winner of the 59th Annual Alberta Playwriting Competition Announced

After reading the 40 as yet unproduced entries submitted by Alberta playwrights for the 2024 competition, the jury has selected the following plays as this year’s winner and shortlist (listed alphabetically). The winning play will receive the The Sharon Pollock Prize worth $5000.00 cash.

WINNER

• “Persuasion” by Jessy Ardern (Edmonton)
  Juror #1 “Though this is an adaptation, the playwright has made the words their own. I could visualize the innovative staging and thoroughly enjoyed the tackling of the inner struggles and angst of the characters.”

SHORTLIST

• “Waiting for Waiting for Godot” by Tony Binns (Calgary)
  Juror #1 “The influence of Beckett is clear; however the play brings a unique and fresh take. It was refreshing to see that the very clever dialogue is written for two charming older women.”

• “The Green House” by Krista Marushy (Calgary)
  Juror #3 “A perfect witch’s brew of small-town isolation. A coming-of-age fable and a modern mystery full of poetic magical imagery. It feels like it is old and new at the same time, all rooted in complex and eccentric characters that make a family thick with tension that needs release.” 

• “The Resurrection of Dottie Reed” by Nicole Moeller (Edmonton)
  Juror #2 “While the play has a thrilling cyber-crime story to it, the play stays grounded as Dottie and her daughter both are confronted by new phases in life, and a constantly changing world. The playwright has created a very juicy role that any actress would love to sink her teeth into.” 

• “Tough Guy” by Hayley Moorhouse (Calgary)
  Juror #3 “Tough Guy deftly explores the aftermath of a mass shooting in a gay club through the eyes of witnesses, survivors, and social media. The spectrum of queer characters and their subtle differences displays a wide range of real emotional impacts on the daily lives of this group of friends, who are just trying to grieve..” 

The Alberta Playwriting Competition is presented by APN in association with Theatre Alberta.

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