‘Passionate is the word that comes to mind’: Robert Winslow’s impact on the Kawartha theatre community a lasting one

Robert Winslow, the founder of 4th Line Theatre, who spent much of his theatrical life chronicling the history of the Millbrook area through countless plays and writings, died unexpectedly on Saturday. He was 73.

For a newcomer to Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre, Robert Winslow could seem a little daunting.

Actor Alex Pearce says up until only weeks ago, she knew the playwright and theatre founder by reputation only.

“Prior to working at 4th Line this summer, I had heard multiple stories about Robert and to be honest, he was kind of built up to be this intimidating and big personality … the kind of voice that would watch you closely on the stage,” says Pearce, who acted alongside Winslow through much of July at 4th Line’s production of “Schoolhouse.”

“And then when I met him, yes, he was intimidating. But he wasn’t as scary as people had built him up to be. And I very quickly learned to love working with Robert.”

Winslow, the founder of 4th Line Theatre, who spent much of his theatrical life chronicling the history of the Millbrook area through countless plays and writings, died unexpectedly on Saturday. He was 73.

Winslow’s immersion in Canadian theatre began more than 45 years ago. His 4th Line bio lists his first involvement as prompter in a Peterborough Theatre Guild production of “Playboy of the Western World” by J.M. Synge. He went on to act in shows at Trent University and Magic Circus Theatre before heading out west in 1982 to continue his stage work.

Returning to Peterborough in the late ’80s, he founded the improv company East City Productions and was one of the founding members of the Union Theatre Collective.

Winslow was also an instructor in Trent University’s cultural studies department for more than two decades.

4th Line on family farm

In 1992, he co-founded 4th Line Theatre on his family farm with Jerome Ackhurst, and has since written or co-written 18 plays for the company as well as directing and acting in several of them.

Ally Pyle, 4th Line Theatre board chair, said Winslow was the driving force there for decades.

“His vision for collecting and creating local stories set the benchmark for everything the theatre has become. His loss is immeasurable.”

Longtime friend and managing artistic director Kim Blackwell said Winslow was still actively researching and writing plays right up until the day before his death.

“He was always excited to be gathering stories and bringing the history of Millbrook and area to life. He was my mentor and artistic collaborator for 34 years. Our loss is Canadian theatre’s loss as well.”

Winslow found success in varied roles over the years, but was probably best known for his production of “The Cavan Blazers” — the first play presented at the outdoor theatre, which explored tensions between Catholic and Protestant Irish settlers in the region. The play was inspired by actual events that took place in Cavan Township in the 1850s.

In 2023, he told The Examiner that growing up among the hills and valleys of Cavan Monaghan Township, no story held more interest for a boy than the colourful tale of the Cavan Blazers.

It depicted a group of young men who lived in the township almost 200 years ago and gathered in the woods for midnight meetings, helping farmers and families in distress while attempting to keep Cavan free of Catholics.

“They, and their families, brought with them, from Ireland, the best and the worst of their historical culture, being committed to caring for their fellow human beings, unless those human beings were on the other side of the religious divide,” he recalled.

He said back in Ireland, the Blazer families had faced persecution at the hands of the Republican Catholics and determined upon settling in Cavan that they would live in peace away from sectarian conflict. However, in the early 1800s, many Catholic Irish immigrated to the Peterborough area and some came to Cavan.

“I have been told by high school classmates that I was talking about writing ‘The Cavan Blazers’ even as a teenager, but I remember it differently,” he said. Two events took place in the 1970s that triggered his commitment to researching and writing the play.

Cavan Blazers inspiration

In the mid ’70s, when the pope died, Winslow said whoever was responsible for lowering the flag at the Cavan Township Hall in Millbrook refused to do so. Then, around the same time, a group of Cistercian monks from Quebec inquired about buying land in Cavan for a monastery. Winslow recalled a Cavan reeve political leader saying at the time that the Catholics and Protestants can live together. “We’ll live together over here and they’ll live together over there.”

Those two events, he said, really piqued his interest along with the fact that he had really never met any local Catholics growing up.

Winslow’s longtime collaboration with playwright Ian McLachlan produced several plays for 4th Line Theatre, including “Dr. Barnardo’s Children,” which told the story of British Home Children who were brought to Canada from England.

Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark offered condolences Monday, saying Winslow’s vision helped put Peterborough County on the cultural map.

“He understood that our history lives not only in books and archives, but in our farms, villages, landscapes and the stories passed from one generation to the next. Through 4th Line Theatre and the Winslow Farm, he created a place where our agricultural roots, heritage and community spirit could be shared and celebrated.”

She said his legacy will continue to be felt across the county and The Kawarthas through the stories he shared, the opportunities he created and the enduring connection he helped build between this area’s communities, its history and the land we call home.

While Pearce only met and worked with Winslow for a few weeks this year, she said she will always treasure the time she got to spend on stage with the local theatre legend.

“Everybody I knew in my short time living in Peterborough knew of Robert Winslow and everybody had a story to tell about him and all good things,” she recalled in an interview Monday morning.

“I remember during our first rehearsal, working with Leanna Brodie who is the playwright of ‘Schoolhouse,’ and coming to find out that Robert had actually collaborated with Leanna creating ‘Schoolhouse’ and that a lot of the stories in it. Robert knew of these people who these stories were based off. And to hear his personal relationship to these stories, it made me just think. I was unaware of how brilliant and smart Robert was. I think passionate is the word that comes to mind during my short time working with him.”

Passion for his community

His passion, she says, was not only about theatre, but about his community and bringing those real-life stories from his community to his stage.

Winslow is survived by his wife, Janette Froncz Winslow, as well as many cousins, nephews, a niece and other beloved family members. Details regarding a celebration of Winslow’s life will be announced at a later date.

By Bill Hodgins Reporter