The Governor General's Award for English-language drama honours excellence in Canadian English-language playwriting. The award was created in 1981 when the Governor General's Award for English-language poetry or drama was divided.
Because the award is presented for plays published in print, a play's eligibility for the award can sometimes be several years later than its eligibility for awards, such as the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play or the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award, which are based on the theatrical staging."Plays at the G-Gs: better late than never". The Globe and Mail, October 22, 2005. Titles which compile several works by the playwright into a single volume may also be nominated for or win the award.
Winners and nominees
1980s +Governor General's Award for English-language drama honorees, 1980-1989YearAuthorTitleRef. 1981 Sharon Pollock Blood Relations "Governor General's literary awards announced". Ottawa Citizen, May 18, 1982. Charles Tidler Straight Ahead and Blind Dancers Brian Brennan, "Sharon Pollock delighted; David Cassidy plays West". Calgary Herald, May 18, 1982. George F. Walker Theatre of the Film Noir 1982 John Gray Billy Bishop Goes to War Sheila Robertson, "Author's first novel started at age 11". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, July 16, 1983. Lawrence Jeffery Clay "B.C. authors considered for awards". The Province, May 26, 1983. Betty Lambert Jennie's Story 1983 Anne Chislett Quiet in the Land "CanLit fiction's leading award goes to the Dog". The Globe and Mail, June 21, 1984. No advance shortlist was released this year. "Governor-General's Awards 22 authors named finalists". The Globe and Mail, May 19, 1984. 1984 Judith Thompson White Biting Dog Rod Currie, "Former Kingstonian Judith Thompson wins Governor General's Award". Kingston Whig-Standard, June 7, 1985. James Reaney The Canadian Brothers or The Prophecy Fulfilled James Adams, "Local writers nominated for award". Edmonton Journal, May 16, 1985. George Ryga A Letter to My Son 1985 George F. Walker Criminals in Love "Margaret Atwood lifts second Governor General's award". Edmonton Journal, June 4, 1986. David French Salt-Water Moon "Literary prize nominees named". Red Deer Advocate, May 13, 1986. Margaret Hollingsworth War Babies Ken Mitchell Gone the Burning Sun 1986 Sharon Pollock Doc Lisa Rochon, "Yvon Rivard honored for French-language fiction: Munro wins top literary prize". The Globe and Mail, May 28, 1987. Frank Moher Odd Jobs "Awards finalists announced". The Globe and Mail, May 1, 1987. Allan Stratton Papers 1987 John Krizanc Prague "Literary awards held at Calgary festival". Regina Leader-Post, February 13, 1988. Wendy Lill The Occupation of Heather Rose "Victoria's Gurr, Page nominated for book awards". Vancouver Sun, January 13, 1988. Michael D.C. McKinlay Walt and Roy Sharon Pollock Whiskey Six Cadenza 1988 George F. Walker Nothing Sacred "New Brunswick writer wins national race for top literary prize". The Globe and Mail, March 4, 1989. Dennis Foon Skin "Atwood, Berton top lists as nominees announced for national literary awards". Montreal Gazette, February 1, 1989. Tomson Highway The Rez Sisters Maureen Hunter Footprints on the Moon 1989 Judith Thompson The Other Side of the Dark "Governor General's awards announced". North Bay Nugget, March 10, 1990. Tomson Highway Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing "Three B.C. writers in running for awards". Vancouver Sun, February 7, 1990. John Krizanc Tamara
1990s +Governor General's Award for English-language drama honorees, 1990-1999YearAuthorTitleRef. 1990 Ann-Marie MacDonald Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) Philip Marchand, "Toronto's Nino Ricci wins top book prize". Toronto Star, January 23, 1991. Audrey Butler Black Friday? "Prominent names among nominees". Windsor Star, November 17, 1990. John Mighton Scientific Americans George F. Walker Love and Anger 1991 Joan MacLeod Amigo's Blue Guitar "First novel earns top literary honor". Windsor Star, December 4, 1991. Sally Clark The Trial of Judith K. "Atwood leads G-G Award nominees". Hamilton Spectator, November 9, 1991. Don Druick Where Is Kabuki? Linda Griffiths The Darling Family Daniel David Moses Coyote City 1992 John Mighton Possible Worlds and A Short History of Night Mark Abley, "Ondaatje wins Governor-General's Award, denounces GST in speech". Montreal Gazette, December 2, 1992. Daniel Brooks, Guillermo Verdecchia The Noam Chomsky Lectures Jamie Portman, "Three from Ottawa area among finalists". Ottawa Citizen, November 6, 1992. Dave Carley Writing With Our Feet Judith Thompson Lion in the Streets Dianne Warren Serpent in the Night Sky 1993 Guillermo Verdecchia Fronteras Americanas "This time, Stone Diaries on top: Governor General's award atones for loss in Booker". Windsor Star, November 17, 1993. Daniel MacIvor House Humans "Shields in running for Governor General Award; Nomination comes just after Booker Prize loss". Halifax Daily News, October 29, 1993. Raymond Storey The Saints and Apostles David Young Glenn 1994 Morris Panych The Ends of the Earth John Geddes, "Wiebe wins Canada's heart with love of history". Financial Post, November 19, 1994. Joanna McClelland Glass If We Are Women Conway Daly, "Munro, Atwood lead familiar names in race for Governor General's award". Kingston Whig-Standard, October 28, 1994. Wendy Lill All Fall Down Bryden MacDonald Whale Riding Weather 1995 Jason Sherman Three in the Back, Two in the Head "Writer's Roaring success: Greg Hollingshead wins Governor-General's Award for fiction". Vancouver Sun, November 15, 1995. Brad Fraser Poor Super Man "68 finalists for literary awards". Vancouver Sun, October 27, 1995. Deborah Kimmett Miracle Mother Joan MacLeod The Hope Slide/Little Sister Eugene Stickland Some Assembly Required 1996 Colleen Wagner The Monument Philip Marchand, "Vanderhaeghe wins second fiction prize". Toronto Star, November 13, 1996. Wendy Lill The Glace Bay Miners' Museum Judy Stoffman, "It's Atwood ahead again in book race". Toronto Star, October 18, 1996. John Mighton The Little Years Michael O'Brien Mad Boy Chronicle Betty Quan Mother Tongue 1997 Ian Ross fareWel Robert Reid, "Jane Urquhart wins Governor General's Award for fiction". Waterloo Region Record, November 19, 1997. Maureen Hunter Atlantis Paul Gessell, "Urquhart, Hay nominated for Governor General's prize". St. Catharines Standard, October 23, 1997. Lee MacDougall High Life Jason Sherman Reading Hebron Judith Thompson Sled 1998 Djanet Sears Harlem Duet Anne-Marie Tobin, "Kingston author savours literary award". Kingston Whig-Standard, November 18, 1998. Bruce McManus Selkirk Avenue "Montrealers deluge list of nominees". Montreal Gazette, October 21, 1998. Richard Sanger Not Spain Sandra Shamas Sandra Shamas: A Trilogy of Performances David Young Inexpressible Island 1999 Michael Healey The Drawer Boy "Matt Cohen, Marq de Villiers win GG literary awards". The Western Star, November 17, 1999. Wendy Lill Corker "Governor General's Award nominees: Clarkson hands them out Nov. 16". Moose Jaw Times-Herald, October 24, 1999. Daniel MacIvor Marion Bridge Colleen Murphy Beating Heart Cadaver Theresa Tova Still the Night
2000s +Governor General's Award for English-language drama honorees, 2000-2009YearAuthorTitleRef. 2000 Timothy Findley Elizabeth Rex "Governor General's Awards handed out". Barrie Examiner, November 15, 2000. George Boyd Consecrated Ground Anne-Marie Tobin, "Atwood, Ondaatje, among nominees for Governor General's awards". Prince Albert Daily Herald, October 26, 2000. Linda Griffiths Alien Creature Daniel MacIvor, Daniel Brooks Monster Jason Sherman It's All True 2001 Kent Stetson The Harps of God "Governor General's award follows on top of the Giller: Novelist Richard Wright has good week". Prince George Citizen, November 15, 2001. Mark Brownell Monsieur d'Eon "Urquhart, Wright get GG award nominations". The Telegram, October 24, 2001. Clem Martini A Three Martini Lunch Michael Redhill Building Jerusalem Jason Sherman An Acre of Time 2002 Kevin Kerr Unity (1918) Diane Menzies, "Gloria Sawai, 70, wins Gov. Gen.'s literary award". Welland Tribune, November 13, 2002. Claudia Dey The Gwendolyn Poems "Shields, Johnston lead fiction list for GG awards". Timmins Daily Press, October 22, 2002. Lorena Gale Je me souviens Michael MacLennan The Shooting Stage 2003 Vern Thiessen Einstein's Gift "Douglas Glover wins Gov. Gen.'s Literary Award for English fiction: Canadian living in New York State won prize for Elle, a fictionalized account of Gulf of St. Lawrence castaway". Cape Breton Post, November 13, 2003. Marie Clements Burning Vision Anne-Marie Tobin, "Stellar year for Atwood: Writer makes short list for Gov-Gen's fiction award". Brantford Expositor, October 25, 2003. Brian Drader Prok Sunil Kuruvilla Rice Boy Michael MacLennan Last Romantics 2004 Morris Panych Girl in the Goldfish Bowl "Dallaire, Toews among award winners". Sudbury Star, November 17, 2004. Robert Chafe Butler's Marsh and Tempting Providence "Governor General award nominee 'hugely relieved' with book reviews". Guelph Mercury, November 13, 2004. Michael Healey Rune Arlidge Karen Hines The Pochsy Plays Mieko Ouchi The Red Priest (Eight Ways to Say Goodbye) 2005 John Mighton Half Life "Gilmour wins fiction prize". Prince George Citizen, November 15, 2005. Marjorie Chan China Doll Vanessa Farquharson, "The 2005 G-G nominees: all killer, no Giller: Literary awards". National Post, October 18, 2005. Don Druick Through the Eyes Daniel MacIvor Cul-de-sac Richard Sanger Two Words for Snow 2006 Daniel MacIvor I Still Love You "First-time author beats out experienced peers". Nanaimo Daily News, November 22, 2006. Morwyn Brebner The Optimists "Cole, Gaston among nominees for Governor General's awards". Whitehorse Star, October 16, 2006. Lisa Codrington Cast Iron Jason Sherman Adapt or Die: Plays New and Used Drew Hayden Taylor In a World Created by a Drunken God 2007 Colleen Murphy The December Man "Michael Ondaatje wins again". North Bay Nugget, November 28, 2007. Salvatore Antonio In Gabriel's Kitchen Cassandra Szklarski, "Ondaatje and Vassanji among literary stars on Governor General's short list; Books Notable literary heavyweights include Margaret Atwood, David Chariandy, Barbara Gowdy and Heather O'Neill". The Daily Gleaner, October 17, 2007. Anosh Irani The Bombay Plays: The Matka King and Bombay Black Rosa Labordé Léo Morris Panych What Lies Before Us 2008 Catherine Banks Bone Cage Paul Gessell, "Ricci repeats as GG Literary Award winner". Ottawa Citizen, November 19, 2008. Ronnie Burkett 10 Days on Earth "Hage, Ricci finalists for literary prize". Waterloo Region Record, October 22, 2008. Paul Ciufo Reverend Jonah Marie Clements Copper Thunderbird Judith Thompson Palace of the End 2009 Kevin Loring Where the Blood Mixes Pat Donnelly and Kathryn Greenaway, "A fiction win via a Yukon copper mine; Kate Pullinger wins Governor General's Award". National Post, November 18, 2009. Beverley Cooper Innocence Lost: A Play about Steven Truscott Adrian Chamberlain, "Bookstore clerk's first offering vies with Alice Munro for top prize". Victoria Times-Colonist, October 15, 2009. Joan MacLeod Another Home Invasion Hannah Moscovitch East of Berlin Michael Nathanson Talk
2010s