Jessie Richardson

Jessie Richardson was an extraordinary individual whose supportive involvement in Vancouver theatre spanned over four decades. She began in the 1930s, in the Vancouver Little Theatre Association, where she acted, directed, and designed costumes. In the mid-50s, she helped to form the children’s touring company Holiday Theatre with Joy Coghill and Myra Benson, which later became Playhouse Holiday Theatre. She worked for many years at UBC, in production, as a costume designer and performer. She was ably assisted by her daughter, Geraldine Richardson, also a costumer. Jessie’s contributions to the growth and vitality of Vancouver’s theatre scene were the foundation on which its current thriving theatre community was built. The Vancouver Theatre Alliance Jessie Richardson Awards in were named in her honour.