Tom Hendry Awards
About the Awards
Named for a founding member of Playwrights Guild of Canada, the late Tom Hendry, these national awards annually celebrate the most notable new works for the stage. Started in 2002 with only one award named for another founding member, Carol Bolt, the Tom Hendry Awards have grown to be a nationally recognized program honouring a range of talented storytelling for the stage from across the country. Finalists are selected by peer assessment panels and each Fall we shine a spotlight on finalists and recipients in a variety of writing categories: Drama, Comedy, Musical, Theatre for Young Audiences, plays by emerging writers and premiered plays. The awards event also highlights individual artists who contribute notably to the field of playwriting and the Canadian theatre industry.
Discover these outstanding plays that have moved, inspired and challenged us. Some may be available for purchase through the Canadian Play Outlet or other vendor. You can also request a reading with the playwrights through our PlayConnect program. Search our bundles on the Canadian Play Outlet, watch past programs on our YouTube Channel and peruse our gallery.
These awards would not be possible without the significant contributions of sponsors and donors, supporting the prizes that allow artists to invest in their artistic endeavours.
Tom Hendry (1929-2012) was a founding member of the Playwrights Co-Op (now PGC), Manitoba Theatre Centre, Toronto Free Theatre and the Banff Playwrights Colony. He wrote 29 plays and was the first literary manager at the Stratford Festival. Read or watch more about Tom.
The statue by sculptor Ruth Abernethy is installed in Winnipeg, MB, adjacent to the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. The statue depicts RMTC co-founders Tom Hendry (seated) and John Hirsch.
Award Submissions
Each winter, Playwrights Guild of Canada opens a submission process, allowing playwrights to submit their new play(s) for consideration. Works are reviewed without the names of the author, by national peer assessment panels. Awards categories, criteria, entry fees, and administration are managed by the staff of PGC. The awards offer generous cash prizes and recipients are recognized in a streamed or live ceremony each Fall.
2025 submissions open from Feb 1, 2025 to Mar 1, 2025.
Submissions are accepted from PGC members in good standing at the time of submission.
2025 Categories
Carol Bolt Award
Carol Bolt (1941-2000), also a founding member of PGC, wrote a variety of plays, including radio and theatre for young audiences. Her works were adapted for opera, TV and film. Read more about Carol.
This award is given annually to a new script which has premiered (live on stage or full length digital) between Mar 22, 2024 and Mar 1, 2025. Three finalists will be selected by a peer assessment panel. The recipient of the Carol Bolt Award receives $5,000 and the option to be published.
The Carol Bolt award is generously sponsored by Playwrights Canada Press, Scirocco Drama, Alberta Playwrights’ Network, Manitoba Association of Playwrights (MAP), Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (PARC), Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal, and Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre.
Carol Bolt Award Past Recipients
2024: Diggers by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
2023: Legislating Love: The Everett Klippert Story by Natalie Meisner
2022: Covid – no award
2021: Covid – no award
2020: This Is How We Got Here by Keith Barker
2019: Mortified by Amy Rutherford
2018: Bears by Matthew Mackenzie
2017: The Virgin Trial by Kate Hennig
2016: Up the Garden Path by Lisa Codrington
2015: Concord Floral by Jordan Tannahill
2014: Pig Girl by Colleen Murphy
2013: carried away on the crest of a wave by David Yee
2012: The Cave Painter by Don Hannah
2011: Brothel #9 by Anusree Roy
2010: Talk by Michael Nathanson
2009: Vimy by Vern Thiessen
2008: The December Man by Colleen Murphy
2007: The Oxford Roof Climber’s Rebellion by Stephen Massicotte
2006: Half Life by John Mighton
2005: The Red Priest (Eight Ways To Say Goodbye) by Mieko Ouchi
2004: Home is My Road by Florence Gibson
2003: Adam Baum and the Jew Movie by Daniel Goldfarb
2002: The Harps of God by Kent Stetson
Dan School of Drama & Music Musical Award
This award is given annually for a new musical work which has not yet had a premiere production. Three finalists will be selected by a peer assessment panel. The recipient will receive $5,000 as well as participation in Queen’s University’s Watershed Festival.
The award is generously sponsored by the Dan School of Drama & Music, at Queen’s University.
Musical Award Past Recipients
2024: Soft Magical Tofu Boys by Kevin Wong
2023: Jook by Glenn Marais & Todd Philipps
2022: StarWalker: A New Musical by Corey Payette
2021: In Real Life by Nick Green with Kevin Wong
2020: Kelly v. Kelly by Sara Farb with Britta Johnson
2019: Stars of Mars by Daniel Abrahamson with Ashley Botting
2018: The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel by Kevin Wong with Julie Tepperman
2017: Us by Kelley Jo Burke with Jeffery Straker
2016: Prom Queen by Kent Staines with Akiva Romer-Segal and Colleen Dauncey
2015: 33 ⅓ by Jay Turvey with Paul Sportelli
2014: Onegin by Amiel Gladstone with Veda Hille
2013: Come From Away by Irene Sankoff with David Hein
2012: Jamie Rowsell Lives by Lorne Elliott
Theatre for Young Audiences Award
This award is given annually for a new or recently premiered theatre for young audiences (TYA) play. Three finalists will be selected by a peer assessment panel. The recipient of the TYA award receives $5,000.
TYA Award Past Recipients
2024: Recipe for Change by Makambe K. Simamba
2023: The Weight of Ants by Leanna Brodie and David Paquet
2022: Homeroom by Rachel Mutombo
2021: Frozen River by Michaela Washburn, Joelle Peters, and Carrie Costello
2020: #IAMTHECHEESE by Josh MacDonald
2019: 245 Acts of Unspeakable Evil by Paula Zelaya Cervantes with Ana Gonzalez Bello
2018: Selfie by Christine Quintana
RBC Emerging Playwright Award
This award is given annually for a new unpublished, unproduced work by an emerging playwright. Three finalists will be selected by a peer assessment panel. Each will receive a cash award and the recipient will also receive a 6-month mentorship.
The award is generously sponsored by the RBC Emerging Artist Program.
Emerging Playwright Past Award Recipients
2024: Gringas by Mercedes Isaza Clunie
2023: The Thin Place by Cole Hayley. Mentored by Daniel MacIvor
2022: Crypthand by Lily Falk. Mentored by Kat Sandler
2021: The Frontliners by Zahida Rahemtulla. Mentored by Carmen Aguirre
2020: Harun by Makram Ayache. Mentored by Hannah Moscovitch
2019: Hallelujah, It’s Holly by Jesse LaVercombe. Mentored by Nicolas Billion
2018: The Big Ship by David Gagnon Walker. Mentored by: Marcus Youssef
2017: we could be clouds by Gary Mok. Mentored by: Mieko Ouchi
2016: Miranda and Dave Begin Again by Rhiannon Collett. Mentored by: Erin Shields
2015: Salvador by Rafael Antonio Renderos. Mentored by: Nicolas Billon
Comedy Award
The Comedy Award is given annually to a new, unpublished and unproduced play. Three finalists will be selected by a peer assessment panel. The recipient of the Comedy Award receives $5,000.
Comedy Award Past Recipients
2024: Innocents by Rose Napoli
2023: Jessica’s Fine Adventure by Robert More
2022: The Tao of The World by Jovanni Sy
2021: Every Little Nookie by Sunny Drake
2020: Siberian Summer by Paul Van Dyck
2019: Hurry Hard by Kristen Da Silva
2018: Misericordia by Damien Atkins
2017: Maestro by Claude Montminy, Translators: Nina Lauren & Danielle Ellen
2016: Gibson & Sons by Kristen Da Silva
2015: Mom Runs Amok by Lorne Elliott
2014: Something Fishy by Douglas E. Hughes & Marcia Kash
2013: Little Voices by Lucas Foss
2012: Shorthanded by Michael Grant
Drama Award
The Drama Award is given annually to a new, unpublished and unproduced play. Three finalists will be selected by a peer assessment panel. The recipient of the Drama Award receives $5,000.
Drama Award Past Recipients
2024: Deepwater by Dan Bray
2023: Kowloon Bay by Jovanni Sy
2022: Common: A Trilogy by Marie Beath Badian
2021: My Sister’s Rage by Yolanda Bonnell
John Palmer Award
An award winning playwright, theatre director and filmmaker, John Palmer (1943-2020) 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.
Please check back later for updates on the intake for the John Palmer Award.
The award is generously supported by the family, friends, and colleagues of John Palmer.
John Palmer Award Past Recipients
2024: Leahdawn Helena nominated by Bernie Stapleton
2023: Lili Robinson nominated by Heidi Taylor
2022: Santiago Guzmán nominated by Pamela Halstead
The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Foundation’s Robert Beardsley Award for Young Playwrights
This award was granted to a full-time secondary or post-secondary student in Ontario for the creation of a one-act play script. Please check back later for updates on the Robert Beardsley Award.
The award is generously sponsored by the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto Foundation.
Robert Beardsley Award Past Recipients
2024: Ships in the Night by Ameer Idreis
2023: Iphigenia in Dreaming by Cassandra Marcus Davey
2022: the titty play by Sydney Scott
2021: We All Got Lost by Camille Intson
2020: Tragedy: A Comedy by Audrey Krieger-Pottruff
2019: Fine China by Julie Phan
2018: lonelyboy99 by Daniel Carter
2017: Enola Gay by Alexander Steele Zonjic
2015: Definition by Luke Reece
2014: Rollercoaster by Elizabeth Ransom
2013: Black Rain by John Rowntree