Astrid Janson

Astrid Janson (born June 9, 1947) is a Canadian set designer and costume designer. Best known for her work in theatre, she has also designed for television, opera, dance, film and exhibitions.

She is the winner of several Dora Mavor Moore Awards, as well as the first Toronto Drama Bench Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Canadian Theatre (now The Herbert Whittaker/CTCA Award).

Life and education Astrid Dora Janson was born in Cappel, Germany on June 9, 1947. Part of a working-class family, she moved to Toronto as a child. "I was a kid of the Sixties and wanted to get in on all that revolting," she later told a reporter.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy at Waterloo Lutheran University (1969) and a Master of Arts in theatre design at the University of British Columbia (1972).

Career

1970 to 1990 Janson started her career with the Toronto Dance Theatre as a costume designer for its 1972–1973 season. Soon after, she began work at Toronto Workshop Productions, working as the resident designer until 1977 and then freelance designer for five more years. In her words: "I think painting so often solidifies space... I want to get away from that. I love projections, but not on screens. They must be a surprise. I only like to use them on other surfaces."

Outstanding Set Design General Theatre — The Maids (2003) General Theatre — La Ronde (2002) Mid-Size Theatre — Assassins (1995) Revue / Musical — Cabaret (1983)

Other Gemini Award for production design — Shadow Pleasures (2004) Silver Ticket Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, awarded by Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (2001) Toronto Drama Bench Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Canadian Theatre (1980)