SummerWorks 2016 was great fun this year. The festival’s array of theatre, music, dance and live art truly showed the  diversity in art and artists we have locally, and abroad. The lists of Award Winners and Honourable Mentions certainly proves this. 

FADO Performance Art Centre Live Art Award
Winner: lo bil, the root of the river runs darker than clouds

Buddies in Bad Times Vanguard Award for Risk and Innovation
Winner: Wants&Needs danse, Fame Prayer/EATING

Honorable Mentions:
Helen Simard, NO FUN
Ellen Furey, Performing Performance

Canadian Stage Award for Direction
Winner: Nova Bhattacharya, Broken Lines*

Honorable Mentions:
Mitchell Cushman, Lessons in Temperament
Jennifer Quinn, I’m Not Here

The Contra Guys Award for New Performance Text
Winner: Gabriel Dharmoo, Imaginary Anthropologies

Honorable Mentions:
Falen Johnson, Two Indians*
Georgina Beaty, Extremophiles

The Spotlight Award for Performance
Winner: Maddie Bautista, My Nightmares Wear White

Honorable Mentions:
Adam Lazarus, Daughter
Shadi Shahkhalili, The Unbelievers
Thomas McKechnie, 4 ½ (ig)noble truths

The Theatre Centre Emerging Artist Award
Winner: Drawing with Knives experimental shadow puppetry co, IN UTERO OUT*

Honorable Mentions:
Farah Merani, Trompe-La-Mort, or Goriot in the 21st Century
Simon Portigal, Aattitle
The creators of Inside

The NOW Magazine Audience Choice Award
Winner: Bleeders*

SummerWorks Prize for Production
Winner: TuneSmith Productions, Lessons in Temperament

Honorable Mentions:
Bleeders
Plucked
Situational Anarchy

*Great to see some of my Top Picks at the festival as award winners and with honourable mentions.

I also encourage you to read my Spotlights on the creators of Bleeders and Two Indians; two very different but very engaging and timely performances. These awards are not only recognition for the artists’ talent, but are vital in their continuing to bring us pivotal works as well. Congratulations to all winners and everyone involved in SummerWorks this year!