Putting a spotlight on the next generation of Québec playwrights
Infinithéâtre is thrilled to announce the winners of The-Write-Stuff, our first annual playwriting competition for youth. Submissions were received from over a dozen educational institutions all around Québec and ranged in age from 12-18. The jury, composed of Infinithéâtre’s Head of New Play Development, Oren Safdie, as well as acclaimed playwrights Michaela Di Cesare and Vishesh Aberatne, were all charmed and moved by works. The variety of topics and styles were as unique and different as one might expect from our unique, multi-cultural belle province.
Sinead Chapdelaine, 15, from Westmount High School, was unanimously chosen by our jury as this year’s 1st Prize Winner of $500. Her play, Elephant In The Room, is about two friends who have both been sent to the principal’s office, and find themselves trying to sort out complicated feelings for one another in an effort to restore balance in their relationship. The jury was especially taken by Sinead’s effortless, realistic dialogue, and the full roundedness of both characters. “It just felt so real.”
Zoé Solenn Jaubert, also 15, from Villa Maria High School, was a close runner up, and the jury decided to show their appreciation for her sophisticated writing by awarding her $100. Withered Flower is an ambitious adaptation centering around the Greek Mythological figure, Narcissus, as he sets out to do just about anything to recapture his youth and retain his beauty.
Honourable mentions go to...
Toxic Smile by Noémie Lavertu, 17, from École Secondaire Marcelle-Mallet in Lévis, which explores what can happen when you keep a toxic friend in your life.
Blue M&M by Tarika Kaur, 18, from John Abbott College, which deals with the pressures of dieting and issues of body image in the face of society’s unrealistic expectations.
The Waitress by Savannah Thiessen, 14, from Philemon Wright High School in Gatineau, which takes us into the life of a flustered waitress on her first day on the job.
All five plays will receive professional staged readings on Saturday, September 25th from 2-5pm at Parc Drolet-Rachel in Montreal’s Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood as part of Infinithéâtre’s 1st annual Park ‘n Play Open-Air Reading Series. Registered as part of Les journées de la culture activities, the event is free of charge, but requires pre-registration. Many thanks to the arrondissement Plateau Mont-Royal for their generous support of this event!
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Withered Flowers (by Zoé Solenn Jaubert) directed by Zach Fraser
The Waitress (by Savannah Thiessen) directed by Zach Fraser
Toxic Smile (by Noémie Lavertu) directed by Zach Fraser
Elephant in the Room (by Sinead Chapdelaine) directed by Zach Fraser
Blue M&M (by Tarika Kaur) directed by Zach Fraser
Congrats to all those who submitted their plays to The-Write-Stuff 2021!