Siminovitch Prize 2024 Finalists Announced, Celebrating Innovation in Theatre Design
Toronto, ON — The Siminovitch Prize, Canada’s most prestigious theatre award, has unveiled its 2024 finalists. Recognizing mid-career artists who are transforming the theatre landscape, this year’s nominees represent a wide array of design disciplines, from sound and lighting to puppetry. With a $100,000 prize for the laureate and an additional $25,000 for an emerging artist protégé, the Siminovitch Prize continues to spotlight those who challenge artistic boundaries and inspire future generations.
The 2024 finalists include Itai Erdal from Vancouver, Sonoyo Nishikawa from Montreal, Debashis Sinha from Toronto, and The Old Trout Puppet Workshop from Calgary. Each of these artists has been nominated by peers for their contributions to the field and their impact on the national theatre community.
A Celebration of Visionary Talent
This year’s finalists are described by Guillermo Verdecchia, Jury Chair for the 2024 Siminovitch Prize, as designers who “embrace complexities, ambiguities, and unknowns,” bringing out the best in their collaborators and enriching the overall theatrical experience.
Itai Erdal (Vancouver, BC)
Lighting designer, writer, and performer Itai Erdal has a long-standing career in theatre, dance, and opera, working in over 50 cities globally. Founder of The Elbow Theatre in Vancouver, his work has been recognized with numerous awards, including six Jessie Richardson Awards and a Dora Mavor Moore Award. His approach to lighting design is emotionally driven: “Lighting can be more than an aesthetic; it can be the emotional heartbeat of the piece, and I take that realization with me to every show I design,” says Erdal.
Sonoyo Nishikawa (Montreal, QC)
Originally from Japan, Sonoyo Nishikawa’s lighting designs have captivated audiences worldwide. With a career that includes collaborations with renowned director Robert Lepage, she has garnered multiple accolades, such as the Prix des meilleurs éclairages and a Dora Mavor Moore Award. Nishikawa likens her designs to fleeting moments: “The lights on stage…are ephemeral, often compared to fireworks. However, my aim is to create lighting designs that will inspire the hearts of the audience with hope for the future.”
Debashis Sinha (Toronto, ON)
A composer and sound designer, Debashis Sinha blends his South Asian Canadian heritage with cutting-edge technology to explore sound’s narrative potential. Sinha, who is also a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, sees sound as a vessel for storytelling. “Sound in all its forms is my first principle. It reveals how we think about our histories, use our technologies, and reinvent our cultures and identities,” explains Sinha.
The Old Trout Puppet Workshop (Calgary, AB)
Emerging from Alberta’s rural communities, The Old Trout Puppet Workshop has since evolved into a dynamic creative force. Known for their distinctive puppet performances, sculptures, and design work, their productions have toured internationally. “There is a magic in seeing a dead thing breathe that speaks to an older, cave-bred part of us… The theatre we aim to make is superfluous, unnecessary, and exuberant, in the face of the wintery world,” shares the collective.
2024 Jury
The jury for the Siminovitch Prize changes annually, drawing professionals from diverse theatre backgrounds. This year’s jurors included Soheil Parsa, Jessica Poirier-Chang, MJ Dandeneau, Reneltta Arluk, and Jury Chair Guillermo Verdecchia.
The Siminovitch Prize continues to be a beacon of excellence in Canadian theatre, shining a light on artists whose work shapes the future of the stage. The winner will be announced later this year, offering one of these finalists the opportunity to further their artistic journey and mentor the next generation of theatre innovators.
