Announcing the 2024 Lee Playwright in Residence

Darrin Hagen named new Lee Playwright in Residence

Award-winning Edmonton-based playwright, performer, sound designer, and composer becomes the 2024 Lee Playwright in Residence

Department of Drama - 23 May 2024

The University of Alberta Drama Department is pleased to announce Darrin Hagen as the newest Lee Playwright in Residence. Darrin is an award-winning Edmonton-based playwright, performer, sound designer, and composer with a national reputation. He brings with him a wealth of experience, a keen interest in new work, and a passion for Queer history.

“I’m honoured to join the ranks of the esteemed playwrights who have held this post before me,” said Darrin, “and to have the opportunity to expand my vision and experiment with a much larger, more ambitious scale of project.”

Kenneth T. Williams, chair of the selection committee had this to say about the process, “we were impressed by the number and quality of applications and it was a very difficult decision to make. However, we’d like to encourage those that applied this year to consider applying again in the future.”

The 2024 Lee Playwright in Residence selection committee consisted of Kenneth T. Williams, Larry Clark and Dr. Stefano Muneroni, who represented the Department of Drama, Beth Graham, the outgoing resident playwright, and Heather Inglis, Artistic Producer of Workshop West Playwrights Theatre, who represented the larger Edmonton theatre community. The Department of Drama would also like to thank Beth Graham for her generous service as past Lee Playwright in Residence and express gratitude to Daryl Cloran and Josh Languedoc for their work on the Terms of Reference Committee for the Lee Playwright in Residence and the Lee Prize for Playwriting.

The Lee Playwright in Residence and the Lee Prize for Playwriting were created to nurture and celebrate Canadian playwriting. The Department of Drama will announce the Lee Prize for Playwriting in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned to our socials!

Learn more about Darrin here.
Photo supplied. Used with permission.