Congratulations to Sydney Hunt, this year’s winner of The Annamaria Bamji Award for Emerging Playwrights.

The Award was created by Perry Bamji in 2021 in memory of his late wife Annamaria Bamji. The purpose of the award is to encourage the careers of playwrights between the ages of 18 and 29 years old. The annual award comes with a cash gift of $1,000 along with dramaturgical feedback.

Sydney Hunt (UVic BFA, UVic MMgt) is a playwright and storyteller passionate about exploring the human experience in many forms. Originally from Calgary, Alberta, she has called Vancouver Island home for the past 8 years. She aims to connect with audiences of all backgrounds, creating work that resonates across perspectives. In practice, this looks like experiencing as much of the world as she can and allowing her adventures to inspire her writing. Above all, she is grateful for her wonderful community and the people she is privileged to create with. See her next at the 2026 Awaken Festival in Whitehorse with Climate Play facilitated and written by Yvette Nolan, Joel Bernbaum and Climate Play Artists.