Awards:
Winner, 2002 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Play
Winner, 2001 Alberta Play Competition
Short-Listed, 2001 Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition
Reviews for APPLE:
(Thiessen's) ear for pungent dialogue, ability to mine characters innermost feelings and insight into contemporary relationships suggest a playwright with the power to deeply engage the audience...you wont want to miss APPLE.
- New York Times
Poignant, and involving....A unique voice in dramatic literature.
- CurtainUp
Very moving and well written.
- Talking Broadway.
a series of spare but powerful scenesthat has deep emotional resonancethe kind of package that should prove inviting to theaters everywhere"
-Variety
APPLE tells a fascinating tale of alienation, fear and the need for lovewonderful elegance to Thiessens writing and structure
- The Globe and Mail
Lean yet visceral, complex yet accessible, elliptical yet strikingly clear.
-Chicago MetroMix
'Apple' reveals the complexities and fragile layers of relationships in jeopardy. It is a fine, poignant work.
-Chicago Free Press
A meticulously crafted fable.... Love, passion and need run deep, and in surprising patterns."
-Chicago Sun Times
...fresh, dramatic, and affecting.
-Illinois Wire
APPLEbrims with life and ultimately raises the spirit.
- Winnipeg Free Press
APPLE presents a moving portrait of a marriage gone off the rails.
- Winnipeg Sun
"a flawless little packagean infinitely deep, emotionally powerful and even comic play examining honesty in relationships, misdirected disdain, unintended consequences, the clarity of mortality and, ultimately, true love."
- Vue Weekly
"a lyrical love poem. a resonant story of resurrection and enduring love the eloquent story of a consuming love that burns itself out but then rises, phoenix-like, from its own ashes to fly to new heights."
- Edmonton Sun
a tightly knotted, carefully crafted play where the concept of love gets dissected and scrutinized like a renegade cell under a microscope.
- Edmonton Journal
"a shining example of tight writing.strongly rooted in the small coincidences and genuine language of naturalism.a moving tribute to strength in the face of death."
- Vancouver Sun
"poetic, tough and funny.Thiessen has created a restrained yet dynamic piece of music.mortality, loneliness, heartbreak and transcendence are what APPLE is all about."
- The Georgia Straight
Apple
(Stage Play. Two Acts.
2 females, 1 male.)
Drama
Synopsis:
Andy is in trouble. Downsized from his job, his marriage in crises, he looks to a mysterious young women for salvation. But when his wife becomes seriously ill, Andy must make a choice: care for an estranged wife, or run away with a woman he knows little about. A haunting tale of sex, secrets and the second chances.
World Premiere: Workshop West Theatre, Edmonton, 2002
Other Productions: APPLE has had over two dozen productions worldwide, including:
Borrowed Time Theatre, Regina, Touchstone Theatre, Vancouver, . Teatr Polski, Bielsko-Biala, Poland, March 2005, Blacklist Theatre, Calgary, Village Theatre, Hudson Quebec, 2005. Factory Theatre, Toronto Prairie Theatre Exchange, Winnipeg
Profiles Theatre, Chicago (American Premiere) Teatr Komedia, Warsaw
New Jersey Rep., Long Branch, Theatre 40, Los Angeles, Company One Boston
Published by Playwrights Canada Press in collection Vern Thiessen: Two Plays.
The Citadel Theatre production was the winner of the Sterling Award for Outstanding Production of a Play and Outstanding Sound Design/Composition.
It was also nominated for Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Actress, and Outstanding Set Design.
Reviews for SHAKESPEARE'S WILL
"Flawless and formidable....an intimate portrait of a woman left alone, a woman who, despite abandonment, struggles to keep faith in her husband and the private vow they made... a script wherein ideas, scenes, and words flow like water...."
-See Magazine
"Masterful. In theatre...its rare that you get something that is unequivocally, indisputably great.... Every so often something comes along that deserves to be gushed about. The hardest thing about reviewing it... is figuring out where to begin praising it...."
-Vue Weekly
"...perceptive and beautifully written.... when the text is as good as Thiessen's...you need little else besides."
-The Globe and Mail
"Strongly poetic...meticulously crafted, exquisitely nuanced...."
-Edmonton Sun
Shakespeare's Will
Full Length. One-Act
1 Female
The play sheds light on unexplored aspects of Anne Hathaway's life by looking through the eyes and heart of the woman who spent a lifetime withand withoutthe great poet. This work is the celebration of a life unbowed by tragedy and unapologetic in the face of public scorn.
World Premiere:
Commissioned by the River City Shakespeare Festival (Edmonton), Premiered at the Citadel Theatre in February 2005.
Over a dozen productions internationally including Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Prague, Canada and the USA. Productions of note:
Theatre 40/Nevada Shakespeare Cmpany, Los Angeles (American Premiere)
Stratford Festival of Canada
Theater Wrede, Oldenburg Germany (translated by Eva Colmers)
Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Wales (UK premiere)
Published by Playwrights Canada Press.
Winner: Carol Bolt Award for Drama
Nominated for Sterling Award for Outstanding New Play
Reviews for VIMY:
"A victory of a play..."
"Elegiac, spare and elegant.... Vimy is a testament to the power of remembrance, the anchor of identity and the solace of memory."
-VUE Weekly
"A superbly crafted masterpiece."
-The Gateway
"A powerful and moving piece of theatre...."
"First -Rate... In a country where nationalist fervour and even basic historical knoweldge have always been in short supply, it will be an eye opener."
-Edmonton Journal
A poetic reality that express(es) a country, a war and individual lives
-The Chronicle Herald
Vimy
2 Acts.
5 M, 1F.
Drama.
It is 1917. Aided by a nurse from Nova Scotia, four wounded Canadian soldiers are recovering in a field hospital in France in the wake of the battle for Vimy Ridge. A theatrical tour-de-force about a nation-defining moment.
Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, AB, October 2007.
Other Productions:
Eastern Front Theatre, Halifax
National Arts Centre/Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa
Blyth Festival, Blyth
Firehall Theatre, Vancouver
Published by:
Playwrights Canada Press.
Of Note:
Lenin's Embalmers has been translated into both Polish and Hebrew.
Lenin's Embalmers was a finalist for the Governor General's Award in Drama in 2011.
REVIEWS for LENIN'S EMBALMERS:
A spunky dark comedy served up with wit and verve. --The New York Times
Superb. Thiessen spins out that action with genuinely hilarious scenes. --Curtain Up
Frisky, unusual and original. Backstage
Beautiful, dreamlike.
--The Scientist
I havent yet met a Vern Thiessen play I didnt like, and this is no exception. Thiessen shows his considerable skills in balancing the drama and humour in this story, and creates characters who are flawed, yet relateable and likeable.
--CBC Radio
Exceptional. Cinematic and madcap.
--TheatreMania
I highly recommend it!
--NYTheatre.com
LENIN'S EMBALMERS
Drama/Biography
1 F/7 M
Russia. 1924. Two scientists are assigned an impossible task: make Vladimir Lenin live forever, or face death. Based on a true story, Governor Generals Literary Award-winning playwright Vern Thiessen brings us a dark comedy that brings to light the resilience of the human spirit, ever-changing war games, and the importance of always having vodka on hand.
Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York, 2010 in association with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Canadian Premiere:
Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, 2010
Harold Greem Jewish Theatre., Toronto 2010
Theatre Artist Studios, Phoenix.
Bird Brain
One Act. 3 actors
Theatre for Young Audiences
Based on the book by Albert Wendt.
Hat Street is a place controlled by rules and regulations. When a hard-working man happens upon baby birds in the forest, he becomes enchanted with their song and soon gives them shelter under his hat. This man must then decide whether he will keep his birds safe under his hat or abide with Hat Streets Golden Rule!
Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, AB, Feb 2007.
Quest Theatre, Calgary
Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, Toronto
Theater Wrede, Oldenburg Germany
Carousel Theatre, Vancouver
Drilling Company, New York
Published by: Please contact kensingtonlit_rogers.com for scripts.
Also available in this collection:
THE RESURRECTION OF JOHN FRUM, VALENTINE, BACK TO BERLIN.
Nominated for Alberta Book Award (Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama)
Reviews for THE COURIER
"Terrific Theatre!"
-The Winnipeg Free Press
"Intelligent, well-crafted and highly entertaining."
"Mark this one down as a must see."
-The Edmonton Journal
The Courier
1 Act, 1m .Drama
Spring 1945, occupied Czechoslovakia. David Dyck, a young courier in Hitler's army must decide whether to open a restricted letter and face truth or remain ignorant and risk death.
Agassiz Theatre Company 1987
Production History:
Winnipeg Mennonite Theatre
Theatre Centre, Toronto
Edmonton Fringe
Lakeland College
Winnipeg Fringe
Produced for radio by CKUA Edmonton.
Playwrights Canada Press in the collection THE COURIER and other plays.
Reviews for BLOWFISH
"Blowfish is in-your-face and elusive, all at the same time - both a teasing enigmatic game and a no-holds-barred confession."
- John Murrell
"The script is brilliant..A highly imaginative work."
- Ottawa Sun
"a unique, chaotic, and oddly entertaining pieceDefinitely worth seeing and tasting."
- The Ottawa X-Press
"The dramatic fabric Thiessen has woven is a tight accumulation of emotional and narrative threads.a life picture that entertainsthat frequently moves, that engages, that disturbs."
- The Ottawa Citizen
"Let's just say that it's black. It's creepy. It's deliciously morbid and delectably dark."
Blowfish
2 Acts, 1m+
Dark Comedy/Drama
What do food, funerals, the Edmonton tornado and Mila Mulroney have in common? Join the elegant and debonair caterer Lumiere as he serves you up a whole new eating experience.
National Arts Centre, Ottawa & Northern Light Theatre, Edmonton, 1996.
Sage Theatre, Calgary
Raleigh Ensemble Players
Playwrights Canada Press. Available in the collection Vern Thiessen: Two Plays.
Winner of the 2003 Governor Generals Award for Drama.
Winner of the 1999 Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition
Nominated for a 2003 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Play.
Nominated for the 2003 Alberta Book Award.
Reviews for EINSTEIN'S GIFT
"(A) morality tale...about the exploitation of scientific discovery for martial means, the cloud, atomic or otherwise, that dims the celebration, the bargain that frees the Devil."
"Pure Gold. Einstein's Gift is a theatrical experience not to be missed."
-Jewish Post & Opinion / Jewish-Theatre.com
"Like Michael Frayn's Copenhagen, Thiessen's play spins the passions of two scientists directly responsible for WWII killing machines into larger metaphors about the life of the Western mind....A satisfying rumination on genius, war and the danger of remarkable ideas."
"Compelling.... a chilling reminder how stealthily personal idealism can be usurped by political will."
-TheaterScene
"One of Canada's leading playwrights ... fascinating....a thought provoking story, imaginatively told ....Never a dull moment"
-Curtain Up
"A Canadian prize-winner -- with good reason."
-Aisle Say
"Surprising beauty and poignancy"
-Newsday
"A fine, accessible introduction to the life of a genius who has been cast aside by the history books for the infamous use of his discoveries."
-Broadway World
"Einstein's Gift is a great piece of political theatre...I came out refreshed, troubled and emotionally satisfied - quite an outcome!"
- NY Times Reader Review.
Einsteins Gift is one of the most powerful plays in recent memory....a spell-binding drama with global impact.
- The Kitchener Record
...an ambitious new Canadian play... an illuminating history lesson with the appeal of an old-fashioned Hollywood biopic...
Einstein's Gift is like an airtight, balanced equation. It takes sweeping themes (war, religion, ambition, love), multiplies them and the result, on the other side of the equal sign, has real-world relevance...Einstein's Gift is everything theatre should be. It's funny, beautiful and troubling. It asks big questions....it resonates powerfully.
...a brave new play...grandly ironic, eloquent...
a stimulating meditation on the relationships between applied and pure science, faith and nationalism, imagination and knowledge.
-The Georgia Straight
Thiessen's play offers us a clarion, thought-provoking concept that rises, like a mushroom cloud
-The Vancouver Courier
Einstein's Gift
2 Acts. 5 M, 2 F
A scientist who enhances life with his work and knowledge but discovers too late that knowledge in the wrong hands brings death. The ideal of science "to serve humanity" is shown in sharp contrast against the reality of political will, nationalism and war. Chance, pride, ego and passion collide in this piece based on the life and work of Nobel Laureate Dr. Fritz Haber, who risked everything for a country that never accepted him, but used his work to murder millions.
Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, AB, March 2003.
Off Broadway/American Premiere:
Epic Theatre Centre at the Acorn Theatre, October 2005.
Theatre & Company, Kitchener, Ontario, April 2003. The Gateway Theatre and The Firehall Theatre in Richmond/Vancouver BC in January/Feb 2005. Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, Magnus Theatre, The Grand Theatre.
Playwrights Canada Press, 2003. Also available in the collection The West of All Possible Worlds, published by Playwrights Canada Press.
