{{Short description|Canadian Algonquin playwright, director, and actor}} {{Infobox person |birth_name=Yvette Nolan |birth_date={{birth year and age|1961}} |birth_place= Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada |death_date= |death_place= |occupation=Playwright, director, educator }}
'''Yvette Nolan''' (born 1961) is a Canadian playwright, director, actor, and educator based out of Saskatchewan, Canada. She was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. She has contributed significantly to the creation and performance of Indigenous theatre in Canada.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Nolan%2C%20Yvette|website=Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia |title=Nolan, Yvette |access-date=8 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Nolan|first1=Yvette|title=Yvette Nolan on her new status: 'I was surprised to feel a measure of pride'|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/yvette-nolan-on-her-new-status-i-was-surprised-to-feel-a-measure-of-pride/article7266049/|access-date=8 April 2015|publisher=Globe and Mail|date=11 Jan 2013}}</ref><ref name="Regina">{{cite web|title=About Yvette Nolan|url=http://www2.uregina.ca/howl/index.php/about-yvette-nolan |website=University of Regina}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite journal|last1=Dempsey|first1=Shawna|title=YVETTE NOLAN: TAKES CENTRE STAGE|journal=Herizons|date=Fall 2009|volume=23|issue=2|page=23}}</ref>
==Early life==
Nolan was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, to an Algonquin mother and an Irish immigrant father.<ref name="auto2"/> She was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba and graduated with Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba. In 2024, she completed a Master of Public Policy at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy in Saskatchewan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-18 |title=CEOs in the green room: Should arts groups be run by corporate-style boards? |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2022/03/18/ceos-in-the-green-room-should-arts-groups-be-run-by-corporate-style-boards.html |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=thestar.com |language=en}}</ref>
Her commitment to Indigenous and feminist live art is attributed to the first time saw an Indigenous character on stage during Royal Winnipeg Ballet's adaptation of ''The Ecstasy of Rita Joe''.<ref name="auto2"/>
==Career==
In 1990, she started playwright career at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival with premier of her play, ''Blade''. It was later remounted at both the Best of the Fringe (1990) and Women in View Festival (1992).<ref name="auto3">{{cite book|last1=Shantz|first1=Valerie|title=Yvette Nolan: Playwright in Context|date=1998|publisher=University of Alberta|page=4|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape15/PQDD_0003/MQ28909.pdf|access-date=8 April 2015}}</ref> She has worked at various theatre companies throughout Canada, including the Agassiz Theatre, the Manitoba Theatre Centre, Nakai Theatre in Whitehorse, and Native Earth Performing Arts, a theatre company based in Ontario province.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nativeearth.ca/theunplugging-nolan/|website=Native Earth Performing Arts |title=Inside The Unplugging: Yvette Nolan |date=2 March 2015 |access-date=8 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hinten|first1=Peter|title=Aboriginal Theatre in Canada: An Overview|url=http://www4.nac-cna.ca/pdf/eth/aboriginal_theatre.pdf|website=National Arts Centre English Theatre Programs for Student Audiences|access-date=8 April 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055942/http://www4.nac-cna.ca/pdf/eth/aboriginal_theatre.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
As a director, she has contributed significantly to the development of Aboriginal theatre within Canada. She has directed plays by George Ryga (''The Ecstasy of Rita Joe''), Turtle Gals Performance Ensemble (''The Only Good Indian''), Marie Clements (''Tombs of the Vanishing Indian'' and ''The Unnatural and Accidental Women''), Kenneth T. Williams (''Café Daughter'' and ''In Care''), and Melanie J. Murray (''A Very Polite Genocide'').<ref name="Regina"/><ref>{{cite web |title= Yvette Nolan |url= http://www.ipaa.ca/membership/artists/prairies/yvette-nolan |website= Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance |access-date= 8 April 2015 |archive-date= 22 May 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190522010344/http://www.ipaa.ca/membership/artists/prairies/yvette-nolan |url-status= dead }}</ref>
From 1998 until 2001, she was also president of the Playwrights Guild of Canada. She was the artistic director of Native Earth Performing Arts from 2003 to 2010, was president of the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance, and has sat on the boards of the Saskatchewan Arts Alliance<ref name="auto2"/> and the Saskatchewan Association of Theatre Professionals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sasktheatreprofessionals.ca/board-members/|title = Board Members}}</ref> In 2010 and 2011, she hosted Matariki Development Festival in New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Karunharan|first=Ahi|date=2011|title=A Flight of New Writing|journal=Playmarket News|volume=46|pages=20|issn=0113-9703}}</ref>
She is an Artistic Associate at Signal Theatre and co-director with Michael Greyeyes of a dance opera (''Bearing'') at the 2017 Luminato Festival. She also directed (''Nôhkom'') with Signal Theatre.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burdock |title=Signal Theatre |url=http://www.signaltheatre.ca/performance/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=burdockto.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, she was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership to the CATR / ACRT.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
In 2021, she taught at the Canadian College of the Performing Arts in Victoria, British Columbia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-09 |title=Yvette Nolan |url=https://www.ccpacanada.com/personnel/yvette-nolan/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Canadian College of Performing Arts |language=en-US}}</ref> In the same year, she was awarded the Gascon-Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Theatre School of Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yvette Nolan: Recipient of the 2021 Gascon-Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award |url=https://ent-nts.ca/en/blog-yvette-nolan-recipient-of-the-2021-gascon-thomas-lifetime-achievement-award |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=National Theatre School of Canada |date=April 2021 |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, she was the Interim Co-Artistic Director along with Skye Brandon at Shakespeare On The Saskatchewan.<ref name="thestarphoenix 2021">{{cite web |title=Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan announces interim leadership, Macbeth extended |website=thestarphoenix |date=2021-08-07 |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/local-arts/shakespeare-on-the-saskatchewan-announces-interim-leadership-macbeth-extended |access-date=2023-06-10}}</ref> She is a Senior Fellow at Massey College in Toronto.
Her play, ''The Unplugging'', received two productions in 2023 at the Belfry Theatre in the city of Victoria in British Columbia<ref name="The Belfry Theatre 2022">{{cite web |title=The Unplugging |website=The Belfry Theatre |date=2022-05-27 |url=https://www.belfry.bc.ca/the-unplugging/ |access-date=2023-06-10}}</ref> and the Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa.<ref name="Great Canadian Theatre Company 2023a">{{cite web |title=The Unplugging - Great Canadian Theatre Company |website=GCTC {{!}} Great Canadian Theatre Company |date=2023-02-28 |url=https://www.gctc.ca/shows/unplugging |access-date=2023-06-10}}</ref> It was also produced in 2025 by Burnt Thicket Theatre in Sasaktoon, Canada. Her work with Donna-Michelle St. Bernard continued with ''The First Stone'' at Buddies in Bad Times in 2022<ref name="Pillatzki-Warzeha 2022">{{cite web |last=Pillatzki-Warzeha |first=Sara |title=The First Stone |website=Buddies in Bad Times Theatre |date=2022-12-12 |url=https://buddiesinbadtimes.com/show/the-first-stone/ |access-date=2023-06-10}}</ref> and at Great Canadian Theatre Company in 2023.<ref name="Great Canadian Theatre Company 2023b">{{cite web |title=The First Stone - Great Canadian Theatre Company |website=GCTC {{!}} Great Canadian Theatre Company |date=2023-04-11 |url=https://www.gctc.ca/shows/first-stone | access-date=2023-06-10}}</ref>
She directed Frances Koncan's ''Women Of The Fur Trade'' at the Stratford Festival in 2023.<ref name="Stratford Festival 2017">{{cite web |title=Women of the Fur Trade |website=Stratford Festival |date=2017-09-26 |url=https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/WhatsOn/PlaysAndEvents/Production/Women-of-the-Fur-Trade?gad=1 |access-date=2023-06-10}}</ref> as well as at the Globe Theatre in Regina. From 2016–2022,<!--source not updated for 2023--> she was the Company Dramaturge at Sum Theatre in Saskatoon.<ref name="SUM Theatre 2022">{{cite web |title=Our Team |website=SUM Theatre |date=2022-09-16 |url=https://sumtheatre.com/contact/our-team/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610174342/https://sumtheatre.com/contact/our-team/ |archive-date=2023-06-10 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-06-10}}</ref>
==Writer-in-Residence==
* 1996: 1st writer-in-residence at Brandon University * 2011 (nine-month term): Saskatoon Library<ref name="auto"/> * 2018: McGill University<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mordecai Richler Writer-In-Residence: Yvette Nolan |url=https://www.mcgill.ca/arts/article/mordecai-richler-writer-residence-yvette-nolan |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Faculty of Arts |language=en}}</ref>
==Playwright-in-residence== * 2009: National Arts Centre and Mount Royal College * 2011 (nine-month term): University of Regina<ref name="auto"/>
==Plays==
*''A Marginal Man'' *''Annie Mae's Movement'' *''Blade'' *''Child'' *''Job's Wife'' *''Shakedown Shakespeare'' *''The Unplugging'' *''Donne In'' *''Owen'' (radio play) *''Toronto Rex'' *''Ham and the Ram'' *''Prophecy'' *''Alaska'' *''from thine eyes'' *''Henry IV Pt 1:'' (adaptation) *''Hilda Blake'' (libretto) *''The Birds:'' (adaptation) * ''Scattering Jake'' *''Finish Line'' * ''Video'' * ''What Befalls The Earth''
== Editor == ''Performing Indigeneity'': with Ric Knowles, Playwrights Canada Press, 2016 Beyond The Pale: ''Refractions'': Solo with Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Playwrights Canada Press
==Culture Studies== ''Medicine Shows: Indigenous Performance Culture'', Playwrights Canada Press, 2015<ref>Nolan, Yvette (2015). Medicine shows: Indigenous Performance Culture. Playwrights Canada Press. </ref>
==Director==
*''The Unnatural and Accidental Women'' for Native Earth Performing Arts 2004.<ref name="auto4">{{cite web|title=Yvette Nolan|url=https://theatrewiki.ca/Yvette_Nolan|website=Theatre wiki|access-date=8 April 2015|archive-date=12 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412040055/https://theatrewiki.ca/Yvette_Nolan|url-status=dead}}</ref> *''Death of a Chief'' for Native Earth Performing Arts Weesageechak 2005 *''The Triple Truth'' for Turtle Gals 2005 *''Annie Mae's Movement'' for Native Earth Performing Arts 2006 *''The Only Good Indian'' for Turtle Gals Performance Ensemble 2007 *''A Very Polite Genocide'' Native Earth Performing Arts 2008 *''Death of a Chief'' for Native Earth Performing Arts 2008 *''Salt Baby'' for Native Earth Performing Arts 2009, Globe Theatre, Regina 2016, National tour 2016-2017 *''The Ecstasy of Rita Joe'' for National Arts Centre/Western Canada Theatre 2009 *''Café Daughter'' for Gwaandak Theatre (Yukon) 2011 *''Tombs of the Vanishing Indian'' for Native Earth Performing Arts 2011 *''In Care'' by Kenneth T. Williams, Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre, October 2016 * ''Bearing'' co-director with Michael Greyeyes, dramaturge, Signal Theatre: Luminato 2017 * ''Map Of The Land, Map Of The Stars'' Gwaandak Theatre, 2017 *''The Piano Teacher'' Arts Club, Vancouver, BC 2017 *''The Penelopiad Ferre Play Theatre'', Persephone Theatre, Saskatoon 2017 *''Elemental'' Embrace Theatre/MuD Collective at Live Five, Saskatoon 2019 *''The Unplugging'' at New Native Theatre, Minneapolis 2020<ref>newnativetheatre.org</ref> *''Wreckonciliation Amplified Opera'', Toronto 2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=AMPLIFY 1.0 |url=https://www.amplifiedopera.com/amplify |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Amplified Opera |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317150136/https://www.amplifiedopera.com/amplify |url-status=dead }}</ref> *''The First Stone at Great Canadian Theatre Company'', Ottawa 2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=The First Stone |url=https://www.gctc.ca/shows/first-stone |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=GCTC {{!}} Great Canadian Theatre Company |date=11 April 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Awards==
* John Hirsch Award for Most Promising New Writer (nomination), 1995.<ref name="auto3"/> * James Buller Award for Playwrighting from the Centre for Indigenous Theatre (nomination), 1997.<ref name="auto3"/> * Maggie Bassett Award for service to the theatre community, 2007.<ref name="auto"/> * City of Toronto's Aboriginal Affairs Award, 2008.<ref name="auto"/> * George Luscombe Award for mentorship in professional theatre, 2011.<ref name="auto"/> * Bob Couchman Award for direction (for ''Café Daughter'' by Kenneth T Williams (Gwaandak Theatre)).<ref name="Regina"/> * Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Original Script, 2013 (for ''The Unplugging'').<ref name="auto4"/> * Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yvette Nolan wins Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award (press release)|url=http://www.charpo-canada.com/2014/05/news-yvette-nolan-wins-mallory-gilbert.html|website=The Charlebois Post|access-date=8 April 2015|date=May 9, 2014}}</ref> * Woman Of Distinction (nomination) - YWCA Saskatoon, 2017 * Dora Mavor Moore Award for ''Shanawdithit'' in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://windspeaker.com/news/windspeaker-news/virtual-reality-film-first-indigenous-playwright|title=Virtual reality film a first for Indigenous playwright}}</ref> * Gina Wilkinson Prize, 2021<ref name="auto"/> * Gascon-Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award, 2021<ref>{{cite web|title="Yvette Nolan: Recipient of the 2021 Gascon-Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award|url=https://ent-nts.ca/en/blog-yvette-nolan-recipient-of-the-2021-gascon-thomas-lifetime-achievement-award|website=National Theatre School of Canada|access-date=24 March 2024|date=April 1, 2021}}</ref>
==References==
<references />
== External links == [http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=5868679&lang=eng Yvette Nolan fonds (R16870)] at Library and Archives Canada
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nolan, Yvette}} Category:1961 births Category:Canadian women dramatists and playwrights Category:Algonquin people Category:Living people Category:Canadian artistic directors Category:First Nations dramatists and playwrights Category:Writers from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Category:Canadian theatre directors Category:Canadian women theatre directors Category:First Nations women writers Category:20th-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights Category:21st-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights Category:20th-century Canadian women writers Category:21st-century Canadian women writers Category:20th-century First Nations writers Category:20th-century First Nations women Category:21st-century First Nations writers