Since his career began in 1996, Chris has worked with some of Canada's foremost artists and theatre companies. His work is multi-award winning and critically acclaimed. He is known for his intellectually rigorous and bold stagings of contemporary and classical work. He is also a leading developer of new work.
In 1999 he co-founded Go-Chicken-Go, where he directed acclaimed and award winning productions of Kaspar by Peter Handke, Lenz by Georg Buchner (which he also adapted), The Kabbalistic Psychoanalysis of Adam R. Tzaddik, Easy Lenny Lazmon and the Great Western Ascension, both by Anton Piatigorsky, and [boxhead] by Darren O'Donnell.
In 2000 he co-founded and was co-artistic director of Bill Glassco's Montreal Young Company, mandated to provide repertory training in Classical Theatre to recent graduates of Canadian theatre schools.
In 2003 Chris directed the film adaptation of Kristen Thomson's award-winning hit I, Claudia for which he won a Gemini award. The film was also named one of 2004's top ten Canadian films by The Toronto International Film Festival Group.
A graduate of the National Theatre School's directing program, Chris returned to NTS as an instructor and mentor for directing students and recently served as Co-Director of the school's Directing Section.
Chris is the recipient of the John Hirsch and Ken MacDougall awards for emerging directors as well as the inaugural Elinore and Lou Siminovitch Protege Award, for directors.
Selected Directing Credits
2009 Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Eternal Hydra
By Anton Piatigorsky
- Presented by Crow's Theatre
- DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARDS - OUTSTANDING DIRECTION, OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
2007 Theatre Passe Muraille, Usine C
The Eco-Show
By Daniel Brooks (Co-Director)
- Presented by Necessary Angel Theatre & Festival TransAmeriques
2007 Saidye Bronfman Theatre
I Am My Own Wife
By Doug Wright
- Presented by the Saidye Bronfman Theatre
- SOIREE DES MASQUES AWARD-BEST ENGLISH LANGUAGE PRODUCTION
2006 Theatre Calgary/Buddies in Bad Times
Insomnia
By Daniel Brooks
- Presented by Necessary Angel Theatre
- DORA MAVOR MOORE NOMINATION-OUTSTANDING DIRECTION
2006 Theatre Passe Muraille
Cringeworthy
By Alex Poch-Goldin
- Presented by Planet 88 in association with Theatre Passe Muraille
- DORA MAVOR MOORE NOMINATION-OUSTANDING DIRECTION
2005 Citadel Theatre
Frozen
By Bryony Lavery
- Presented by The Citadel Theatre
- SEVEN STERLING NOMINATIONS-WINNING FOR OUSTANDING DIRECTION & PRODUCTION
2005
Centaur Theatre
Tales From Ovid
Adapted By Chris Abraham
- Presented by The Centaur Theatre
2004 Tarragon Theatre
The Unexpected Man
By Yasmina Reza
- Presented by Tarragon Theatre
2004 Theatre Passe Muraille
Unity 1918
By Kevin Kerr
- Produced by Theatre Passe Muraille
2003 Canadian Stage Company
Blue/Orange
By Joe Penhall
- Produced by Canadian Stage Company
2003 Tarragon Theatre
Russell Hill
By Chris Earle
- Produced by Tarragon Theatre
- DORA MAVOR MOORE NOMINATION-OUSTANDING DIRECTION
2002 Manitoba Theatre Centre
The Shape of Things
By Neil Labute
- Presented by MTC
2002 Saidye Bronfmann Centre for the Arts
The Glass Menagerie
By Tennessee Williams
- Presented by Saidye Bronfmann
- WINNER OF MONTREAL CRITIC'S CHOICE AWARD-BEST PRODUCTION
- SOIREES DES MASQUES NOMINATION- MIS EN SCENE
- SOIREES DES MASQUES AWARD – BEST ENGLISH PRODUCTION
2002 York Shakespeare Festival
Romeo and Juliet & The Tempest
- Presented by Resurgence Theatre
2002 Theatre Passe Muraille
BOXHEAD
By Darren O'Donnell
- Presented by Theatre Passe Muraille
- 7 DORA MAVOR MOORE NOMINATIONS, INCLUDING OUSTANDING DIRECTION
2002 Tarragon Theatre
I, Claudia
By Kristen Thomson
- Presented by Tarragon Theatre
- WINNER OF DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY AND PERFORMANCE
2001 Saidye Bronfman Centre
Saltwater Moon
By David French
- presented by Saidye Bronfman Centre
- Winner of Critics' Choice Award for BEST PRODUCTION
- SOIREES DES MASQUES AWARD – BEST ENGLISH PRODUCTION
2001 Premiere Dance Theatre
The Lesson
By Eugene Ionesco
- presented by Soulpepper
2001 York Shakespeare Festival
As You Like It
By William Shakespeare
- presented by Resurgence Theatre
2001 Saidye Bronfman Centre
After the Dance
By Terence Rattigan
- presented by the Montreal Young Company
2000 Artword Theatre
The Offering
By Anton Piatigorsky
- presented by Go-Chicken-Go
- 2 DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARD NOMINATIONS
2000
Saidye Bronfmann Centre
The Possibilities
By Howard Barker
- presented by the Montreal Young Company
- MEAC AWARD-BEST ENSEMBLEˆ
1998 Annex Theatre
Easy Lenny Lazmon and the Great Western Ascension
By Anton Piatigorsky
- Produced by Moriah Production and Go-Chicken-Go
- 9 DORA MAVOR MOORE NOMINATIONS
- DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARDS-OUTSANDING NEW PLAY, DIRECTION, LIGHTING AND PRODUCTION
- CHALMERS AWARD NOMINATION-BEST NEW PLAY
1998 Tarragon Theatre
The Kabbalistic Psychoanalysis of Adam R. Tzaddik
By Anton Piatigorsky
- Produced by Go-Chicken-Go for the Summerworks Theatre Festival 1998
- WINNER OF FIRST ANNUAL SUMMERWOKRS PRIZE-BEST PRODUCTION
1998 Factory Theatre
Lenz
Adapted by Chris Abraham from a short story by Georg Buchner
- Produced by Go-Chicken-Go
- 3 DORA MAVOR MOORE NOMINATIONS-OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY, OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE, LIGHTING
- DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARD-OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
1997 The Blue Cellar Room
Kaspar
By Peter Handke
- Produced by Go-Chicken-Go
1997 The Cameron House
Offending the Audience
By Peter Handke
- Produced by Go-Chicken-Go
1996 Tarragon Theatre
Judith: a Parting from the Body
By Howard Barker
- Produced by Go-Chicken-Go as part of the Summerworks Festival '96
Photo of Chris Abraham by Guntar Kravis