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 Canada and the United States. As a playwright, he has developed or presented work with theatre organizations including Lunchbox Theatre, Theatre Calgary, The Citadel Theatre, The University of Lethbridge, The University of Calgary, Workshop West Playwrights Theatre, 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), and the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival’s One-Act Play Contest (By the Book). His recent play Everyone is Doing Fine has been recognized with placements from the Austin Film Festival, the Inkslinger Playwriting Competition, the Alberta Playwriting Competition, and the Stanley Drama Award.
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 is recently a member of the Citadel Playwrights Lab.
He writes plays about the stories we tell in order to survive. 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
2025
2024
The Alberta Playwriting Competition - Sharon Pollock Prize
Finalist for please return to empire video
The Stanley Drama Award - Wagner College
First runner up for everyone is doing fine
Inkslinger Playwriting Contest - Southeastern Louisiana University
finalist for everyone is doing fine
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
2020-2010
Cinestory TV Retreat and Fellowship
quarterfinalist for the gauntlet
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
“Wade is an Alberta playwright on the brink of a long career as a mainstay in Canadian theatre. He writes plays about the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive and thrive in the modern world. His dialogue is crisp and sharp, instantly drawing us into the lives of his characters. His plays speak of contemporary problems with a rare dexterity and fearlessness, insisting that we embrace the true complexity of our own lives.”