Montreal-based lighting designer wins lucrative Siminovitch Prize in theatre

TORONTO – As a teen in Burlington, Ont., Robert Thomson helped with lighting design in his high school theatre productions but didn’t take the craft seriously at the time.

“I don’t think I had, at the time, any dreams of being involved professionally in it,” the 57-year-old, who now lives in Montreal, said in an interview.

“It was certainly just a fun thing to do and a great way to get out of class, I suppose.”

But Thomson kept at it, studying lighting design in New York City and building an acclaimed career that landed him the lucrative Elinore & Lou Siminovitch Prize in theatre on Monday.

The prize — touted as the largest theatre award in Canada — includes $75,000 for him and $25,000 to a protege of his choice. Thomson selected Jason Hand and Raha Javanfar, who have worked as his assistants, to share the award.

“It’s a huge honour, and when I look at the amazing list of my colleagues that have won this before and also the amazing list of people who have been shortlisted for this award, it’s quite amazing really,” Thomson, who learned of his win a while ago, said in a telephone interview ahead of Monday’s Siminovitch award ceremony in Toronto.

“It’s certainly unique in Canadian theatre, I would say, as far as the cash prize aspect of it and specifically highlighting theatre directors, playwrights and designers.”

This is the final year for the Siminovitch prize, which was created in 2001 in honour of scientist Lou Siminovitch and his late wife Elinore.

The annual honour recognized a body of work in design, direction and playwriting in three-year cycles. This year’s focus was on design, which included the categories of lighting, sound, costume and set.

Thomson beat out four other finalists: Alan Brodie of Vancouver, Toronto’s Richard Feren, and Montrealers Anick La Bissoniere and Richard Lacroix.

A winner of four Dora Mavor Moore Awards, Thomson has worked extensively across the country with companies including the Stratford Festival, the Shaw Festival, Canadian Stage, the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada.

He’s also collaborated with some of the biggest directors in the theatre world, including Robert Lepage, Christopher Newton, Jennifer Tarver, James Kudelka, Des McAnuff and Peter Hinton.

Internationally, Thomson has worked for the Lincoln Center Theater, Metropolitan Opera and Hartford Stage, among others. He’s also taught at several schools.

“In making its decision, the jury was inspired not only by this artist’s stunningly beautiful body of work but also by his passion, joy and spirit,” Maureen Labonte, chair of the Siminovitch jury, said in a statement.

“His work as a lighting designer is mesmerizing. It is sensitive, fresh, bold and visceral. He deftly conducts the visual experience with focus and clarity, suggesting, never dictating, ways of seeing moment to moment.

“He delves deep, insisting on getting at the very core of the work.”

Thomson studied at Ryerson and the Studio and Forum of Stage Design in New York.

Back then, the revolution of computer control of lighting in the theatre was just taking off in North America, and Thomson said he’s since adapted to many technological changes in his craft (he even plans to use some of his prize money to upgrade his skills).

“We have remote-controlled fixtures now, moving lights and all sorts of fantastic technology, but ultimately they’re all a means to an end in terms of the artistry of creating lighting for the stage,” he said.

Lighting design is “a very ethereal thing,” added Thomson.

“What we do is such an emotional, somewhat intellectual exercise of creating and supporting what all the other artists are doing and it’s so hard to really articulate, because it’s only something that you can only see and share and enjoy in that moment that it’s onstage … and once that show’s gone, it’s gone as well.”

This year’s Siminovitch jury also included theatre artists Alison Green, Claude Goyette, Jock Munro, Leigh Ann Vardy and Shawn Kerwin.

Last year’s Siminovitch winner was Victoria-based playwright Joan MacLeod. Other theatre veterans who have won the award over the years include playwright Daniel MacIvor and director Daniel Brooks.