Frances Koncan

Frances Koncan
Born1986
Couchiching First Nation
NationalityCouchiching First Nation, Canadian
EducationUniversity of Manitoba (BA), Brooklyn College (MFA)
Occupation(s)journalist, playwright, director
Notable workWomen of the Fur Trade
Zahgidiwin/love

Frances Koncan (born 1986) is an Saulteaux-Slovene journalist, theatre director, and playwright from Couchiching First Nation who lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As of 2023, Koncan uses she/they pronouns.

Her play The Dance-off of Conscious Uncoupling received the 2015 Tom Hendry Award for Best New Comedy.

Early life and education

Koncan was born in May of 1986 in Couchiching First Nation.

She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Manitoba and a master's degree in fine arts in playwriting from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.

Career

Koncan worked as an arts reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. from 2019 to 2022. They left the role and obtained the Writer-in-Residence position at the Winnipeg Public Library from 2022-2023. They are currently an Assistant Professor at the School of Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia

She wrote the play Women of the Fur Trade, zahgidiwin/love, and Flesh-Coloured Crayons.

She has worked as assistant director on Seminar (for the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre/Mirvish Productions), The Humans, and A Doll's House, Part 2, (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre), and Stripped Down Anthony & Cleopatra (Shakespeare in the Ruins).

Awards and honors

Her theatrical work has won the REVEAL Indigenous Arts Award, the Winnipeg Arts Council's 2017 RBC On the Rise Award, and got her shortlisted for the Tarragon Emerging Playwrights Award.

Personal life

Koncan lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Works

Television

  • That’s AWSM!

Theatre

Film

  • Outdigenous