Judith Thompson, a University of Guelph professor in the School of English and Theatre Studies – as well as a nationally praised playwright – has been elected to the Royal Society of Canada. According to a Sept. 11 news release from the University of Guelph, Thompson will be honoured among 87 new fellows at a ceremony held in British Columbia on Nov. 27. Election to the Royal Society of Canada is considered a vast academic honour, as the organization recognizes remarkable contributions in numerous disciplines including the arts, humanities, and both natural and social sciences.
Each of Thompson’s many plays uniquely explores her interest in psychology through the minds of her characters, often living on the margins of society. Her first work, titled The Crackwalker, dives into the world of a mentally challenged woman and her dysfunctional boyfriend living in lower-end Kingston as they struggle with mental illness, domestic and sexual abuse, and addiction. While tackling heavy subject matter, Thompson succeeds in illustrating the harsh realities of life.
Not only has Judith Thompson conquered Canadian theatre, she has also taken on several screenplays. Her 2001 film, Lost and Delirious, follows three teenage girls at boarding school experimenting with sexual identities and friendship. The film was nominated for a Genie Award for best screenplay in 2002. The film starred some well-known names, including Mischa Barton, of The O.C., and Jessica Paré, of Mad Men.
Originally written as a monologue, Perfect Pie was turned into a play and subsequently into a screenplay. The film captures the childhoods of two young girls and the impact their youth had on their adult lives. In Perfect Pie, Thompson once again did not shy away from addressing controversial topics such as child abuse, rape and suicide.
More recently, Thompson made her return to acting after 35 years, performing in her own play, Watching Glory Die. The play is inspired by the true story of 19-year-old Ashley Smith who choked herself to death in an Ontario prison while guards watched on. Three different characters tell this emotional story, with Thompson playing all three roles.
Other notable awards and honors for Thompson include her two-time win of the Governor General’s Award for White Biting Dog in 1985 and for the anthology The Other Side of the Dark in 1989.
Her work has also been internationally recognized. Thompson was the first Canadian to receive the international Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Along with Thompson’s two nominations for both Genie and Gemini awards, she was also made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2006.
Judith Thompson has inspired many, not only in her teaching at the University of Guelph, but also those who have attended her plays or seen her films. By shedding light on largely marginalized communities of people, Thompson is sure to have changed the perspectives of her audience, and perhaps offered new insight to controversial subjects. Being elected to the Royal Society of Canada is an honour well-deserved for Judith Thompson.
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The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.