James is a playwright, screenwriter, and educator
b.1987
Halifax, NS
James Odin Wade is a playwright based in Calgary, Alberta. His plays have been produced in cities across North America, including Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Regina, Toronto, and Chicago. As a playwright, he has collaborated with theatre organizations including Lunchbox Theatre, Theatre Calgary, multiple Canadian Fringe Festivals, The University of Lethbridge, The University of Calgary, Sage Theatre’s Ignite! Festival, Death & Pretzels, Steel River Playhouse, and The Road Theater Company.
He has garnered awards from across Canada and the United States including The Alberta Playwriting Competition (Helmut’s Big Day), The National One-Act Playwriting Competition (In Case of Fire), the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival’s One-Act Play Contest (By the Book). James is the co-founder of the Calgary collective Red Phone Theatre and is a member of the 52nd Street Project in New York City. He holds a BFA from the University of Lethbridge and an MFA in Playwriting from the University of Calgary.
He writes plays about the stories we tell each other and ourselves to live. They’re often funny, but not always, don’t hold him to that.
Some of James' work is available to read via the New Play Exchange.
Accolades
2023
The Austin Film Festival Stage Play Competition
semifinalist for everyone is doing fine
The Alberta Playwriting Competition - Sharon Pollock Prize
shortlisted for everyone is doing fine
The Road Theater Company’s Summer Playwrights Festival 14
Official selection for everyone is doing fine
2022
Panndora Productions’ Sweet Sixteen Festival
semifinalist for in tongues
Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival One-Act Play Contest
winner for by the book
2021
The Garry Marshall Theatre New Works Festival
semifinalist for everyone is doing fine
New Dramatists Princess Grace Award
semifinalist for in tongues
2020
Cinestory TV Retreat and Fellowship
quarterfinalist for the gauntlet
2018-2010
Georgia College's Arts & Letters Drama Prize
finalist for in case of fire
Kitchen Dog Theater’s 2017 New Works Festival
finalist for resistance
Ottawa Little Theatre National One-Act Playwriting Competition
first prize for in case of fire
Calgary One Act Play Festival
honourable mention (outstanding script) for a song of bucephalus
Alberta Playwriting Competition
grand prize for helmut’s big day
Ottawa Little Theatre National One-Act Playwriting Competition
2nd prize for greetings from sardineland
University of Lethbridge Play Right Prize Supported by Terry Whitehead
first prize for greetings from sardineland
University of Lethbridge Play Right Prize Supported by Terry Whitehead
first prize for muse control
Press
By the Book
“Six (well, five) characters in search of a writer’s room. This send-up of television police procedurals is very funny, very smart, and—at an important moment in the play—surprisingly moving. The playwright has a sharp eye for the absurdities (and also delights) of the genre, and also has some very keenly-observed things to say about how sticking slavishly to a formula, and relegating minority characters and stories to the sidelines, can keep us from seeing the Big Picture. A well-crafted and thoroughly original play. With thanks to Pirandello.”
– Festival Judge, Peter Hagan (former President of Dramatists Play Service)
In Case of Fire
“A play that shakes the foundations of a young marriage and teaches (or reminds) us that love alone cannot save a partnership. An intelligent, poignant and often funny exploration of the tension between religious identity and personal fulfillment; the reassurance of community versus the exhilarating terror of total independence”
– OLT jury member Nick Carpenter
“A hilarious, entertaining, and moving play that surprises at every turn. The characters’ journeys are very rich and entirely satisfying”
– OLT jury member Bobby Theodore
“A sharp two-hander about faith, lack of faith, and the huge twists that life and religion force upon our lives. The play offers two demanding roles and a challenging scenario that actors and directors will love to tackle”
– OLT jury member Brian Quirt
Helmut's Big Day
"A short, surprising dynamo of a theatre piece, packed with surreal humour. An exciting, existential read."
- Alberta Playwriting Competition Jury
“This delightful two-hander romps at such a quick clip that one almost misses the philosophical questions being tossed back and forth between Sabir and Katar as they try to fulfill their soldiering duty.”
– Sara Culkin, VUE Weekly, 2015
One of Liz Nicholls' Picks of the Fringe, 2015, Edmonton Journal
-liz nicholls, Edmonton journal
"Show To Watch Out For" at the Calgary Fringe Festival
- Stephen Hunt, Calgary Herald, 2015
WILF
“Throughout all of this there is understated social satire. My companion and I appreciated that it did not feel the need to call attention to itself, to cry out “this is what’s wrong with gender roles and relationship conventions!” The play simply let those considerations be present as a natural subtext to the action.”
- Dorianne Emmerton, Mooney on Theatre, 2016
“We are so excited to be doing this piece as part of our one act festival this year! I recommended it to my student directors because it is playful, inclusive, and the comedic dialogue is very well written. The playwright does a great job using this wacky/brilliant plot device (a woman raised by wolves searching for a mate) to provide a hilarious social commentary around the ridiculous necessity of dating.”
- Sarah Provencal, Winthrop University Professor
"WILF is wickedly entertaining"
- Kathleen Renne, FFWD Magazine, 2013
A Song of Bucephalus
"This could very well be the most interesting and appropriate use of the classic two-man horse costume yet put to stage. There are also communists. It’s witty, self-aware, and every performer has near perfect comedic timing. This show has been a highlight of the fringe thus far."
- Lucas Provencher, Vue Weekly (Edmonton)
“Extremely clever”
– Governor General's Award-winning playwright, Sharon Pollock, adjudicator, Calgary Region One-Act Play Festival 2016
"A true joy to watch"