John Hirsch Prizes

Olivier Arteau (left) and Sophie Gee (right)

Photographer(s): Sarah Rouleau (left) and Jeremy Cabrera (right)

Latest Winners

Olivier Arteau

Oliver Arteau is an artist of white colonial descent from the 2SLGBTQI+ community who explores a combination of autofiction, clownery and tragedy. Trained in the theatre arts at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Québec and in dance at the Université du Québec à Montréal, he is the creator behind Doggy dans Gravel and Made in beautiful (La belle province). As part of a residency at the Centre du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui from 2020 to 2023, he delved into issues of the flesh and the weight of gender identity through a performative writing process (La pudeur des urinoirs and Pisser debout sans lever sa jupe). He also had the opportunity to stage acclaimed works by Anne-Marie Olivier (Maurice), Charles Fournier (Foreman, in collaboration with Marie-Hélène Gendreau) and David Paquet (L’éveil du printemps). Benevolence, vulnerability and self-deprecation are qualities inherent to his artistic approaches. In June 2022, he was named the artistic director of the Théâtre du Trident, where he has been showcasing Québec City’s artistic plurality ever since.

Sophie Gee

Sophie is a director and creator of multidisciplinary work based in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal, Quebec. Her creations include Bonnes Bonnes (Théâtre Aux Écuries) and Lévriers (MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels), National Arts Centre, Conseil des arts de Montréal en tournée). Companies she has worked with include the Imago Theatre, the Talisman Theatre, the Théâtre I.N.K. and the Théâtre Duceppe, and she will be directing for the Centaur Theatre next season. Alongside Eo Sharp, she recently completed Un an en défilés, a monthly series of participatory parades to explore the act of walking together as a community over the course of a year. Sophie is a National Theatre School directing program graduate.

The prizes

The John Hirsch Prizes recognize the artistic merit and potential of emerging theatre directors.

Eligibility

Applications must be submitted to the Canada Council by email. To find out more about eligibility criteria, access the application form or get more information about these prizes, please consult the guidelines.

Background

John Hirsch was a distinguished director who made an extraordinary contribution to theatre in Canada. He was the founder of the Manitoba Theatre Centre, head of CBC television drama and artistic director of the Stratford Festival. Upon his death in 1989, Mr. Hirsch left a bequest to the Canada Council for the Arts to encourage directors from Canada.