Playwright Judith Thompson awarded $50,000 Canada Council prize

Last Updated: Tuesday, August 7, 2007 | 2:09 PM ET

CBC Arts

Toronto-based playwright Judith Thompson has been named the winner of a $50,000 Canada Council for the Arts performing arts prize.

On Tuesday, the Council announced that Thompson won the 2007 Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts.

A peer assessment committee hailed Thompson as "one of the most dynamic and unique theatrical voices anywhere."

"This Canadian visionary, whose often disturbing work never leaves audiences unmoved, continues to break new ground even as her plays are produced, anthologized, and honoured across the nation and the world," the group said in a statement.

"Along with her significant achievements in writing for stage, film and radio, she is increasingly influential as a theatre director, educator and mentor."

In addition to penning theatre works such as The Crackwalker, White Biting Dog, I Am Yours and Lion in the Streets, the Montreal-born playwright has written screenplays (Perfect Pie, Lost and Delirious) and radio dramas (Tornado ), and has adapted and directed theatre productions.

Thompson, who graduated from the National Theatre School, has previously been honoured with a host of awards, including two Governor General's Literary Awards, the Toronto Arts Award and the Prix Italia.

Named an officer of the Order of Canada in 2005, she has also taught acting and writing for theatre at the University of Guelph.

First presented in 2001, the Walter Carsen Prize was created after the Toronto businessman and arts philanthropist made a $1.1 million donation to the Canada Council.

Though awarded annually, the prize recognizes three performing arts genres on a rotating basis: dance, theatre and music.

Past recipients include former dancer Veronica Tennant, composer R. Murray Schafer and playwright John Murrell.