Submissions for the 2024 Tom Hendry Awards will Open February 5th!!
Submission Deadline: March 21st, 2024 @ 11:59pm Pacific Time
Each year we host an annual awards competition honouring Canadian playwrights in a wide range of categories, including the RBC Emerging Playwright Award, Carol Bolt Award, TYA Award, Comedy Award, Musical Award, Robert Beardsley Award for young writers, Lifetime and Honorary Membership Awards, the John Palmer Award and the Bra D’Or Award. The awards are named after Tom Hendry, a founding member of PGC who passed away in 2012. The awards offer generous cash prizes and winners are recognized in a ceremony that takes place in the fall each year.
There are two steps for the submission process this year.
Step 1: Please click on the link to access the registration form with details pertaining to your submission. Once your membership has been verified, you will then move onto step two.
Step 2: You will receive a link to the email address you provided in your submission form for uploading your play and paying the submission application fee.
Submissions open February 5th, 2024 and close March 21st, 2024 at 11:59pm Pacific time. Late applications will not be accepted.
Incomplete submissions will not be considered for an award. Once an entry has been submitted, it cannot be changed, updated, or otherwise altered in any way. Entrants seeking to correct errors or provide updates must re-submit again using the same process as the first entry (including the fee).
If this form does not meet your visual or accessibility needs, or if you require a different format, we are happy to assist with a different process. Please call our office at 416-703-0201, or email marketing@playwrightsguild.ca.
PGC Members must be in good standing at time of application, prior to applying.
Not a PGC Member? Click HERE for MEMBERSHIP
PGC wishes to support artistic creativity and does not support cultural appropriation. PGC adopts the Canada Council’s view that “cultural appropriation” applies when cultural borrowings or adaptations from a minoritized culture reflect, reinforce or amplify inequalities, stereotypes and historically exploitative relationships that have direct negative consequences on equity-seeking communities in Canada.
For more information click HERE
Please be sure to have read and understood the submission guidelines. If you have any questions, contact the Program Manager, Mindy Doherty Griffiths at marketing@playwrightsguild.ca BEFORE you make your submission. Assistance will be provided according to staff availability and limited to Mon-Fri between 9am and 4pm Eastern Time. Questions and requests for assistance left until March 14th may not be able to be accommodated.
The John Palmer Award!!
PGC is pleased to continue the John Palmer Award, generously supported by the family, friends and colleagues of John Palmer.
An award winning playwright, theatre director and filmmaker, John Palmer was never afraid to shake things up. As a champion of home-grown Canadian theatre, he made a career out of it. As a teacher and mentor, John was drawn towards young artists who rejected conventional ideas, and he inspired them to make art that agitated the mainstream.
Deadline for submissions is March 21st, 2024. Prize awarded at the 2024 Tom Hendry Awards!
Submissions are now closed!
Carol Bolt Award
The Carol Bolt Award is Back!
The Carol Bolt Award for Playwrights is given annually to a member of PGC who has premiered an original play (live on stage or full length digital) between April 3rd, 2023 to March 1st, 2024.
A juried panel selects the winner from a number of submitted plays. The winner of the Carol Bolt Award for Playwrights receives $5,000 and the option to be published. A shortlist of the best three entries will be announced in September 2024. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards in October 2024.
Funding for the award is generously sponsored by Alberta Playwrights’ Network, Playwrights Canada Press, Manitoba Association of Playwrights (MAP), Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (PARC), Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal, The Playwrights Theatre Centre, Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre, Scirocco Drama and Playwrights Guild of Canada.
Submissions are now closed!
RBC Emerging Playwright Award
The RBC Emerging Playwright award gives up-and-coming playwrights the opportunity to win a six-month mentorship with a professional playwright of their choice, from our 800+ playwrights roster as well as a $2,500 cash prize. PGC offers a second ($1,500) and third place prize ($1000) as well! Readings of the shortlisted plays will be presented in the fall of 2024. Submissions are open for any supporting or student member of Playwrights Guild of Canada who has never had a professional production and have never been a full member of PGC. Submitted work must be a full length play.
A shortlist of the best three entries will be announced in September 2024. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards in October 2024.
Funding for the award has been generously sponsored by the RBC Emerging Artists Fund.
Submissions are now closed!
Playwrights Guild Drama Award
This award is given for a Drama by a PGC member, which has not yet had a professional premiere production as of March 1st, 2024, and has not been published. This award is worth $5,000.
A shortlist of the best three entries will be announced in late September 2024. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards at the end of October, 2024.
Funding for the award is generously sponsored by Playwrights Guild of Canada.
Submissions are now closed!
The PGC Comedy Award
This award is given annually for a new comedy by a PGC member, which has not yet had a premiere production as of March 1st, 2024. This award is worth $5,000.
A shortlist of the best three entries will be announced in late September, 2024. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards at the end of October, 2024.
Submissions are now closed!
The Dan School of Drama & Music Musical Award
This award is given annually for a new musical work by a PGC member, which has not yet had a premiere production as of March 1st, 2024. This award includes a $5,000 prize as well as participation in Queen’s University’s Watershed Festival in May 2025.
A shortlist of the top three entries will be announced in late September, 2024. The winner of the award will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards Ceremony at the end of October, 2024.
Funding for this award has been generously provided by our sponsor, The Dan School of Drama & Music, at Queen’s University.
Submissions are now closed!
The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Foundation's Robert Beardsley Award for Young Playwrights
Funded and presented by the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Foundation, the Robert Beardsley Award for Young Playwrights is granted to a full-time secondary or post-secondary student within the province of Ontario for the creation of a one-act play script.
The entrant to the competition must be a playwright under the age of 30 at time of submission, and residing within the Province of Ontario. The winner is awarded a monetary prize of $500 and a chance to have a play reading at the Arts & Letters Club of Toronto.
Applicants for this award do not need to be PGC members.
A shortlist of the best three entries will be announced in late September, 2024. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards at the end of October, 2024.
Submissions are now closed!
The Dorothy Lees-Blakey Theatre for Young Audiences Award
The Dorothy Lees-Blakey Theatre for Young Audiences Award is given annually to a member of PGC who has a new or recently premiered theatre for young audiences (TYA) play. If premiered, production dates must be between April 3rd, 2023 and March 1st, 2024
A juried panel selects the winner from a number of submitted plays. The winner of the TYA Award for Playwrights receives $5,000. A shortlist of the best three entries will be announced in late September, 2024. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards at the end of October, 2024.
Funding for this award has generously been provided by the Estate of Dorothy Lees-Blakey.
Submissions are now closed!
Bra d'Or Award
Presented by PGC’s Women’s Caucus, the Bra d’Or Award recognizes an individual or individuals for his/her/their efforts in supporting and promoting the work of Canadian women playwrights. Nominations must be made and voted on by members of PGC’s Women’s Caucus.
Nominations for this award are closed and will remain so permanently, as the Women’s Caucus has decided to retire this award.
For more information, click HERE.
Nominations are closed.
Lifetime Membership
To be honoured as a Lifetime Member, a playwright must be nominated by members, brought before the National Forum, and approved by the PGC Board. Criteria include recognition for a body of work, and/or service to Playwrights Guild of Canada and the theatre community. Membership dues are waived.
All current members of Playwrights Guild of Canada are welcome to forward nominations for Lifetime Membership.
All recipients of the Lifetime Membership Award and the Honorary Award have a place in the Playwright Circle.
Nominations for this award are currently closed. The Lifetime Award will be presented next in 2025.
Nominations are now closed!
Honorary Membership
The Honorary Membership bi-annual award recognizes individuals or organizations (that aren’t playwrights) that go above and beyond to support Canadian playwrights and plays. Nominated by a member of PGC, nominees may include, but are by no means limited to: libraries, librarians, educators, volunteers, community leaders, community leaders, patrons, etc.
Nominations for this award are currently open.
The Honorary Membership Award will be presented next in 2024.
Nominations are now open until June 30th!
