Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards unveils nominees for 40th edition, spanning Yaga, A Doll’s House, Part 2, and more
Winners will be announced at a Granville Island Stage ceremony on November 3
Melissa Oei as Nora in Western Gold Theatre’s A Doll’s House, Part 2. Photo by Chelsey Stuyt
AFTER A SHORT HIATUS, the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards are returning for a 40th edition—and nominations have just been announced in all categories.
The awards, which last took place in 2022, are the most prestigious celebration of professional theatre in Vancouver. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 3 at 7 pm, held at the Arts Club Theatre Company’s Granville Island Stage.
Among the shows that garnered the most nominations is Western Gold Theatre’s A Doll’s House, Part 2, Lucas Hnath’s continuation of Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 play, which is up for eight awards in the medium budget division. These include Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Direction by Seamus Fera, and Outstanding Performance in a Leading Dramatic Role for Melissa Oei as Nora. When Stir reviewed the show, we noted that Oei “delivers lines with a rapid-fire self-assurance,” adding that “her steely determination rarely waivers.”
Another frontrunner in the medium budget division is Touchstone Theatre’s Yaga, a mysterious reimagining of the infamous Slavic folk tale of witch Baba Yaga. It also earned eight nominations, namely for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Direction by Roy Surette, and Outstanding Performance in a Leading Comedic Role for Colleen Wheeler, who played a whopping six characters: Yaga, Katherine Yazov, Geena, Elena, Janice, and Staff Sargent Sidle.
In the large budget division, Théâtre la Seizième’s Ce que je sais de vrai received five nominations, including for Outstanding Set Design by Alaia Hamer, Outstanding Direction by Cory Haas, and Outstanding Production of a Play. In the last category, the other nominees are Pacific Theatre’s The Hobbit and Son of a Preacherman, the Arts Club Theatre Company’s Burning Mom, and Bard on the Beach’s The Dark Lady.
In the small budget division, Niall McNeil’s Beauty and the Beast: My Life—a poignant, panto-style retelling of the titular fairy tale—is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an ensemble, Outstanding Design by Mishelle Cuttler, Outstanding Production, and Significant Artistic Achievement for Artistic Innovation in Theatrical Form.
And in the theatre for young audiences division, nominees include Carousel Theatre for Young People’s Stuart Little, Axis Theatre’s Where Have All the Buffalo Gone?, and Little Onion Puppet Co.’s Otosan.
A full list of nominees for this year’s awards is posted online. 
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