Frances Koncan
Frances Koncan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1986[1] |
| Nationality | Couchiching First Nation, Canadian |
| Education | University of Manitoba (BA), Brooklyn College (MFA) |
| Occupation(s) | journalist, playwright, director |
| Notable work | Women of the Fur Trade Zahgidiwin/love |
Frances Koncan (born 1986) is an Saulteaux-Slovene journalist, theatre director, and playwright from Couchiching First Nation who lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As of 2023, Koncan uses she/they pronouns.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Koncan was born in May 1986 in Couchiching First Nation.[1][3]
She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Manitoba and a master's degree in fine arts in playwriting from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.[3]
Career
[edit]Koncan is currently an assistant professor at the School of Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia.[2]
She wrote the play Women of the Fur Trade,[4] zahgidiwin/love,[5] Flesh-Coloured Crayons,[6] and Space Girl.[7]
Koncan has also worked as assistant director on Seminar (for the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre/Mirvish Productions),[3] The Humans, and A Doll's House, Part 2 (RMTC), and Stripped Down Anthony & Cleopatra (Shakespeare in the Ruins)[3] and co-director with Angelica Schwartz on an Andy Warhol inspired production of The Hollow (for the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre's Master Playwright Festival).[8][9]
In addition, Koncan worked as an arts reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press from 2019 to 2022.[3][10] She was the Artistic Director of Sarasvati Productions from 2020-2021.[11][12] They obtained the Writer-in-Residence position at the Winnipeg Public Library from 2022-2023.[13] They are currently an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia in the School of Creative Writing teaching playwriting. [14]
Awards and honors
[edit]Koncan's theatrical work has won the REVEAL Indigenous Arts Award, the Winnipeg Arts Council's 2017 RBC On the Rise Award, and got her shortlisted for the Tarragon Emerging Playwrights Award.[1] Her play The Dance-off of Conscious Uncoupling received the 2015 Tom Hendry Award for Best New Comedy.
Works
[edit]Television
[edit]- That’s AWSM![3]
Theatre
[edit]- Trendsettlers[3]
- Women of the Fur Trade[15][16]
- Riot Resist Revolt Repeat[3]
- zahgidiwin/love[4][5] (2016 Harry Rintoul Award winner)[1]
- How to Talk to Human Beings[3]
- The Dance-off of Conscious Uncoupling[3][1] (2015 Tom Hendry Award for Best New Comedy)[1]
- Little Red[3]
- Flesh-Coloured Crayons[4][6]
- Space Girl[17]
Film
[edit]- Outdigenous[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Reconciliation leader, astronomy educator round out 2nd group of Future 40 finalists". CBC. Oct 31, 2017.
- ^ a b "Frances Koncan". University of British Columbia - Creative Writing. University of British Columbia. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Frances Koncan – Winnipeg Free Press". Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- ^ a b c Hasselriis, Kaj (22 July 2016). "#FringeSoWhite: Why aren't there more Indigenous people and people of colour in the Fringe Festival?". CBC.
- ^ a b Dempsey, Shawna (14 July 2016). "zahgidiwin/love (review)". CBC.
- ^ a b Dempsey, Shawna (14 July 2016). "Flesh-Coloured Crayons (review)". CBC.
- ^ "Space Girl by Frances Koncan - Digital | Upcoming Events | Tourism Winnipeg". www.tourismwinnipeg.com. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ Michalczuk, Olivia (2017-02-18). "Master Playwright Festival celebrates Agatha Christie". The Manitoban. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- ^ Schmidt, Joff (Feb 8, 2017). "Whodunit? Find out at festival dedicated to Agatha Christie, the 'Queen of Crime'". Retrieved June 27, 2025.
- ^ "Frances Koncan". University of British Columbia - Creative Writing. University of British Columbia. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ ChrisD.ca (2020-09-09). "FemFest Restarts In-Person Theatre for Sarasvati Productions". ChrisD.ca - Winnipeg News. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia". www.canadiantheatre.com. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- ^ "Winnipeg Public Library Writer-in-Residence". Winnipeg Public Library. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "Frances Koncan". Creative Writing. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ Stranger, Darrell (2020-03-02). "Life, love and Louis Riel: New play Women of the Fur Trade opens in Winnipeg". APTN News. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- ^ Cram, Stephanie (28 Feb 2020). "History, humour and a dash of Keanu Reeves: Women of the Fur Trade a fun, clever look at Red River Resistance". CBC.
- ^ Waldman, Ben (2023-03-15). "PTE's new play does a mind meld on social media, TV, film and the internet". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 1986 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Canadian women writers
- 21st-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights
- 21st-century First Nations writers
- 21st-century Canadian journalists
- Canadian theatre directors
- Canadian women theatre directors
- University of Manitoba alumni
- Brooklyn College alumni
- First Nations journalists
- First Nations women writers
- Canadian women film directors
- Film directors from Ontario
- Saulteaux people
- People from Rainy River District
- Canadian women dramatists and playwrights
- Writers from Winnipeg
- Film directors from Winnipeg
- 21st-century Canadian women journalists