Gascon-Thomas Award 2005
Janine Sutto and Jackie Maxwell:
Recipients of the 2005 Gascon-Thomas Award
Montreal, October 19 2005 –The National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) is proud to announce that this year’s Gascon-Thomas Award will be distinguished upon two trail-blazing women of the Canadian stage: Jackie Maxwell and Janine Sutto. The two will receive the Award at a special ceremony on Friday, October 28th at 1 p.m. in the Monument-National’s Ludger-Duvernay Theatre.
The Gascon-Thomas Award recognizes exceptional achievement in theatre. Each year, two artists (one Anglophone and one Francophone) are singled out and honoured for their efforts to shape the world of theatre and for their status as role models to NTS students. Presided over by Tom Peacocke, the awarding jury is comprised of members of the School’s Board of Governors, artistic directors Sherry Bie and Denise Guilbault, Director General Simon Brault, and two student representatives.
Janine Sutto
Still much in demand for roles at 84, Janine Sutto has been working in film, television, radio and theatre for over 65 years since making her début at the Arcade in 1940. She was one of the original actors with the ensemble of the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde/TNM and performed frequently with the Comédie-Canadienne (notably in the premiere of Marcel Dubé's Les Beaux Dimanches), L'Équipe (which she co-founded) and the Théâtre du Rideau Vert. A beloved favourite of Quebec audiences, Sutto is a monumental presence on the stage and has brought to life priceless characters that have forever left a mark on the Quebec public. She was made Officer of the Order of Canada in 1986, advancing to Companion in 1992 and has received numerous awards and honours for her life’s work (2000 Hommage Rideau award, 2000 Hommage award at the Gémeaux gala, 2001 Hommage award at the Soirée des Masques).
Jackie Maxwell
Jackie Maxwell has worked extensively in the arts throughout Canada as a celebrated director, dramaturge and teacher for over twenty years. She made history when in November 2002 she became not only the first female Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival but also the first woman ever to run one of the country’s two largest theatre festivals. A wealth of theatrical knowledge, Maxwell began her career as Associate Director at The National Arts Centre and made her breakthrough during an eight-year tenure at Toronto's Factory Theatre (1987-95), where she developed and produced work by some of Canada's most respected playwrights including Sharon Pollock, George F. Walker and Ann-Marie MacDonald. Along with her many freelance directing credits (including Canadian Stage, Tarragon Theatre and the National Theatre School), Maxwell was also the Head of New Play Development at the Charlottetown Festival from 1996-2000. She was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland.