CANSCAIP Members

Irene N. Watts

Author

# 803 - 1485 West 6th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V6H 4G1
Phone: 604 731 8595
Fax: 604 732 8590
Email: inwatts@telus.net

Born: Berlin, Germany
Family: Four Children, Eight Grandchildren

Biography

I arrived in London, England at the age of seven, having traveled across Europe by Kindertransport. This was shortly before World War Two. I lived in many different homes and acquired a couple of new languages and assorted customs. The schools I attended fostered my love of English and Drama. Lacking any toys, the library became very important in my life, and I believe influenced my decision to become a writer.

I was educated in England and Wales and received my BA Honours in Modern History. After the birth of my three daughters and son, I began to teach Kindergarten/Grade One, specializing in Drama throughout the school. I was a founding member of a teacher group that was given leave to tour the district performing plays for students.

My family and I arrived in Canada in 1968, and I taught in Ermineskin, Hobbema, Alberta - a wonderful experience for all of us, which influenced much of my later writing and teaching.

In 1969 after a pilot project of six weeks performing plays for Edmonton students, I joined the Citadel on Wheels (which subsequently became on Wheels and Wings) as Artistic Director. We toured throughout Alberta, performing participation plays for the youngest children, and excerpts from the classics for older students. We were the first Professional company to be invited to perform in the North West Territories. In Cambridge Bay and Pelle Bay our plays were translated for the audience so that they could better follow the story. There I had the opportunity to discuss early versions of his work Tales from the Igloo, with Father Maurice Metayer. I realized then that there were many Canadian voices waiting to be heard. Two books influenced me profoundly in those years: Margaret Atwood=s The Journals of Susanna Moodie, and George Ryga=s play The Ecstasy of Rita Joe.

I have enjoyed working with students and teachers in many parts of Canada: Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and British Columbia, where I have made my permanent home for over twenty years. My own plays for Young Audiences have toured across Canada. Working with students and community groups to develop their own plays I find a very enriching experience. One Senior group produced a play called Our Stories which they eventually performed not only in their own Senior Centre but in High Schools and Centres around the Lower Mainland.

Published Works

Flower,a novel, Tundra Books, 2005
A Telling Time, illustrated by Kathryn E. Shoemaker. Tradewind Books,2004.
Tapestry Of Hope, Tundra Books, 2003. Compiled by Lillian Boraks-Nemetz and Irene N. Watts.
Finding Sophie, (Tundra Books, 2002)
One For Day/One For Night, (Tundra Books, 2002)
Remember Me (Tundra Books 2000).
Two For The Show: Solo And We'LL Be Fine (Playwrights Canada Press 1999). In An Anthology Of Scenes For Student Actors.
Goodbye-Marianne (Tundra Books 1998).
This Pet's Allowed (One Act Musical With Bruce Kellett. Playwrights Union Of Canada).
The Fish Princess (Illustrated By Steve Mennie. Tundra Books 1996).
Goodbye Marianne (One Act Play. Scirocco Drama).
Making Stories (Ideas For Building And Dramatizing Stories. Pembroke Publishers 1992).
Just A Minute (Ten Plays And Drama Activities For Students. Pembroke Publishers 1990).
The Great Detective Party (Theme Games For Children. Pembroke Publishers 1989).
Once Upon A Time. (Playwrights Union Of Canada 1988).
The Paper Bag Princess & Other Stories By Robert Munsch. (Stage Adaptation. Annick Press. Playwrights Union Of Canada).
Tales From Tolstoy (Playwrights Union Of Canada. 1983).

Awards

2006 A White Raven, Bologna , for"A Telling Time."

2006 UNESCO Award for best play for Young Audiences, International Biennial playwriting competition,for "LILLIE". A one act play based on the novel "Flower."

2006/7 Flower nominated for a Chocolaate Lily Award.

"Finding Sophie" Tundra Books 2002, was nominated for CLA Children's novel 2003, and shortlisted for the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for YA 2003.

Playwrights' Union of Canada 'Lifetime membership for outstanding contribution to Canadian drama and theatre. 2001

Remember Me - Winner BC's Chocolate Lily Award for YAdult fiction, 2003. American Library 'Notable', 2001; Kids' Pick of the List (Middle reader) American Booksellers Association; Chosen as an Official Selection for OLA's Silver Birch Award Reading Program; Selected as Sydney Taylor Notable Book for 2000; Selected for the Our Choice 2001 List by the Canadian Children's Book Centre. (Starred selection); Selected as a finalist for the CLA Book of the Year for Children Award; Winner of the Isaac Frischwasser Memorial Award for Young Adult Fiction; Listed in Booktrust, (UK), "100 Best Books for 2002 - paperback books for children"; Nominated for B.C's Red Cedar Award for 2003; Nominated for 2002 Torgi Literary Awards, (Audio, CNIB Library).

Goodbye Marianne
Short listed for RED CEDAR BC 2000/01; Toronto Jewish Book Awards - Isaac Fishwasser Young Adult Fiction; Regional Finalist Ontario Silver Birch Awards; Canadian Book Centre Choice 1999; Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People 1998.

The Fish Princess
Finalist Ruth Schwartz Children=s Book Award 1997; Canadian Children=s book Centre Choice.

Goodbye Marianne (Play)
Vancouver Theater Alliance Jessie: Outstanding Original Script Young Audiences 1995.

Government of Alberta - Achievement Award for Outstanding Service to Drama 1976.

Other Memberships

Available For

Author Readings and Discussions: Grades 2 - 9.
Classroom and Libraries.
Workshops on aspects of Writing, Drama and Narrative grades 3 - Adult.

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Last updated January 1, 2007
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