Susan Coyne
Encyclopedia
Susan Coyne is a Canadian
writer and actress, best known as one of the co-creators and co-stars of the award-winning Slings and Arrows
, a TV series which ran 2003–06 about a Canadian Shakespearean theatre company. In 2006, she won two Gemini Award
s for her work on the show, one for best performance in a supporting role and one for best writing for a dramatic series (shared with her fellow co-creators, Bob Martin
and Mark McKinney
). In 2007, she again won for writing, but lost to co-star Martha Burns
in the acting category. She also won two Writers Guild of Canada
awards, in 2006 and 2007.
A veteran of the Toronto theatre scene, she acted for several seasons at the Stratford Festival, was one of the founding members of the Soulpepper Theatre Company
and is currently a playwright-in-residence at the Tarragon Theatre
. Her two best-known plays are Kingfisher Days, an adaptation of her critically acclaimed memoir of the same name, and Alice's Affair. The edition of this memoir that was published in America was titled In the Kingdom of Fairies. It recounts her experiences in the summer of 1963 at her family's summer cottage on Lake of the Woods
. She is also known for her translations of Anton Chekhov
. Coyne also appeared in the Fernando Meirelles
adaptation of the Jose Saramago
novel, Blindness
.
Coyne comes from a prominent Canadian family: Her father is James Coyne
, a former governor of the Bank of Canada
, and her brother is the journalist Andrew Coyne
. She is also the cousin of constitutional lawyer Deborah Coyne
. She attended the St. John's-Ravenscourt School
in Winnipeg, as did her acting colleague Martha Burns.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
writer and actress, best known as one of the co-creators and co-stars of the award-winning Slings and Arrows
Slings and Arrows
Slings and Arrows is a Canadian TV series set at the fictional New Burbage Festival, a Shakespearean festival similar to the real-world Stratford Festival...
, a TV series which ran 2003–06 about a Canadian Shakespearean theatre company. In 2006, she won two Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
s for her work on the show, one for best performance in a supporting role and one for best writing for a dramatic series (shared with her fellow co-creators, Bob Martin
Bob Martin (comedian)
Bob Martin is a writer, actor, and comedian from Toronto, Ontario, Canada born in England circa 1963. He has both performed in and written many TV shows. He also provides the voice of Cuddles the comfort doll on the Canadian TV show Puppets Who Kill, aired on The Comedy Network.He starred in the...
and Mark McKinney
Mark McKinney
Mark Douglas Brown McKinney is a Canadian comedian and actor, best known for his work in the sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall. Following the run of their television series and feature film , he went on to star in Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 1997...
). In 2007, she again won for writing, but lost to co-star Martha Burns
Martha Burns
Martha Burns is an award-winning Canadian actress known for her stage work and youth outreach in Ontario and her leading role as Ellen Fanshaw in the TV dramedy series Slings and Arrows.Burns was born 1958 in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
in the acting category. She also won two Writers Guild of Canada
Writers Guild of Canada
The Writers Guild of Canada represents more than 1,800 professional writers working in film, television, radio, and multimedia production in Canada...
awards, in 2006 and 2007.
A veteran of the Toronto theatre scene, she acted for several seasons at the Stratford Festival, was one of the founding members of the Soulpepper Theatre Company
Soulpepper Theatre Company
Soulpepper Theatre Company is a Toronto, Ontario-based theatre company dedicated to presenting classic plays.-History:Soulpepper was founded in 1998 by twelve Toronto artists who dreamed of a company that would produce lesser known theatrical classics. Soulpepper has since become an important part...
and is currently a playwright-in-residence at the Tarragon Theatre
Tarragon Theatre
The Tarragon Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Canada, and one of the main centers for contemporary playwriting in the country. Located near Casa Loma, the theatre was founded by Bill and Jane Glassco in 1970. Bill was the Artistic Director from 1971 to 1982. In 1982, Urjo Kareda took over as...
. Her two best-known plays are Kingfisher Days, an adaptation of her critically acclaimed memoir of the same name, and Alice's Affair. The edition of this memoir that was published in America was titled In the Kingdom of Fairies. It recounts her experiences in the summer of 1963 at her family's summer cottage on Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is a lake occupying parts of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the U.S. state of Minnesota. It separates a small land area of Minnesota from the rest of the United States. The Northwest Angle and the town of Angle Township can only be reached from the rest of...
. She is also known for her translations of Anton Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
. Coyne also appeared in the Fernando Meirelles
Fernando Meirelles
Fernando Ferreira Meirelles is a Brazilian film director, producer and screenwriter.He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director in 2004 for his work in the Brazilian film City of God, released in 2002 in Brazil and in 2003 in the U.S. by Miramax Films...
adaptation of the Jose Saramago
José Saramago
José de Sousa Saramago, GColSE was a Nobel-laureate Portuguese novelist, poet, playwright and journalist. His works, some of which can be seen as allegories, commonly present subversive perspectives on historic events, emphasizing the human factor. Harold Bloom has described Saramago as "a...
novel, Blindness
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
.
Coyne comes from a prominent Canadian family: Her father is James Coyne
James Coyne
James Elliott Coyne, BCL, BA was the second Governor of the Bank of Canada, from 1955 to 1961, succeeding Graham Towers. During his time in office, he had a much-publicized debate with Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, a debate often referred to as the "Coyne Affair" .-Life and career:Coyne was...
, a former governor of the Bank of Canada
Bank of Canada
The Bank of Canada is Canada's central bank and "lender of last resort". The Bank was created by an Act of Parliament on July 3, 1934 as a privately owned corporation. In 1938, the Bank became a Crown corporation belonging to the Government of Canada...
, and her brother is the journalist Andrew Coyne
Andrew Coyne
James Andrew Coyne is the national editor for Maclean's, a weekly national newsmagazine in Canada. Previously, he was a columnist with the National Post and an editor-in-chief of the University of Manitoba's newspaper, The Manitoban.-Background:Coyne was born in Ottawa, Ontario, the son of Hope...
. She is also the cousin of constitutional lawyer Deborah Coyne
Deborah Coyne
Deborah Margaret Ryland Coyne, is a Canadian constitutional lawyer, professor and author. Her education includes a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School of York University and a Master of Philosophy from Oxford University in international relations.-Early career:She was a staffer in...
. She attended the St. John's-Ravenscourt School
St. John's-Ravenscourt School
St. John's-Ravenscourt School is an independent, co-educational, university-preparatory school founded in 1820. Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the school delivers an enriched curriculum from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, is the royal patron of the...
in Winnipeg, as did her acting colleague Martha Burns.
External links
- CBC.ca profile of Susan Coyne, May 2005