Submissions for the 2023 Tom Hendry Awards will Open February 6th!!
Submission Deadline: April 3rd, 2023 @ 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.
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 5pm Eastern Time. Questions and requests for assistance left until April 1st may not be able to be accommodated.
The John Palmer Award!!
PGC is pleased to continue the new 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 April 3rd, 2023. Prize awarded at the 2023 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 May 1st, 2020 and April 3rd, 2023. (Please note the date has been extended to include the time period during the pandemic when this award was on hiatus. Click Award Guidelines for further details.)
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 2023. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards in October 2023.
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 2023. 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 2023. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards in October 2023.
Funding for the award has been generously sponsored by the RBC Emerging Artists Fund.
Submissions are now closed!
Playwrights Guild Drama Award
This NEW award is given for a Drama by a PGC member, which has not yet had a professional premiere production as of April 3rd, 2023, and has not been published. This award is worth $5,000.
A shortlist of the best three entries will be announced in late September 2023. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards at the end of October, 2023.
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 April 3rd, 2023. This award is worth $5,000.
A shortlist of the best three entries will be announced in late September, 2023. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards at the end of October, 2023.
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 April 3rd, 2023. This award includes a $5,000 prize as well as participation in Queen’s University’s Watershed Festival in May 2024.
A shortlist of the top three entries will be announced in late September, 2023. The winner of the award will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards Ceremony at the end of October, 2023.
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 GTA 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 Greater Toronto Area. 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. If you are applying for this award and not a member, you will receive a PGC Student Membership once your submission has been received.
A shortlist of the best three entries will be announced in late September, 2023. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards at the end of October, 2023.
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 May 16th, 2022 and April 3rd, 2023.
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, 2023. The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards at the end of October, 2023.
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.
The winner will be announced during the Tom Hendry Awards at the end of October, 2023.
Nominations are now 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 open. The Lifetime Award will be presented next in 2023.
Nominations are now closed!
Honorary Membership
Honorary membership is awarded to an individual or organization for their contribution to the Canadian playwright community, and must be nominated by PGC members and approved by the National Forum. An honorary member need not be a playwright.
Nominations for this award are currently closed. The Honorary Membership Award will be presented next in 2024.
Nominations are now closed.
