Awards

Throughout the academic year, there are a number of ways students can creatively immerse themselves Hart House Theatre. Whether you are taking part in our Playwriting Competition, our Monologue Competition, or our long-standing Hart House U of T Drama Festival there are a many ways to get involved and have your work be recognized. Students whose artistic contributions go above and beyond expectations have the opportunity to also be awarded for their work. Check out some of our Hart House Theatre awards below! You can find more campus theatre awards through the U of T Drama Coalition.

Along with awards of merit determined by the Adjudicator, festival participants are competing for the following awards of recognition:

• IATSE Local 58 Award for Technical Achievement
• Donald Sutherland Award for Best Performance
• Robert Gill Award for Best Direction
• Robertson Davies Playwriting Award
• President’s Award for Best Production
• Janet Bessey Award for Excellence in Stage Management

There is one audience choice award per evening, by preferential ballot, at the conclusion of each of the performance evenings.

For a list of past participants and winners, please check out the Drama Coalition Website.

This award was established after a generous donation by Mr. Sutherland and allows him the ability to continue to be engaged and updated on the student drama and student engagement that happens here at Hart House Theatre. The winner of this award is photographed in the lobby on the day of the Awards Ceremony and writes a letter to Mr. Sutherland regarding their experience in the Hart House U of T Drama Festival.

First Year Awarded: 2014
An acting award was previously awarded as the Hart House Theatre Best Performance Award

Past Winners:

• 2014 – Alex Spyropoulos for PUR.GAT.ORY produced by UTM DRAMA CLUB
• 2015 – Remi Long for LET MY MIND RUN DRY by HART HOUSE PLAYERS
• 2016 – Joanna Decc for SALTWATER FORESTS by UC FOLLIES
• 2017 – Katerina Hatzinakos for SUZANNE by TRINITY COLLEGE DRAMA SOCIETY
• 2018 – Joanne Perez for RAINING PETALS by SMC TROUBADOURS
• 2019 – Frosina Pejcinovska for LONE ISLAND LOVERS by SMC TROUBADOURS
• 2020 – Aeden Taylor for their portrayal of Jeremy in UNDER PRESSURE by U OF T IMPROV
• 2021 – Kara Austria for exemplary contribution to the U of T Drama Coalition Community*
• 2022 – Abi Akinlade for BLACK STACK by SMC TROUBADOURS
• 2023 –  Brynn Bonne for JACKES AND JILLS by VICTORIA COLLEGE DRAMA SOCIETY
• 2024 – Mikaël Tobio Bennett for STELLAR PARALLAX, Independent Submission

*The 2021 Drama Festival was a Virtual Production with a different structure and format, so this award was
allotted as part of the 2021 U of T Drama Coalition Awards. It was a peer selected candidate based on their
contribution to the U of T Campus Theatre Community over the course of their time at U of T.

This award was established after a generous donation by Ms. Bessey and allows her the ability to continue to be engaged and updated on the student drama and student engagement that happens here at Hart House Theatre. The winner of this award is photographed in the lobby on the day of the Awards Ceremony and writes a letter to Ms. Bessey regarding their experience in the Hart House U of T Drama Festival.

First year Awarded: 2020

Past Winners:

• 2020 – Beka Morrison for THE BOY WHO CRIED by UC FOLLIES
• 2021 – Beatrice Freedman for exemplary contribution to the U of T Drama Coalition Community*
• 2022 – Helen Ho for BLACK STACK by SMC TROUBADOURS
• 2023 – Mikaël Bennett for GOD SAVE THE QUEEN by UTM EDSS
• 2024 – Yabsira Malyon Adgu for LEMONS AND GINGER by UTSC Drama Society

*The 2021 Drama Festival was a Virtual Production with a different structure and format, so this award was
allotted as part of the 2021 U of T Drama Coalition Awards. It was a peer selected candidate based on their
contribution to the U of T Campus Theatre Community over the course of their time at U of T.

​The Hart House U of T Drama Festival Monologue Competition is a virtual submission and live performance event intended to provide all U of T students with a platform to share and promote their enthusiasm for creativity, storytelling and theatrical performance.

Past Winners:

• 2021 – Sabrina Weinstein
• 2022 – Max Levy, Chelsea Mathieu and Medha Arora Wadhwa
• 2023 – Yasmin Haruna, Joseph Chiu, Yuri Marin

First year Awarded: 2021

An adjudication panel will select one winner and two runners-up after the conclusion of the contest. Winning scripts are awarded cash prizes, time with dramaturgical talents to hone their scripts and the opportunity to have a public reading of their work.

Submissions open annually on Oct. 1 and close on Feb. 1.

Learn more about the U of T Playwriting Competition Winners.

The Ellen Ross Stuart Award celebrates the legacy of Ellen ‘Nel’ Ross Stuart, by empowering young writers to engage actively in their craft, in association with professional theatres. Tarragon Theatre anchors this award as the homebase for award-winners, in collaboration with partner companies (previous partners include The Blyth Festival and Hart House Theatre).

Beginning in June 2024, Tarragon Theatre will host two (2) successful candidates for a year-long development pathway.

Apply Now.