Founded in 1978 and based in Toronto, Canada, Necessary Angel has been an influential and original presence on the national and international theatre scene for almost 30 years. Having produced 50 productions, including 25 world premieres and 10 North American premieres, the company is considered to be one of English Canada's most important original creation and touring organizations. The company’s plays have been nominated for and have won numerous Governor General’s Awards for Drama, Chalmers Awards for Outstanding New Play, and countless Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

Over the years, Necessary Angel has welcomed the participation of outstanding literary icons, including Michael Ondaatje and Timothy Findley, while also developing new work with some of Canada’s leading playwrights, including John Mighton, Jason Sherman, Colleen Wagner and David Young, whose works have become acclaimed on stages around the globe.

The company first came to prominence with the groundbreaking environmental production Tamara (1981) by John Krizanc. Tamara went on to win 5 Dora Awards, including Best New Original Play and Best Director, and over the next decade travelled to Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York City, and Buenos Aires, drawing audiences, accolades, and awards around the world.

Throughout the late 1980s and early ‘90s, Necessary Angel produced important Canadian plays like Coming Through Slaughter (1989) by Michael Ondaatje, Glenn (1992) by David Young, and an adaptation of Timothy Findley’s Not Wanted on the Voyage (1993). The company also brought a range of challenging international theatre to Canadian audiences, such as the work of Milan Kundera and British playwright Howard Barker.

Necessary Angel continued to map out new theatrical terrain with Governor-General Award-winners Three in the Head, Two in the Back (1993) by Jason Sherman and The Monument (1994) by Colleen Wagner. In 1996 the company established a New Canadian Play Development Program, which nurtured Inexpressible Island (1997) by David Young, Beating Heart Cadaver (1998) by Colleen Murphy, and It's All True (1999) by Jason Sherman—all nominated for the Governor-General's Award for Drama and the Chalmers Award for Outstanding New Play. Inexpressible Island later went on to open in London 's West End, the first Canadian drama to do so in many decades.

In 2003, renowned theatre artist, Daniel Brooks, was appointed Artistic Director of the company. Productions since his appointment include the Dora Award-winning one-man show, Bigger Than Jesus (2004) by Rick Miller and Daniel Brooks, The Eco Show (2006) by Daniel Brooks, Insomnia (a 2006 remount of the 1998 production) by Daniel Brooks with Guillermo Verdecchia, and the Dora and Governor General’s Award-winning Half Life (2004) by John Mighton. These four shows continue to tour both nationally and internationally.