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Erin Shields

Playwright

Erin Shields is a Canadian playwright best known for radical adaptations of classical texts which bring neglected female characters centre stage. Her latest play Ransacking Troy at The Stratford Festival is a retelling of the Trojan War Narrative from the perspective of its female players. Her additional text for Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing (Stratford Festival) gives a voice to silenced Hero at the climax of the play. Queen Gonerilwhich premiered at Soulpepper Theatre in rep with King Lear, centres Lear’s stifled daughters as they contend for power in a world that insists they remain powerlessErin’s illuminating and hilarious adaptation of Paradise Lost (Stratford Festival), won the Quebec Writers Federation Prize for Playwriting. And her harrowing tragedy about sexual violence, If We Were Birdswon the Governor General’s Award for playwriting.

Other plays include: Jane Eyre (Citadel Theatre), Piaf/Dietrich (Mirvish Productions/Segal Centre), Beautiful Man (Factory Theatre), The Lady from the Sea (The Shaw Festival), The Millennial Malcontent and Soliciting Temptation (Tarragon Theatre) and Instant (Geordie Theatre).

Upcoming premieres: Ransacking Troy (Stratford Festival), You, always (Canadian Stage), Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary (Crow’s Theatre) and Medusa (Soulpepper Theatre).

Erin’s plays are published by Playwrights Canada Press and you can read more about upcoming projects on her website – www.erinshields.ca

Works by Erin Shields

Beautiful Man thumbnail

Beautiful Man

By Erin Shields

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If We Were Birds thumbnail

If We Were Birds

By Erin Shields

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Jane Eyre thumbnail

Jane Eyre

By Erin Shields

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Paradise Lost thumbnail

Paradise Lost

By Erin Shields

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Piaf / Dietrich thumbnail

Piaf / Dietrich

By Erin Shields

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Queen Goneril thumbnail

Queen Goneril

By Erin Shields

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Ransacking Troy

By Erin Shields

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The Millennial Malcontent thumbnail

The Millennial Malcontent

By Erin Shields

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Published Works

Shields is a gifted writer.

Toronto Star

Shields knows how to use language to stir the imagination.

Hamilton Spectator

Every new play from her is a challenge, and a treat.

Toronto Star

The writing is both poetic and muscular, the images are vivid, breathtaking and heart-squeezing … pulsing with life and emotions.

CBC