Every year, the National Theatre School awards its Gascon-Thomas Award to two theatre figures who have made an exceptional contribution to the growth of theatre in Canada and whose examples serve as an inspiration for the students of the School.
Created in 1990 by the NTS Board of Governors, the Award is named after two of the School’s founders, Jean Gascon and Powys Thomas. Inspired visionaries, each was passionate about his art and generous in his enthusiasm for sharing it. Both teachers made an impression on their students, and their influence is still discernable at the School. The award is given each year to one anglophone and one francophone artist.
The prize is symbolic and honorary. Its list of past recipients forms a small group of individuals without whom Canada's theatre would not be what it is today. Each recipient receives his award from a student, followed by a speech given to the entire student body of the School.
Gascon-Thomas Award Recipients
The Award
Montreal glass blower and prized artist and artisan Annie Michaud was approached to redesign the Gascon-Thomas Award after the passing of jeweller Gilbert Rhême in the late spring of 2008. Since 2000, the award had been his creation.
Annie Michaud has been practicing her art in Montreal since 1995. She has been referred to as a “Glass Act”; her luminous lemon-lime squeezer, mortar and pestle and salt container, among other designs, have been a hit since their creation. Her glassware is fanciful and her glass sculptures are evocative. She describes herself as passionate and fun-loving, is guided by the sacred fire (no pun intended) of her artistic imagination and travel is integral to her work.
Annie also creates customized objects for commercial and residential architecture, cinematographic productions, wedding gifts and other special events. Some of her clients have been Ferreira Café, Palais des congrès - Rayonnement international Award, the Montreal Convention Centre and L’Oréal, among many others.