Stage Door News
Stage Door News
TORONTO – November 8, 2011 – Tarragon Theatre congratulates Victoria-based playwright and former Tarragon playwright-in-residence, Joan MacLeod, who was named this year’s recipient of the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre at a ceremony in Toronto on Monday night. Tarragon is especially honoured by MacLeod’s win, having nominated her for this prestigious prize.
Joan MacLeod’s relationship with Tarragon Theatre began almost three decades ago. “I am privileged to work with many of the most talented and accomplished artists this country has to offer,” said Tarragon Artistic Director, Richard Rose. “Among these great artists, Joan is truly an exceptional playwright. She is inspired, engaged and driven to create people and places that move, excite and provoke theatre-goers.”
MacLeod premiered her first play, Jewel, at Tarragon. A lyrical monologue spoken by a young woman to her drowned husband, Jewel played to great success, garnering nominations and produced in over fifty theatres throughout Canada and abroad. Toronto Mississippi (1987), Amigo’s Blue Guitar (1990) and The Hope Slide (1992) all premiered at Tarragon Theatre during MacLeod’s six year tenure as playwright-in-residence. MacLeod is also the recipient of the Governor-General’s Award for Drama for Amigo’s Blue Guitar. Her best-known play to date, the award-winning The Shape of a Girl, has been translated into six languages and toured Canada, the U.S. and Australia. Her recent play, Another Home Invasion, takes us on the complex journey of an unlikely protagonist, resilient eighty-year-old Jean. A co-production with Tarragon and Alberta Theatre Projects, Another Home Invasion continues to tour Canada.
The Siminovitch Prize was introduced 10 years ago, named for scientist Lou Siminovitch and his late wife Elinore, who was a playwright. The award is handed out for direction, playwriting and design in three-year cycles. The annual prize winners are asked to select a protégé, to emphasize the need for mentoring in theatre. At a gala ceremony, MacLeod announced she has chosen Toronto-based playwright and performer, Anusree Roy. Roy recently won the Carol Bolt Award for Playwrights for her fourth play, Brothel #9, and will be seen in Roland Schimmelpfennig’s The Golden Dragon at Tarragon in January 2012.
Joan MacLeod studied creative writing and began her literary career as a prose writer and poet. While at the Banff Centre she met participants of their Playwrighting Colony, an event which shaped her life, and has consistently written for the theatre since. She was playwright-in-residence at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto before moving to B.C. Since 2004, MacLeod has taught at the department of writing at University of Victoria. Her work has been translated into eight languages and she has won multiple theatre awards.
2011-11-08
Toronto: Tarragon Theatre congratulates Joan MacLeod, winner of Siminovitch Prize