Susan Benson

Susan Benson has designed the COC productions of Madama Butterfly, Death in Venice, La forza del destino and The Golden Ass.

Benson was associated with the Stratford Festival for 25 years, designing many productions including The Tempest, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Jessica Tandy and the 25th anniversary production with Maggie Smith in 1977.

She has also worked at Stratford in collaboration with director Brian Macdonald on The Mikado, The Gondoliers and Guys and Dolls.

Benson’s designs have been seen on many stages, including the Dallas Opera, San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Australian Opera, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Guthrie Theater, the National Ballet of Canada, National Ballet of China, National Ballet of Finland, the Manitoba Theatre Centre and the National Arts Centre.

Benson is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts and in 2000 was awarded the Banff Centre Award for the Arts for her contribution to the arts in Canada. Her paintings are a part of numerous collections, including that of the National Portrait Gallery of Canada.