Jordan Tannahill Awarded Tarragon Urjo Kareda Residency Grant

Tarragon Theatre has announced that the Urjo Kareda Residency Grant For An Emerging Artist has been awarded to playwright and multidisciplinary theatre creator Jordan Tannahill.

The grant, valued at $15,000, is made possible by a donation from The Youssef-Warren Foundation for an emerging professional theatre artist who has established a strong foundation through professional practice; and who demonstrates a clear vision for future artistic development.

Beginning in August 2014, Jordan will spend twenty weeks at Tarragon developing his craft as a playwright. Jordan is thrilled to begin this residency, "The Urjo Kareda Residency will provide me the time, space, and professional guidance I am seeking to focus on my craft as a playwright. At this juncture, I am looking to find balance between my interests in facilitating the work of my peers through Videofag, while continuing to hone my voice as a theatre artist, and I believe this residency will feed and inform both pursuits. I look forward to engaging with Tarragon's multifaceted and rigorous play development process and spending time developing two new plays of my own."

Jordan Tannahill is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto described by The Toronto Star as "...one of Canada's most exciting independent theatre artists". Through his company Suburban Beast, Jordan writes and directs performances for theatres, galleries, and found spaces. His performances often incorporate extensive multimedia and blend documentary elements with magic realism. Jordan is known to explore themes of queer identity, youth culture, masculinity, and suburbia.

In November 2013 he directed All Our Happy Days are Stupid which will be remounted by McSweeney's in New York City in 2015. In April 2014 he will choreograph Christopher House in Toronto Dance Theatre's On Display.
Jordan's plays have been honored with 6 Dora Award nominations (winning Outstanding New Play for Young Audiences' for rihannaboi95 in 2013), four awards at the SummerWorks Festival including Best Production and Best New Play, the 2012 Enbridge playRites Award, InsideOut's 2012 Emerging Canadian Artist Award, and the 2011 Ken McDougall Award for Emerging Directors.

His live-film Post Eden was named one of "Canada's Best Theatre Productions of 2012" by The Globe and Mail. His short films and media installations have been presented at festivals and galleries across Canada and internationally including Pleasure Dome, the British Film Institute, and the Vancouver Int. Film Festival. In 2012 he was shortlisted for the Ingmar Bergman Prize at the Uppsala Int. Short Film Festival in Sweden.

With his partner William Christopher Ellis, Jordan runs a storefront arts space called Videofag in Toronto's Kensington Market. Videofag was named a Superhero of 2013 by the Torontoist and Toronto's Best New Gallery by BlogTo in 2012. Jordan is currently developing new performances for the PuSh Festival, UK's Panic Lab, Necessary Angel/bluemouth inc. and the National Theatre School of Canada.

Tarragon Artistic Director Richard Rose had this to say about the selection: "Jordan Tannahill will be a welcome addition to the Tarragon creative community. We already know him well through his playwriting in our Playwrights Unit and his contribution to our Education programs. With his other work at Videofag and Suburban Beast, we know him to be not only a rising creative artist but a significant contributor to our theatrical community. Tarragon is fortunate to have him in the building and glad to be enabling the next step of his career."

Tarragon congratulates Jordan Tannahill on the Urjo Kareda Residency Grant and acknowledges the generosity of The Youssef-Warren Foundation which makes this residency possible.