Announcing the 2024 Lee Playwriting Prize for New Canadian Plays

Island by José Teodoro has been chosen for the 2024 Lee Playwriting Prize for New Canadian Plays

Department of Drama - 21 August 2024

The Department of Drama is delighted to announce that the winner of the 2024 Lee Playwriting Prize for New Canadian Plays is José Teodoro for his play, Island.

Selection committee chair Kathleen Weiss had the following to say about the winning piece:

“The jury responded to Island so strongly because of its mystery and beauty. It is a piece of great complexity with characters who live in the future and the present — characters who live in the present and the past but who, as José says, ‘live in their respective time and space, but are also here, with us, and with each other, in our time and our space . . .’ A mere three characters embody a startling range of human experience and are ultimately deeply compassionate despite their innate flaws. The action resides in a series of shifting realities and the language of the play is brutal, lyrical, and true.”

In an exceptional turnout, this year’s committee received 150 entries from across the country. An initial ten scripts were selected from which the final shortlist of four plays was chosen: Camille Pavlenko for These Moments of Shine; Olivia Etey for Woman Against Gravity; Drew Carnwath for Struck; and this year’s recipient, José Teodoro for Island.

The committee relished reading so many amazing plays that truly represent the wealth of playwriting talent in Canada.

Learn more about José at joseteodoro.com .

The Lee Playwright in Residence and the Lee Playwriting Prize for New Canadian Plays were created to nurture and celebrate Canadian playwriting.

Photo supplied. Used with permission.