Overview
Hart House Theatre is dedicated to supporting student playwrights.
An adjudication panel made up of 3 esteemed playwrights in the Canadian theatre scene will decide the first, second, and third place winners of the Hart House University of Toronto Playwriting Competition based on how their plays scored in the criteria listed below. Winning playwrights are awarded cash prizes, and the first place winner will receive time with dramaturgical talents to hone their script and may have the opportunity for a public reading of their work. Student playwrights of all experience levels are encouraged to submit their original, unproduced works.
Playwriting Competition Criteria
The following criteria will be used by the judges to score each entry.
Relevance: Why this play, why now? When an audience gives a playwright their time and heart, what does the playwright have to give in return?
Voice: Is the playwright’s voice distinct? Do they have a clear perspective/aesthetic?
Conflict/Stakes: Is the conflict ripe enough to sustain the dramatic action throughout? Are the stakes told to us, or shown through tension and subtext?
Characters: Are the characters' voices nuanced and distinct from one another? Do they have an active inner life?
Imagery: Does the playwright construct a clear world through imagery? Does the play engage with your senses and imagination?
Structure: Is the chosen structure intentional? Does it support the development of the story?
Flexibility & Feasibility: Could this play be staged in many different spaces, with varying budgets and access to resources?
Memorable & Enjoyable: Does the play linger in your mind after reading it? Would you recommend it to a friend? Would you watch a staged production?
Please note: These parameters can help a playwright construct an effective play, but they are not the end-all-be-all of dramatic storytelling. If a play intentionally disrupts some of these guidelines by taking non-traditional and non-western approaches to writing, the judges will use their discretion to meet the playwright where they’re coming from.
2023/2024 Playwriting Competition Judges
FAQs
The following FAQs have been assembled by the Spotlight team.
If you have any not addressed here, please contact U of T Spotlight.
-
Where can I submit my script? How should it be formatted?
Scripts can be emailed to the U of T Spotlight account within the duration of the competition, using the subject heading "Playwriting Competition Submission". Submissions should be saved as a pdf., with the format YourName_Submission Title. Please number your pages and include your name and title on the page headers. Please include a list of content warnings at the beginning of the script.
-
What is the competition timeline?
The contest is open between 12:00 am on October 1st, and 11:59 pm on February 1st. The official public announcement will be made at The Dougies (The Annual Drama Coalition Awards). The winners will be contacted the week prior to the awards ceremony. Results will be posted online following the event.
-
How long does my play have to be?
There is no minimum or maximum length for contest entries. However, we recommend that plays be no shorter than 15 minutes and no longer than 2.5 hours.
-
Does the play have to be original? Are adaptations of existing works of art, literature, media accepted?
Yes. Only original works written by current University of Toronto students are accepted. Past contest winners have included creative adaptations of existing works. However, you must give credit for your specific inspiration (if you have used one) on the contest submission form.
-
If my play is chosen for the Hart House U of T Drama Festival, is it still eligible for the Hart House Theatre Playwriting Competition?
It is indeed! Feel free to submit your play(s) to both competitions.
-
Can I submit more than one play?
Absolutely. As long as none of the scripts have been produced before, and all are original, there is no limit to the number of scripts that may be submitted by any one playwright.
-
Are plays with more than one author accepted?
Yes! You are welcome to submit your co-written scripts, as long as both authors are current University of Toronto students.
-
Is the deadline firm?
Yes. No late entries will be accepted, so make sure you send us your entries before 11:59 pm on February 1, 2024.
-
What are the prize amounts?
First place will be awarded $500. Second place will be awarded $150. Third place will be awarded $100.
-
Will I receive feedback from the panel?
Depending on the volume of submissions, Hart House administration may choose a shortlist of plays to send to the panel. In this case, only these shortlisted plays will receive feedback in order to create a manageable workload for the jurors. When applicable, playwrights will be contacted sometime in March 2024 with news on whether their play made the shortlist.
Winners
Playwriting Competition Award
The 2024 competition was judged by Nathaniel Hanula-James, Coleen MacPherson, and Julie Phan.
First Place ($500 prize)
Awarded to
Sydney Scott for
flip flop
Second Place ($150)
Awarded to
Yasmine Agocs for
Quiltro
Third place ($100)
Awarded to
Cassandra Marcus Davey for
Helen\Klytemnestra, or Maneater
Playwriting Competition Award
The 2023 competition was judged by Madeleine Brown, Ho Ka Kai (Jeff Ho) and Cameron Laurie.
First Place ($500 prize)
Awarded to
Ameer Idreis for
Ships in the Night- Second place ($150)
Awarded to
Sydney Scott for
the titty play 
Third place ($100)
Awarded to
Brynn Bonne for
Jackes and Jills,
produced by
Victoria College Drama Society
Playwriting Competition Award
The 2022 competition was judged by Polly Phokeev and Anusree Roy.
First place ($500 prize)
Awarded to
Helen Ho for
Maggie Chun’s First Wedding & Last Love
Second place ($150)
Awarded to
Cherry Zhang for
White Rabbit
Third Place and Best Virtual Adaptation Award ($100)
Awarded to
Victoria McIntyre for
A Line of Dust
Third Place and Best Virtual Adaptation Award ($100)
Awarded to
Anthony Palermo for
The Gray: A Wilde Concert
Playwriting Competition Award
The 2021 competition was judged by April Siutong Leung, Baņuta Nora Rubess and Alexia Vassos.
First place ($500 prize)
Awarded to
Sydnie Phillips for
Grave Dance
Second place ($150 prize)
Awarded to
Victoria Watson for
I Want You To Love Me
Third place ($100 prize)
Awarded to
Archie Burton Smith for
The Longest Night- Best Virtual Adaptation Award ($250 prize)
Awarded to
Victoria Watson for
I Want You To Love Me
Playwriting Competition Award
The 2020 competition was judged by Kaitlyn Riordan, Ross Slaughter and Guillermo Verdecchia
First place ($500 prize)
Awarded to
Nam Nguyen for
TWEP,
produced by
Trinity College Drama Society
Second place ($150 prize)
Awarded to
Victoria Rose McIntyre and Chloë Rose Flowers for
A Portrait of Two Men
Third place ($100 prize)
Awarded to
Carline Hsieh for
Kintsugi
Playwriting Competition Award
The 2019 competition was judged by Myekah Payne and Claire Burns
First place ($500 prize)
Awarded to
Bailey Irene Midori Hoy for
Honey Lemon Green Tea,
produced by
Victoria College Drama Society
Second place ($150 prize)
Awarded to
Emily Powers for
Outstretched,
produced by
Trinity College Drama Society
Third place ($100 prize)
Awarded to
Nicole Eun-Ju Bell for
Roots
Playwriting Competition Award
The 2018 competition was judged by Carly Chamberlain, Cameron Crookston and Christine Quintana
- First place ($500 prize)
Awarded to
Nam Nuygen for
Caezus - Second place ($150 prize)
Awarded to
Micaela Robertson for
The Rhythm Method - Third place ($100 prize)
Awarded to
Jules (Julianne) Mendoza for
Barnacle Goose
Playwriting Competition Award
The 2017 competition was judged Rebecca Ostroff, Susan Bond and Sarah Robbins
First place ($500 prize)
Awarded to
Vivian Xie for
Little Chinese Cloud
Second place ($150 prize)
Awarded to
Ryan Falconer for
Boarding Gate
Third place ($100 prize)
Awarded to
Nicole Bell for
Swing Set
Playwriting Competition Award
The 2016 competition was judged by Susan Bond and Heather Fitzsimmons-Rey
First place ($500 prize)
Awarded to
Emma Tse for
Ben- Second place ($150 prize)
Awarded to
Clarrie Feinstein for
Fruit of The Tree 
Third place ($100 prize)
Awarded to
Alexandra Jones for
Six Pieces