Robert Winslow Obituary, Death – 4th Line Theatre Founder Remembered as a Pioneer of Canadian Theatre
The Peterborough-area arts community is mourning the unexpected passing of Robert Winslow, the founder of 4th Line Theatre and a major figure in the development of local theatre in Millbrook, Ontario. Winslow died on Saturday, September 12, 2026, in Peterborough.
For more than three decades, Winslow helped make 4th Line Theatre a distinctive cultural institution by bringing the history, people and stories of the Peterborough region to outdoor audiences. He founded the theatre in 1992 on his family’s farm just south of Millbrook, creating a stage where local history could be explored through original Canadian theatre.
The company’s first production was Winslow’s The Cavan Blazers, a play inspired by events involving Catholic and Protestant Irish settlers in Cavan Township during the 1850s. From that beginning, 4th Line Theatre developed a reputation for presenting stories connected to the region and its communities.
Winslow’s contribution extended well beyond founding the theatre. He worked as a playwright, actor, director and artistic leader, writing or co-writing numerous productions and appearing in and directing several of them. The theatre’s own biography notes that he spent more than four decades involved in Canadian theatre and performed across Canada, the United States and Britain.
His work was particularly focused on preserving stories that might otherwise have been forgotten. His collaborations with playwright Ian McLachlan produced works exploring subjects including the experiences of British Home Children who were brought to Canada from England. Winslow continued researching and developing new plays throughout his later years.
Winslow was also deeply connected to the wider Peterborough arts community. Before establishing 4th Line Theatre, he was involved with theatre organizations including City Stage and the Union Theatre, and he later spent more than two decades teaching in Trent University’s Cultural Studies Department.
News of his death has prompted tributes from the theatre community, with colleagues remembering him as the driving force behind 4th Line Theatre. Board chair Ally Pyle said Winslow’s vision for collecting and creating local stories established the foundation for what the theatre became. Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell also described him as a mentor and longtime artistic collaborator.
Winslow remained creatively active until shortly before his death. According to 4th Line Theatre, he was still researching and writing plays the day before he passed away, continuing his longstanding commitment to bringing the history of Millbrook and the surrounding area to audiences.
He is survived by his wife, Janette Froncz Winslow, along with cousins, nephews, a niece and other family members. Details of a celebration of his life are expected to be announced later.
Robert Winslow leaves behind a lasting cultural legacy through 4th Line Theatre, the artists he worked with and the generations of audiences who experienced the stories he helped bring to life. His death marks the loss of an important voice in Canadian theatre and a cultural pioneer whose work became deeply connected to the history and identity of the Peterborough region.
