Anna Chatterton is a librettist, playwright and performer based in Hamilton, Ontario. Her plays and operas have played on stages nationally and internationally. She is a two-time Governor General’s Literary Award nominee for Drama. Her published work includes the non-fiction/drama hybrid Children of Fire (Book*Hug Press) and the plays Gertrude and Alice (Playwrights Canada Press); Cowgirl Up (Scirocco Drama); Quiver (Playwrights Canada Press); Within the Glass (Scirocco Drama) and has a libretto in the collection When Words Sing (Playwrights Canada Press). She has been Writer-in-Residence at Western University/London Public Library and McMaster University/Hamilton Public Library and Playwright-in-Residence at seven theatres.
Anna creates work that puts women front and centre, delving into women’s societal roles, constraints, secrets and obsessions, both historically and contemporarily. She is interested in the juxtaposition of high comedy and dark tragedy. Absurdist humour is laced through her work, a reflection of the ridiculous in human nature and society. Anna has also fostered an interminable obsession with heightened or poetic language and style. Working across cultures and disciplines has long been her interest, and she is involved in many collaborative projects. Anna teaches performance and writing classes at McMaster University.
AWARDS
Opera America ‘Artistic Creation Award’, Digital Excellence Awards, for Sweat, 2024
LA Independent Women Film Awards. ‘Best Narrative Feature’, for Sweat, 2023
Hamilton Fringe Festival, National Force of Impact Award in Theatre, 2020
Hamilton Literary Awards Finalist, Fiction, 2019 for Quiver
Governor General’s Literary Award Finalist, Drama, 2018 for Gertrude and Alice
Juno Award for Classical Composition Finalist, 2018 for Breathe, text
Governor General’s Literary Award Finalist, Drama, 2017 for Within the Glass
Named Top Ten Toronto Theatre Artist of 2016 (NOW Magazine)
City of Hamilton Arts Award, Theatre, 2017
Outstanding Production of New Opera, Dora Mavor Moore Award, 2018 for Rocking Horse Winner
Outstanding New Musical/Opera, Dora Mavor Moore Awards Finalist, 2018 for Rocking Horse Winner
Toronto Theatre Critics Award, ‘Best Supporting Actress’, 2017 for role of Alice in Gertrude and Alice
Dora Mavor Moore Award Finalist, ‘Outstanding New Play’, 2016 for Gertrude and Alice
Dora Mavor Moore Awards Finalist, ‘Outstanding New Musical/Opera’, 2008 for Stitch
SummerWorks Festival, Best New Play Award, 2003 for Clean Irene and Dirty Maxine
RESIDENCIES:
Western University/London Public Library Writer-in-Residence 2025/2026
McMaster University/Hamilton Public Library 2024/2025
CoWork Cotton Factory, Writer-in-Residence 2022
McMaster LiveLab Company -in-Residence with Double Pendulum, 2017-2019
Theatre Aquarius, Playwright-in-Residence with Karen Ancheta) 2023/2024
Nightwood Theatre, Playwright-in-Residence 2015-2019
Tarragon Theatre, Playwright-in-Residence 2011-2017.
National Theatre School of Canada, Playwright-in-Residence 2015
Tapestry Opera, Playwright-in-Residence 2012-2013
Banff Playwrights Colony, 2011
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Company-in-Residence with the Independent Aunties, 2011-2016
Theatre Centre, Company-in-Residence with the Independent Aunties, 2006-2008
TEACHING/LECTURE
Prof at McMaster University, School of the Arts, 2021-present
Prof at Sheridan College, Creative Writing and Publishing Program, 2021 and 2022
Prof at Humber College, Theatre Program, 2020-2023
Guest lecturer, York University, English Department, 2020 and 2021
Workshop Leader, Playwrights Guild of Canada/Expect Theatre, 2019 and 2020
Praxis workshop: Canadian Association for Theatre Research Conference, Kingston, ONT. 2018, “Contemporary Language in an Ancient Art-Form: Writing the Modern Libretto.”
Workshop Leader, Libretto writing, Soulpepper Theatre, 2014
Program Director of the Write from the Hip Program at Nightwood Theatre, 2007-2011