CODE notes with sadness the news that Gavin Bolton has passed away. We also share a sense of celebration of Gavin’s long contributions to championing and celebrating drama education and are grateful for the words of Judith Doan about his contributions in Ontario:
"Gavin Bolton, who died on July 19, 2026, at the age of 99, was a contemporary of Dorothy Heathcote and one of the foremost theorists of process drama. His work profoundly influenced drama education in Canada and around the world. I was fortunate to participate in the workshops he led at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Education and at CODE conferences, where his ideas inspired me and so many other drama teachers.
Simply put, Gavin Bolton viewed drama and theatre as points on a continuum rather than as separate disciplines. He argued that merely performing a play does not guarantee understanding; instead, teachers and students should critically examine the ideas and values embedded in both the text and its performance. He believed that process drama should emphasize personal exploration and learning over the final production, encouraging students to investigate themes, issues, and human experience. By creating and working within fictional worlds, students develop critical thinking, empathy, and complex problem-solving skills. This approach contrasts with product drama, which focuses primarily on performance and the technical demands of theatrical production.
Gavin Bolton was a thinker, a gentleman — and a gentle man -- kind, humble, and beloved, as well as an influential pioneer for drama in education.
- Judith Doan, CODE Former President