Originally a program run by an independent group of dedicated volunteers, The Toronto Jewish Theatre Committee, the Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition was founded in 1989 and operated out of the Bathurst JCC in North Toronto. 

In 1999, the Miles Nadal JCC adopted this program and ran it with a group of jurors from the professional theatre community. Before 2006 there was an average of six plays submitted each year. With more publicity and exposure, up to 20 plays are submitted from six Canadian provinces, the United States and Israel each contest year. The competition is now a bi-annual program.

Generously supported by The Asper Foundation. Thank you to our partners: The Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, and The Segal Centre for the Performing Arts.

31 plays were submitted to the 2023 competition from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and two playwrights from New York who have dual citizenship.   

The winning play is The Child You Deserve by Saskatchewan playwright, Julia Peterson.  

​-  Dramaturgy by Daniella Mooney with the support of the Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre. 

   
Under the shadow of anti-communism and Duplessis-era politics, three generations of Jewish women are gathered around a Montreal apartment’s kitchen table. Jenny, a secretary and ‘accidental activist,’ has big dreams for her daughter and a surprising second chance at love with her partner, Rivka. When Jenny’s firebrand mother Lily crashes back into their lives just before Yom Kippur, the women have to confront their dreams, fears and responsibilities for their communities, the future and each other. This intergenerational family story serves as a sequel to A Man in the House by Elinore Siminovitch, and was written by her granddaughter. 
 
Julia Peterson is a queer Jewish journalist grateful to live, work and play on Treaty Six territory in Saskatchewan. When not writing, Julia can be found out on the local running trails, baking complicated and delicious desserts, or happily buried under a pile of crafting projects.  

Honorable mention goes to 2nd place winner Her by Deborah Shaw from Toronto, Ontario and 3rd place winner Surviving the Blood Feud by Alan Young from Toronto, Ontario.   

A “Between Stages” Equity play reading of The Child You Deserve will take place later in the year. Details to be announced. Julia will also receive $1000, generously donated by the Asper Foundation.