Simon Choa-Johnston was born and raised in Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada where he graduated from McMaster University. After studying theatre in New York he has worked extensively as a director, playwright and artistic director in professional theatres in Canada. His novel “The House of Wives” (2016) was a Globe and Mail bestseller in that year. Simon has also written for C.B.C radio drama and screenplays for C.B.C Television. He won Theatre BC’s National Playwrighting award in 1998 and published his first play “Running Dog, Paper Tiger” that year. It was nominated best play at Vancouver’s Jessie Awards. His other plays: “Sisters”, “Rice Rocket and Yacht People”, “Wildcat”, and “Gold Mountain Guest,” to name a few have been produced in Ontario and British Columbia and are available through the Playwrights Guild of Canada.
He won the Governor General’s 125 medal for his contribution to culture and tourism as well as the City of Richmond’s Cultural Leadership award. In 2012 he was made Artistic Director Emeritus of the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, BC. Simon lives in South Surrey with his wife, Sheila and their sybaritic cat Dash.
Simon is represented by Carolyn Forde.