In a country where a life in the theatre is not the most lucrative path to follow, the annual Siminovitch Prize is beacon of encouragement, rewarding the accomplishments of a theatre artist in the peak of his or her career. The $100,000 prize benefits not only the winning director, writer, or designer, but the entire community of artists they work with. This has the added effect of drawing international attention to Canadian theatre by endowing superior artists with the necessary funds for touring, longer engagements, and improved resources.
Monday evening saw the award go to French-Canadian director Brigitte Haentjens, an artist with a long and diverse career. In Haentjens’ theatrical world, said Leonard McHardy, the Siminovitch jury chair, “Ideas bleed, bodies think, space throbs. This is écriture scénique that defies classification.” The charmingly elfin director spoke emotionally about what the award means to her, expressing how she can still become discouraged and exhausted even in the height of her career.
“Theatre has always given me the desire to live, to create, to stand up and fight. In short, theatre inspires every feeling in me except that of comfort,” she said. In a medium where artistic struggle often goes unsatisfied, it is heartening to see Haentjens flourish.
Brigitte Haentjens has been instrumental in developing a stronger Francophone theatre community in Northern Ontario, as artistic director of the Theatre du Nouvel-Ontario from 1982-1990, before relocating to Quebec. Currently, Haentjens is artistic director of Sibyllines Théâtre de Création, which she founded in 1997. Sibyllines is a company well-known for the challenging work it produces, as well as Haentjens’ bold, highly physical style. At the moment, she is preparing for her French-language production of Sarah Kane’s provocative play, Blasté (Blasted).
As in past years of the prize, the winner selects a protégé to receive $25,000 of the prize money. Haentjens selected two this year, splitting it 50/50 between the company La Pire Espèce and Quebecois director Christian Lapointe.
Sponsored by BMO Financial Group, the prize is dedicated to scientist Lou Siminovitch and his late wife Elinore, a playwright. Introduced in 2001, it recognizes direction, playwriting and design in three-year cycles. From twenty-six nominees, the Siminovitch jury selected three other directors for the shortlist this year: Ron Jenkins of Edmonton, and Torontonians Alisa Palmer and Soheil Parsa. Past laureates include director Jillian Keiley, playwright John Mighton, and designer Dany Lyne.
