Montreal-born, Toronto-based playwright and director Judith Thompson is the winner of the $50,000 Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts.
Since her 1980 professional debut with The Crackwalker, Thompson has been a defining voice in Canadian theatre. A string of plays exploring the underbelly of their urban settings and written with Thompson's unique style of passionate lyricism and violent imagery followed, White Biting Dog (1984), Lion in the Streets (1991) and Sled (1996), among them. Earlier this year, Thompson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
The prize, administered by the Canada Council since 2001, is named after Toronto businessman Walter Carsen, who donated $1.1-million to recognize achievement by Canadian artists in theatre, music and dance.