Frances Hyland

Hyland, Frances

 Frances Hyland, actor, director (b at Shaunavon, Saskatchewan 25 April 1927; d at Toronto, Ont 11 July 2004). She studied at the University of Sask (BA 1948) before entering the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. While in England she won a silver medal and made her London debut as Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire (Aldwych Theatre, 1950), and played Perdita in The Winter's Tale (Phoenix, 1951) opposite John Gielgud for Peter Brooks.

Invited to the STRATFORD FESTIVAL by Tyrone GUTHRIE to play Isabella opposite James Mason in Measure for Measure in 1954, Hyland returned to Stratford (1955, 1957-59, 1964-57) in a variety of roles including Perdita, Desdemona, and a "definitive" Ophelia opposite Christopher PLUMMER in 1957. She toured as Saint Joan with the Canadian Players in 1955 and also in 1956-57, 1962-63; acted with the Crest Theatre in 1954-55, 1958-59, 1964-65; and appeared with both Broadway and London casts of Look Homeward Angel in 1957.

Frequently at the SHAW FESTIVAL since her first appearance in 1968 as Lady Utterwood in Heartbreak House, Hyland has also acted with most major regional theatres in Canada, playing Katrin in Mother Courage (MANITOBA THEATRE CENTRE, 1964); creating the title role in The Ecstasy of Rita Joe (VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE THEATRE, 1968); appearing in Michel Tremblay's Forever Yours, Mary Lou (CITADEL THEATRE, 1975); Timothy Findley's Can You See Me Yet? (NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE, 1976); and Monkeyshines (Bastion Theatre, Victoria, 1984).

Her directing credits include Orson Welles's Moby Dick (Vancouver Playhouse, 1969); Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party (Theatre Calgary, 1970); Othello (Stratford, 1979); Shaw's Arms and the Man (Citadel, 1980); Strindberg's Playing With Fire (Shaw Festival, 1987); and Driving Miss Daisy (NEPTUNE, 1991). She made frequent appearances on television, including the series The Great Detective on CBC.