Amazing Stages: Memories from a British-Canadian actress

Amazing Stages is the riveting memoir of actress Marye Barton who emigrated to Canada in the mid-twentieth century where she worked hard to continue her career as a performer and to work through the “demons” of her childhood. Ms. Barton shares her heartache of trying to reach out to a distant father, and her varied experiences with therapy and the Therafields “Great Experiment.”

Woven throughout are her successes and disappointments in the theatre, the fascinating personalities she encountered and the engaging performances she was part of at iconic theatres, such as Ontario’s Shaw Festival and Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

In all these venues, Ms. Barton made a name for herself as an independent, strong woman at a time when such a reputation was considered countercultural. Her experiences as an actress, partner, voice coach, or writer, Ms. Barton draws readers into her life with vivid descriptions, humour, and compelling narrative.

Marye Barton was born in England before WWII. She graduated from London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, 1956, a year before emigrating to Canada. For over half a century, she has enjoyed performing (including her own writings) on many stages, instructing, and offering psychotherapy.

Ms. Barton belongs to the Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists and Canadian Actors Equity. She graduated from the Toronto Centre for Training in Psychotherapy (CTP dip. 1996), and is an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT Speech Arts, gold medalist, 1974)

Originally named Mary, in 1995 Ms. Barton changed to Marye. Amazing Stages is her first published book. She lives now at Toronto’s Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) with her cat.

ISBN: 9781038303400
Format: Paperback
Pages: 408
Publisher: FriesenPress
Published: January 30, 2025