First French-Language Theatre Director to Receive Ontario Arts Council’s John Hirsch Director’s Award

Francophone theatre director Joël Beddows is the winner of the Ontario Arts Council’s John Hirsch Director’s Award.  The presentation was made this evening in conjunction with the Association des théâtres francophones du Canada’s Prix Marcus, and the National Arts Centre French Theatre’s Festival Zones Théâtrales.  This is the first time the award has been given to a director of French-language theatre since it was established in 1993. 

The $5,000 award is presented every three years to a promising Ontario theatre director to further the recipient’s professional development.  The three Toronto-based jurors of this year’s award, Martin Bragg, Artistic Producer, CanStage, Lynda Hill, Artistic Director, Theatre Direct Canada and designer Glenn Charles Landry, were impressed by the body of work Joël has built.  They noted that he is known for nurturing other young, talented directors and “he is always searching for the right form in which to express meaning.” 

Born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Joël Beddows began his theatre training with the University of Ottawa’s Theatre Department before going on to studies at la Sorbonne in Paris and at the University of Toronto.  He began his career by translating plays by A.R.Gurney (La Salle à manger) and Bernard-Marie Koltès (Retour au désert).  In 1998, he became Artistic Director of Théâtre la Catapulte in Ottawa.  Under his direction, the company has achieved considerable success including, a 2001 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts.  His first efforts in play direction for Richard Léger’s Faust : chroniques de la démesure won an award from the Cercle des critiques de la capitale for best theatre production in Ottawa in 2000-2001.  An award he received again from the same critic’s circle in 2002-2003 for Le Testament du couturier by Michel Ouellette. His direction for Le Testament also received a Masque de la production franco-canadienne in 2003 from l’Académie québécoise du théâtre. Currently, Joël is also associate professor in the theatre department of the University of Ottawa. 

The John Hirsch Memorial Fund was established by a bequest to the Ontario Arts Council in 1989 from the late John Hirsch, one of Canada's most distinguished directors. Past winners include Colin Taylor (1993), Josephine LeGrice (1996), Chris Abraham (1999), and Jennifer Tarver (2002). John Hirsch endowed other awards, including the Canada Council for the Arts’ John Hirsch Prize.

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Click here for more information about The John Hirsch Director’s Award

Click here to learn more about OAC Awards

For more information:   

Kirsten Gunter                                               
OAC Communications Manager             
416-969-7403
kgunter@arts.on.ca                

Sandrine Vrilliard       
Agente des communications
Théâtre la Catapulte               
613-562-0851 poste 222
vrilliard@catapulte.ca