Announcing the 2026 Lee Playwright in Residence
Join us in welcoming Brad Fraser as the 2026 Lee Playwright in Residence
Department of Drama - 08 June 2026
The University of Alberta Drama Department is pleased to announce that Brad Fraser has been chosen as the 2026 Lee Playwright in Residence.
The selection committee was impressed with the quality of the candidates for this year's residency. However, Brad Fraser's experience, national and international acclaim, as well as his connection to the Edmonton theatre scene gave him an edge over the other worthy candidates. The committee members included Prof. Kenneth T. Williams, Dept. of Drama, Prof. Kathleen Weiss, Dept. of Drama, Ron Jenkins, 2025 Lee Playwright in Residence, Dr. Mukonzi Musyoki, and Josh Languedoc, MFA. The committee members have decades of experience in play creation, dramaturgy, directing, as well as expertise in Canadian, Indigenous and African theatre.
In Brad's words:
"I am thrilled to be the recipient of the Clifford E Lee [Lee Playwright in Residence] residency this year. A writer receiving support to concentrate on their work for a full year is an amazing gift and one I intend to take full advantage of. I look forward to returning to Edmonton and, finally, spending some time at the University of Alberta and would like to thank everyone behind the decision to present me with this amazing gift."
About Brad:
Brad Fraser is the author of many successful plays including the worldwide hits Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, Poor Super Man, and Kill Me Now, his films include Love and Human Remains, and Leaving Metropolis, for TV he was a producer and writer on the groundbreaking Queer as Folk, he has also written extensively for other media. He earned his Master’s degree from the University of Toronto, has taught many classes on writing, and recently saw the release of his memoir, All the Rage, which saw him nominated for an Audie Award for best narrator of an audio book in America. He lost that award to Barack Obama. Last year he created a controversial and successful adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard ll for the Stratford Festival. A new film based on his play Kill Me Now will begin filming next year.
You can read more about Brad in the Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia.
Photo credit: David Hawe
The Lee Playwright in Residence and the Lee Playwriting Prize were created to nurture and celebrate Canadian playwriting. The Department of Drama will announce the 2026 Lee Playwriting Prize at the Drama department Edmonton Fringe Festival social event. Please stay tuned to our socials for more information!