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Montreal-based lighting designer Sonoyo Nishikawa, acclaimed for her transformative and evocative lighting designs, is this year’s winner of Canada’s most valuable theatre award.

Since 2001, the Siminovitch Prize has celebrated groundbreaking theatre artists whose work has strengthened the Canadian theatre landscape and advanced the art form. With a career spanning continents and collaborations with leading theatre artists, Nishikawa has established herself as a pioneering force in Canadian theatre. Sonoyo Nishikawa, the 2024 Siminovitch Prize Laureate, has selected Mayumi Ide-Bergeron as the Siminovitch Prize Protégé.

Sonoyo Nishikawa has established herself as one of the most visionary lighting designers in Canadian theatre. Trained in London under the sponsorship of Japan’s Ministry of Education and Culture, Nishikawa has collaborated with some of the world’s leading theatre artists. Her work includes celebrated productions with Robert Lepage, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream and Les Sept Branches de la Rivière Ota, for which she won a Dora Mavor Moore Award. Her innovative approach has earned her numerous accolades, including the Prix des meilleurs éclairages, awarded by l'Académie québécoise du théâtre, and the Prix Jacques-Pelletier.

“Sonoyo Nishikawa’s designs push the boundaries of what we expect lighting to do. Often working within challenging technical constraints and using an array of sources, Sonoyo unfailingly finds ways to transcend the limitations imposed and create unexpected and variously spectacular or intimate, compelling images that go far beyond typical theatre illumination. Known and admired for her dedication across all scales of productions, from indie theatre to opera, she brings the same excellence and attention to detail regardless of budget or venue. Her work embodies a profound spirit of collaboration, and her enduring commitment to experimentation and risk has moved theatre lighting into an expressive art form that reaches audiences on a deeply emotional level.” - Guillermo Verdecchia, 2024 Siminovitch Prize Jury Chair

READ SONOYO'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

Siminovitch Protégé Prize

Supported by the RBC Foundation, the Siminovitch Protégé Prize underscores the importance of mentorship. This year, Sonoyo Nishikawa has selected Mayumi Ide-Bergeron, a multidisciplinary artist based in Montreal. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada’s Set and Costume Design program, Mayumi’s work bridges French and English theatre, incorporating an innovative style that is both poetic and eco-conscious.

Commitment to Artistic Growth

A total of $138,000 was awarded: $75,000 to the Siminovitch Prize Laureate, $25,000 to the Siminovitch Prize Protégé, $5,000 to each of the shortlisted artists, and $5,000 to the three Emerging Artist Grant recipients. Each finalist/emerging artist pair also receives $2,000 to support collaboration and mentorship in 2025.

2024 Siminovitch Prize Emerging Artist Grant Recipients

Selected by the 2024 Siminovitch Prize finalists, Hina Nishioka (BC), Dasha Plett (MB), and Lane Shordee (AB) are this year's grant recipients.

Documentaries Showcasing Canadian Theatre

Audiences can step into the studios of the 2024 Siminovitch Prize finalists for an intimate glimpse into their artistic vision and creative process through short documentaries in the Siminovitch Showcase.