FROM LEADING SUPPORTER JUDITH THOMPSON:

Dear Friends of Young Theatre Artists,

When I was about eleven my mother cast me as Helen Keller for a University production of The Miracle Worker and I found my life’s passion; I thought naturally, that my place was as an actor, and I pursued that dream through high school, University and the National Theatre School of Canada. Although I had always been a ravenous reader, and I loved to write poetry and stories it never occurred to me that I could be a playwright.  Playwriting, I thought was only for the few who had the genius and vision to be the voice of an era, a generation, or more importantly for me, the voice for those who had no voice.

Indeed, when I began compulsively writing monologues in response to mask work at the theatre school, and these monologues received attention, I was told by a member of the faculty there that although I had had made a noise with these little monologues, I was NEVER to think of myself as a playwright.

It was shortly after that that I began writing my first play, The Crackwalker.

Although my training as an actor is invaluable to me as a playwright, I deeply regret the lost time. If someone had encouraged me to write when I was fifteen or sixteen, I would have developed my voice as a young woman in the world sooner, and would have been stronger and more confident person, accountable as a citizen of the world.

As lovers of the theatre, you are truly our artistic collaborators. We Canadian playwrights are grateful that we have an audience who knows that Canadian theatre stands with the best in the world. We all acknowledge that the theatre is an integral part of the cultural identity of a nation, and that the young theatre artists must be nurtured. While there is plenty of opportunity for young actors to train and learn, until Paprika, there was very little for playwrights.  I was overjoyed when I first heard of Paprika, and knocked out by the brilliant writing that I encountered at the festival.

When you support Paprika, you are not only helping to shape the future of Canadian theatre, but you are giving youth a voice, and saying that you want to hear that voice.

We thank you for your generous support.

With warm regards,

Judith Clare Thompson

Playwright and Professor of Theatre

       

Friends of the Paprika Festival

Chris Abraham

Lisa Ainsbury

Diana Belshaw

Sherrie Bie, National Theatre School of Canada

Franco Boni

Morwyn Brebner

Melissa Calder

Sue Daniel

Wayne Fairhead

Barry Freeman

Marguerite Jack Vermey, Corey Vermey and Alexa Vermey

Jon Kaplan

Adam Pettle & Trish Fagan

Merika Ramundo

Sheldon Rosen

The Sears Ontario Drama Festival

Jesse Watts

Moses Wuggenig