On June 11th 2010 the Women’s Caucus of Playwrights Guild of Canada presented Katrina Dunn, Touchstone Theatre’s Artistic, with the Bra D’Or (Golden Bra), an award which recognizes efforts to support and promote the work of Canadian women playwrights.
Kathleen Oliver, a member of the PGC Women’s Caucus, surprised Dunn with the honour at the opening night of Sally Stubbs’ play Herr Beckmann’s People, produced by Touchstone Theatre in partnership with Playwrights Theatre Centre. The certificate reads, “As Artistic Director of Touchstone Theatre Katrina Dunn has played a major role in showcasing the work of female Canadian playwrights. Without fanfare, she has championed, developed, and produced plays by established and emerging playwrights. Katrina Dunn is helping to bring female playwrights into the mainstream for which we are extremely grateful.”
Ms. Dunn responded to the Caucus with this message:
“. . . it is the most cherished of the awards I have found myself holding so far in this lifetime. With the many challenges we’re faced with as Artistic Directors it is deeply satisfying to come through the morass of financial and administrative constraints with programming that has integrity and meaningful impact. When I realized I was programming a whole season of Canadian women playwrights I was absolutely thrilled. I didn’t realize that so much of my audience and colleagues would also find it thrilling. It was one of the most successful seasons in Touchstone’s history. I want to thank you for your efforts raising the profile of women writers in the theatre. I look forward to the day when an award like this will be unnecessary and redundant.”
