Mission resident Dudley Cox will be inducted in Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council’s (NLAC) “Fortis Properties” Hall of Honour later this month.
Cox, 79, was “completely surprised,” when he heard the news.
“I have no idea where it came from,” he told The Record.
Cox has lived in Mission for the past 15 years and is an active member of the local theatre company, Opening Nite Theatre. He left Newfoundland 38 years ago and has not been back since.
Now, almost 40 years later, the NLAC is recognizing Cox for his work and accomplishments in advancing the theatre scene in the East Coast community.
Cox studied arts in university and took an interest in theatre. He saw plays in Montreal and became involved in the arts scene when he moved to Newfoundland in the mid-1960s.
Cox resided in St. John’s for about 12 years during a time known as the Newfoundland Cultural Revolution.
“We all got swept up in the arts,” he recalled. “It was marvellous.”
According to a biography provided by the NLAC, “Cox was responsible for considerable cornerstone developments in Newfoundland and Labrador theatre arts.”
Cox taught drama and worked to improve resources for the theatre community.
He was a member of the St. John’s Players theatre company and founded the Newfoundland Travelling Theatre Company in 1972 which brought shows to youth around the province. Cox also helped establish the provincial high school drama festival.
Cox learned a lot about the business while he was in Newfoundland and has taken on many roles.
“I tried being an actor, but I wasn’t very good at it,” he said. He moved on to directing and writing screenplays, and found he enjoyed both. He is also skilled at designing sets for shows.
Cox looks forward to returning to Newfoundland next week to accept the award at the NLAC’s 29th annual arts awards ceremony on April 26.
