work=The Globe and Mail |date=2025-07-10 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
* An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins<ref name="StarOctoroon">{{cite news |title=Shaw Festival’s An Octoroon is brilliant, layered and imperfect: review |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/shaw-festival-s-an-octoroon-is-brilliant-layered-and-imperfect-review/article_044944bb-82d3-506a-8530-ecd1024961ee.html |work=Toronto Star |date=2017-07-29 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
* Sex (play) by Mae West<ref name="NowSex2019">{{cite news |last=Sumi |first=Glenn |title=Shaw Festival review: Sex feels relevant, even after nearly 100 years |url=https://nowtoronto.com/culture/shaw-festival-review-sex-mae-west/ |work=Now Toronto |publisher=NOW Communications Inc. |date=2019-09-04 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
* ''Shadow of a Doubt'' by Edith Wharton<ref name="NYTShadow2023">{{cite news |last=Grode |first=Eric |title=After 122 Years, A Lost Edith Wharton Play Gets Its Debut |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/23/theater/edith-wharton-lost-play-debut.html |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=2023-08-23 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
===Other theatre work=== He has directed premieres and productions for companies across Canada and internationally, working in both classical and contemporary theatre, including new work by Trina Davies (''Silence''),<ref name="OttawaCitizenSilence2018">{{cite news |last=Saxberg |first=Lynn |title=Review: Silence explores communication gap between men and women |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=2018-10-20 |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/review-silence-explores-communication-gap-between-men-and-women |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref> and Gloria Montero’s ''Frida K.'' which toured to Mexico City and Madrid after its Canadian premiere.<ref>Martin Morrow, "Frida Mania: Renowned play opens season at One Yellow Rabbit". ''Calgary Herald''. September 27, 1997.</ref>
Peter's recent work has been focused on LGBTQ artists including Walter Borden's Tightrope Time which was delayed due to the Canada Convoy protest before touring to Neptune Theatre in Halifax and Toronto's Tarragon Theatre. <ref name="GlobeTightrope">{{cite news |last=Nestruck |first=J. Kelly |title=Cancelled by the convoy, Walter Borden’s solo show premieres at last, at home, in Nova Scotia |work=The Globe and Mail |date=2022-09-06 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/article-cancelled-by-the-convoy-walter-bordens-solo-show-premieres-at-last-at/ |access-date=2026-05-10}}</ref> Peter also directed Makram Ayache's The Hooves Belonged to the Deer.<ref name="GlobeHooves2023">{{cite news |last=Nestruck |first=J. Kelly |title=Smart and sensual The Hooves Belonged to the Deer hits Tarragon Theatre |work=The Globe and Mail |date=2023-04-06 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/reviews/article-smart-and-sensual-the-hooves-belonged-to-the-deer-hits-tarragon/ |access-date=2026-05-10}}</ref> In May 2026, it was announced Peter will join multidisciplinary artist HAUI at the Britten Pears residency in Snape Maltings. <ref name="OperaWireResidency">{{cite news |last=Markay |first=Afton |date=2026-05-05 |title=HAUI Named Among Britten Pears Arts Residency Artists for 2026–27 |work=OperaWire |url=https://operawire.com/haui-named-among-britten-pears-arts-residency-artists-for-2026-27/ |access-date=2026-05-10}}</ref>
===Opera=== Hinton has also directed a range of operas, including new Canadian works and reinterpretations of established repertoire, including: * Hadrian (opera) by Rufus Wainwright and Daniel McIvor<ref name="NYT_Hadrian2018">{{cite web |last=Tommasini |first=Anthony |title=Review: Hadrian, an Opera by Rufus Wainwright, at the Canadian Opera Company |website=The New York Times |date=2018-10-14 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/14/arts/music/hadrian-opera-review-rufus-wainwright.html |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref> * Missing (opera) by Marie Clements<ref name="OperaCanadaMissing2017">{{cite web |last=Bell |first=Angie |title=Review: ''Missing'', City Opera Vancouver, Nov. 3, 2017 |website=Opera Canada |date=2017-11-06 |url=https://www.operacanada.ca/review-missing-city-opera-vancouver/ |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref> * Louis Riel (opera) by Harry Somers<ref name="MacleanLouisRiel2017">{{cite news |last=Doherty |first=Mike |title=The real challenges of reviving a Louis Riel opera |work=Maclean's |date=2017-04-20 |url=https://www.macleans.ca/culture/the-real-challenges-of-reviving-a-louis-riel-opera/ |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
==Playwriting== Hinton is the author of several works for the stage, including a trilogy of plays collectively known as ''The Swanne''<ref name="SwanneBook">{{cite book | last = Hinton | first = Peter | title = The Swanne: A Trilogy | publisher = McArthur & Company | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-1552784686 }}</ref> produced by the Stratford Festival of Canada from 2002–2004. The company also produced his plays Fanny Kemble<ref name="Globe2006Fanny">{{cite news |last = Al-Solaylee |first = Kamal |title = A life story that doesn't capture turbulent times |url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/a-life-story-that-doesnt-capture-turbulent-times/article731398/ |work = The Globe and Mail |date = 2006-08-16 |access-date = 2025-12-01 }}</ref> and Shakespeare's Universe (Her Infinite Variety).<ref name="Globe2008Shakespeare">{{cite news |last = Nestruck |first = J. Kelly |title = Those Elizabethans, hear them roar |url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/those-elizabethans-hear-them-roar/article1322843/ |work = The Globe and Mail |publisher = The Globe and Mail |date = 2008-07-29 |access-date = 2025-12-01 }}</ref>
He has also written librettos for operas composed by Peter Hannan.
Peter directed his adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s ''Alice in Wonderland'' for the Shaw Festival in 2016.<ref name="NP_Alice2016">{{cite news |last=Cushman |first=Robert |title=The Shaw Festival goes back down the rabbit hole, with Alice, Uncle Vanya and Mrs. Warren |url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/theatre/the-shaw-festival-goes-back-down-the-rabbit-hole-with-alice-uncle-vanya-and-mrs-warren |work=National Post |publisher=Postmedia Network |date=2016-05-18 |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
== Personal life == Hinton-Davis is married to the multidisciplinary artist HAUI (Howard J. Davis).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Balsom |first=Mike |date=February 14, 2024 |title=A true romance of Shavian proportions |work=Niagara-on-the-Lake Local |url=https://www.notllocal.com/local-news/a-true-romance-of-shavian-proportions-8306807}}</ref> The two are frequent professional collaborators; their 2023 world premiere production of Edith Wharton's The Shadow of a Doubt at the Shaw Festival won a Critics' Pick Award for Outstanding Design.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bedard |first=Kelly |date=February 5, 2024 |title=2023 Critics’ Pick Award Winners: Theatre |url=https://www.myentertainmentworld.ca/2024/02/2023-award-winners-theatre/ |website=My Entertainment World}}</ref>
==Honours== Hinton was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2009.<ref name="OC2009">{{cite web |title=Peter Hinton-Davis |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-12570 |website=The Governor General of Canada |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
==Selected works== * ''Façade'' * ''Urban Voodoo'' * ''The Swanne'' trilogy * Librettos for ''The Diana Cantata'' and ''120 Songs for the Marquis de Sade''<ref name="CTE">{{cite web |title=Hinton, Peter |url=https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Hinton%2C%20Peter |website=Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia |publisher=Athabasca University Press |access-date=2025-12-01 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.peterhinton.ca Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hinton-Davis, Peter}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian theatre directors Category:Canadian opera directors Category:20th-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights Category:Toronto Metropolitan University alumni Category:Officers of the Order of Canada Category:People from Kingston, Ontario Category:21st-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights Category:Canadian male dramatists and playwrights Category:20th-century Canadian LGBTQ people Category:21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people Category:Canadian gay writers Category:Canadian LGBTQ dramatists and playwrights