Erin Shields is a Canadian playwright, actor and educator based in Toronto. Most of her work highlights the negation or misrepresentation of women in classical texts by adapting these stories through a feminist lens for a contemporary audience. She likes making large plays for large stages. Her work has played across Canada and beyond.
Photo by Dahlia Katz
Education:
Hons BA in Acting from Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama (London, England)
Hons BA in English Literature with high distinction from The University of Toronto
Publications:
Queen Goneril. 2023. Playwrights Canada Press
Voices of a Generation: The Millennial Malcontent. 2021. Playwrights Canada Press
Beautiful Man and Other Short Plays. 2020. Playwrights Canada Press
Paradise Lost. 2018. Playwrights Canada Press
Instant and Mistatim. 2018. Playwrights Canada Press
Soliciting Temptation. 2015. Playwrights Canada Press
If We Were Birds. 2011. Playwrights Canada Press
Awards:
Writing Federation of Quebec Prize for Playwriting 2022 for The Millennial Malcontent
Dora Award for Outstanding Musical Production 2020 for Piaf/Dietrich
Writing Federation of Quebec Prize for Playwriting 2018 for Paradise Lost
Governor General’s Award Finalist 2019 for Paradise Lost
Carol Bolt Award Finalist 2019 for Beautiful Man
Dora Award for Outstanding TYA Production 2017/2018 for Instant
Montreal English Theatre Award for Outstanding New Text 2016/2017 for Instant
Governor General’s Award for Playwriting 2011 for If We Were Birds
Residencies:
Banff Playwrights Lab (2024)
The Ground Floor at Berkeley Rep (2020) * postponed due to COVID-19
Banff Playwrights Retreat and Lab (2019)
Tarragon Theatre (2010 - 2017)
Acting Upstage (2016)
Nightwood Theatre (2014)
Teaching/Speaking:
Teacher, Mentor, Dramaturge at The National Theatre School (2015 – present)
Ogden Glass Lecture at Bishop’s University (2019)
Guest Lecturer at John Abbott College (2019)
Workshop leader and key note speaker at various theatres, conferences and schools (1999 – present)