"Though not all of the plays that have won The Governor General's Award for Literature have been magnificent... this year's GG winner, The Harps of God, truly deserves the accolade; it is a terrific read, and theatrically its ambitions are breathtaking."
Gaetan Charlebois, Hour.
"Through his character and kindred devices, Stetson makes his play - Horse high, Bull Strong, Pig Tight - as thoughtful and intelligent as it is amusing. Stetson's dialogue is sharp, his descriptive imagery is painterly in its artfulness whether he's evoking the fiery demise of a tarpaper shack or the sparkling ascent of partridges emerging from a snow bank."
Sean McQuaid, The Buzz
Queen of the Cadillac is . . . "An evening to remember. A definite winner. An important play by an outstanding playwright. A circus of enormous exuberance. A mixture of the magic mysticism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and black humor of Joe Orton. It succeeds in mixing fire and ice. "
Ray Conlogue, The Globe & Mail
Warm Wind in China explores humanity "...with compassion and brilliance, rage and despair, love and courage in the face of death."
Ian McKay, New Maritimes
The Hangashore: (Eight part tv comedy series 'Tales from Pigeon Inlet', CBC Newfoundland) "Ingenious characterizations. It's been directed with sweet spunk by Kent Stetson, who grabs the small town flavour."
Devo, Variety
"Stetson is a writer's writer. The love and pain in his scripts is delicately wrought, the writing full of careful, shaped metaphors intelligently orchestrated beyond the bounds of notice. . . He is not a romantic writer, not contemplative and self confessed . . .his work is full of practical passion."
D. R. Downton, The Canadian Theatre Review. (CTR 57)
Globe and Mail, Review of the best in Canadian Theatre.
Robert Crew, The Toronto Star.
Mr. Charles Northcote
Literary Manager
The Core Group
(416) 955-0819
charlesnorthcote@rogers.com
Citations/Critiques
Laureate: The 2001 Governor General's Literary Award, English Drama. "In The Harps of God, Kent Stetson creates a new theatrical language – both authentic to the Newfoundland idiom and as powerful and economic as poetry. An epic tragedy in three acts, the play explores faith and meaning and pays tribute to the survival of a people and a nation. With this masterful work, Kent Stetson has raised the bar to a new level in Canadian playwrighting."
Citation, Rideau Hall, November 14, 2001.
Laureate: The PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation's inaugural Wendell Boyle Award. “Horse High, Bull Strong, Pig Tight is a lyrical evocation of the Island and a way of life that seems recent, (1950-2001) but that is swiftly fading from memory. Well researched and written with affection, Mr. Stetson’s play celebrates the richness and rhythm of everyday language and life in rural Prince Edward Island. For this outstanding contribution to both theatre and heritage, we are pleased to present the Wendell Boyle Award to Mr. Kent Stetson.”
Citation, February 18, 2002.
Laureate: 2002: The Canadian Author's Association Carol Bolt Award for Excellence in Drama. “The Harps of God is a carefully crafted play of survival that is an intelligent, poetic tragedy covering a wide sweep of the human condition, both on the large scale and on that of individuals. It is a masterpiece of reality in depicting the suffering of a group of scalers, adrift on pack ice in the Great Sealing Disaster of 1914, as they face the reality of their mortality. The author has successfully depicted the harshness of the elements, the inner truths of their personal beliefs, and the struggle to maintain dignity in establishing believable characters... The play is distinctly Canadian in all its elements, yet never forces this aspect on the reader/listener. This is a compelling drama that touches on moral versus survival issues."
Citation, May, 2002.
The Prince Edward Island Council of the Arts and the PEI Writer’s Federation award for distinguished Contribution to the Literary Arts On Prince Edward Island. "Not unlike many (Prince Edward) Islanders, Kent's career has taken him away from home. . . But he has never allowed himself to be too long away from this place. His roots are unmistakably in our red soil, from which he has drawn character and confidence. His integrity, and compassion for the human condition, informs both his work and his life.
Citation, June 3, 2007. Ron Irving, C.M.
Plays Written
THE SURVIVOR CYCLE: A trilogy of theme linked two act plays, including;WARM WIND IN CHINA; 1986-1988. Tragedy, in two acts. (Fifteen North American productions. Staged readings in Britain and Europe. Published in a bilingual Edition by Nu-Age Editions, Montreal, and The Canadian Theatre Review) Warm Wind in China: (full text)QUEEN OF THE CADILLAC; 1987-1990. Two act Comedy. (Premiered at ATP, Eric Steiner directed) Queen of the Cadillac: (full text: PWM Library)SWEET MAGDALENA; 1989-1992. Gothic Revival, with music. Sweet Magdalena: (full text: PWM Library)JUST PLAIN MURDER; (where-in a cheesy Murder Mystery Weekend goes wrong) 1994-1996. Comedy/satire. Excerpt: Just Plain MurderTHE HARPS OF GOD; 1995-1997. Tragedy, in three acts. Rising Tide Theatre, Richard Rose directed: Published by Playwright's Canada Press, ISBN 0-88754-606-4. Winner: The 2001 Governor General's Literary Award Excerpt: The Harps of God
CALEDONIA; 1996 -- (work in progress) Musical Theatre, (book and lyrics). Music; Alasdair MacLean. Synopsis/Music: Caledonia
NEW ARCADIA; A Grail Romance, in two acts.1999-2000. Prize Winner: The 2001 Hertman Voaden National Playwriting Competition Excerpt: New Arcadia
THE EYES OF THE GULL; A Gothic Romance. 1998 - 1999. Rising Tide Theatre 2000 - 01, 2001 - 02.
HORSE HIGH, BULL STRONG, PIG TIGHT; 1999-2000. (Excerpt: Horse High, Bull Strong, Pig Tight) One Man Comedy. Theatre Prince Edward Island, 2001.
EXCESS; A two act Work in Progress.
THREE ONE ACT PLAYS; Woodlot Rap!, As I Am, and A Christmas Musical (work in progress)
THE WAY OF THE SEA: Norman Duncan in Newfoundland.
Screenwriter/Story Editor/Script Consultant
RINGFINGER; Feature Comedy (work in progress) Ringfinger: Excerpt
WARM WIND IN CHINA; Feature, for Atlantis Films.QUEEN OF THE CADILLAC; Feature, Birdsong/Cadillac Productions.
DRAMA, COMEDY, DOCUMENTARY, SHORT SUBJECTS, INDUSTRIALS.
VARIOUS TITLES; (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, The National Film Board of Canada, CTV, video and 16 mm)
TELEFILM CANADA; Script reader, analyst.
BBR PRODUCITONS; Wagner's Will. Script Consultant/Story Editor
BBR PRODUCTIONS; Journey to the Heart, Story Editor.
Radio Dramatist
MASTER OF THE PHANTOM; five half-hour episodes. CBC Morning Side.Three 1/2 hour Adaptations from Alasdair MacLeod's AS BIRDS BRING FORTH THE SUN; CBC Morning Side.
JONAH'S EYE; Five part series. CBC Morning Side.
ANTINOMY; after Spider Robinson, ninety minutes, Vanishing Point. CBC.
OFFENSIVE TO SOME: Berni Stapleton. The National Arts Centre. Premiere.
WOMAN IN A MONKEY CAGE: Berni Stapleton. Rising Tide Theatre. Premiere
WARM WIND IN CHINA:Stetson, Rising Tide Theatre, Confederation Centre (Theatre P.E.I.).
WHERE IS KABUKI?: Don Druick. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Premiere.
27 WAGONS FULL OF COTTON: Tennessee Williams. Charlottetown Luncthtime Theatre.
THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND: Tom Stoppard. CLTT
Direction: Film & Television
(Selected titles)
TALES FROM PIGEON INLET: 8 half-hour film/video comedies, CBC Television. (See awards)TIGHTEN THE TRACES/HAUL IN THE REINS: 1 hr video drama, CBC Television. (See Awards)
THE LITTLE BEGGAR MAN: 16 mm short; comedy.
CLOCK WORKS: 16 mm drama; cinema for young audiences.
JENNY KOO KOO: 16 mm drama; cinema for young audiences.
Short Form Drama . . . various titles and genres, half hours for the CBC in the 1980s.
Dramaturgy
PROFESSIONAL DRAMATURGICAL SERVICES FOR:THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE, Ottawa.
RISING TIDE THEATRE, St. John's, Various titles. WOMAN IN A MONKEY CAGE, Berni Stapleton.
ROUGH IDLE, Alan Hibbert.
BEINN BREAGH, Cindy Cowan.
IN MY FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS, Robbie O'Neill.
A TIDY PACKAGE, Stapleton, House.
PLAYWRIGHTS ATLANTIC RESOURCE CENTRE, various titles.
BRANGENA, Wanda Graham, Theatre Antigonish.
THEATRE P.E.I., various titles.
Awards, Honors
WINNER: THE 2001 GOVERNOR GENERAL'S LITERARY AWARDS, ENGLISH DRAMA; THE HARPS OF GOD.
THE 2001 CANADIAN AUTHORS ASSOCIATION CAROL BOLT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DRAMA; THE HARPS OF GOD.
THE PEI MUSEUM and HERITAGE FOUNDATION'S INAUGURAL WENDELL BOYLE AWARD for HORSE HIGH, BULL STRONG, PIG TIGHT.
Lifetime Member: PLAYWRIGHTS ATLANTIC RESOURCE CENTRE
PRIZE WINNER: THE 2001 HERMAN VOADEN NATIONAL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION: NEW ARCADIA
RECIPIENT: 2001 TELEFILM CANADA SCREENWRITTER'S ASSISTANCE AWARD: RINGFINGER
COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM: THE BANFF CENTRE, with Alasdair MacLean.WARM WIND IN CHINA: short list, The 1993 Governor General's Literary Awards, (i n translation).
RESIDENT PLAYWRIGHT: THE NATIONAL THEATRE SCHOOL OF CANADA, THE CANADAIN STAGE COMPANY.
TIGHTEN THE TRACES, HAUL IN THE REINS: Direction, best television program of the year, ACTRA, finalist.
RESIDENT PLAYWRIGHT: Neptune Theatre, where Warm Wind in China premiered.
THE HANGASHORE: best television program of the year; finalist, for direction, ACTRA.
ATLANTIC FILM FESTIVAL: Screenplay, Prize Winner, P.L.F.
RESIDENT, THE PLAYWRIGHT'S COLONY: The Banff Centre.
GOVERNOR GENERALS LITERARY AWARDS: Drama Jurist.
THEATRE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Playwright's Representative, The Canada Council.
SENIOR ARTS AWARDS: The Canada Council. Several juries.
Publications
WHAT IS A CANADIAN? Essay, McClelland and Stewart Ltd.
THE HARPS OF GOD; Playwrights Canada Press.
THE HARPS OF GOD; The Harps of God in a new edition by MacArthur and Company.
WARM WIND IN CHINA, Canadian Theatre Review, CTR 57.
QUEEN OF THE CADILLAC, Notes; The Pottersfield Portfolio, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
A LEAP IN THE DARK, Aids, Art and Contemporary Cultures, a collection of essays by international artists co-published by Vehicule and Artext, Montreal.
OFFENSIVE TO EVERYONE, The Capilano Review.
DRAMATURGY: DREADFUL AND DIVINE; CanPlay, Playwrights Union of Canada.
CANADIAN THEATRE REVIEW: various.
Workshops, Teaching
McGILL UNIVERSITY, Play Writing , introductory and advanced.THE NATIONAL THEATRE SCHOOL OF CANADA, Advanced - script development, structure, character/plot.
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, CREATIVE WRITING: Advanced Play Writing
THE ATLANTIC FILM MAKERS CO-OP, Screen Writing.
THE NATIONAL THEATRE SCHOOL OF CANADA: Character Generated Plot, Introductory Playwriting.
Collections
CLOCKWORKS (16 mm drama) National Film Board ArchivesTHE LITTLE BEGGAR MAN (16 mm short) National Film Board
WALTER SHAW - PORTRAIT OF A PREMIER, (16 mm documentary) CBC Archives.
University and Public Libraries: Warm Wind In China, (Nu-Age Editions and The Canadian Theatre Review)
Education
HONORS BACHELOR OF ARTS, LITERATURE. Prince of Wales College (via: University of Prince Edward Island), Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.