Dan Needles
Encyclopedia
Dan Needles is best known as the playwright behind the popular Wingfield Series
which has played across Canada
for many years. It was performed at the Stratford Festival of Canada
and was aired, in part, on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
.
Needles' childhood was divided between Toronto
and his family's farm at Rosemont, Ontario
. While working as editor for a local newspaper in Shelburne
, he created the character of Walt Wingfield, a retired stockbroker turned farmer who told about his adventures on the farm in weekly letters to the editor. In 1985, Needles and his brother Reed gathered these articles to write the play, Letter From Wingfield Farm, which was first performed by Reed. Several sequels followed, including Wingfield's Progress (1987), Wingfield's Folly (1990), Wingfield Unbound (1997), Wingfield on Ice (2001), Wingfield's Inferno (2005), and Wingfield: Lost and Found (2009). All these plays are performed by actor Rod Beattie
.
Needles currently writes columns for Country Guide Magazine and Harrowsmith Country Life
. His book With Axe and Flask, The History of Persephone Township from Pre-Cambrian Times to the Present was the winner of the 2003 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour
.
His most recent book is a collection of the fourth through sixth Wingfield plays entitled Wingfield's Hope.
Needles has also written several other plays, among them are Ed's Garage and The Last Christmas Turkey.
Needles is the grandson of University of Waterloo co-founder Ira G. Needles.
Wingfield Series
The Wingfield Cycle is a Canadian series of seven one-man plays - Letter from Wingfield Farm, Wingfield's Progress, Wingfield's Folly, Wingfield Unbound, Wingfield on Ice, Wingfield's Inferno and "Wingfield Lost and Found" - written by Dan Needles, directed by Douglas Beattie and performed by Rod...
which has played across Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for many years. It was performed at the Stratford Festival of Canada
Stratford Festival of Canada
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival is an internationally recognized annual celebration of theatre running from April to November in the Canadian city of Stratford, Ontario...
and was aired, in part, on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
.
Needles' childhood was divided between Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and his family's farm at Rosemont, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. While working as editor for a local newspaper in Shelburne
Shelburne, Ontario
Shelburne, Ontario is a town in Dufferin County, Ontario, Canada, located at the intersection of Highway 10 and Highway 89...
, he created the character of Walt Wingfield, a retired stockbroker turned farmer who told about his adventures on the farm in weekly letters to the editor. In 1985, Needles and his brother Reed gathered these articles to write the play, Letter From Wingfield Farm, which was first performed by Reed. Several sequels followed, including Wingfield's Progress (1987), Wingfield's Folly (1990), Wingfield Unbound (1997), Wingfield on Ice (2001), Wingfield's Inferno (2005), and Wingfield: Lost and Found (2009). All these plays are performed by actor Rod Beattie
Rod Beattie
Rod Beattie is a Canadian actor who is best known for performing the Wingfield Series of plays by Dan Needles. In these plays Beattie plays all the characters, employing changes in voice or facial expression to denote which character he is playing...
.
Needles currently writes columns for Country Guide Magazine and Harrowsmith Country Life
Harrowsmith (magazine)
Harrowsmith Country Life was a lifestyle magazine geared to countryside or rural living. Originally just called Harrowsmith, it was founded as a back-to-the-land and environmental magazine in the small village of Camden East in 1976 by James M. Lawrence...
. His book With Axe and Flask, The History of Persephone Township from Pre-Cambrian Times to the Present was the winner of the 2003 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour
Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour
The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour is an annual literary award presented to the best work of humorous literature in English by a Canadian writer. The award is a tribute to well-known Canadian humorist Stephen Leacock , and is accompanied by a cash prize of $15,000...
.
His most recent book is a collection of the fourth through sixth Wingfield plays entitled Wingfield's Hope.
Needles has also written several other plays, among them are Ed's Garage and The Last Christmas Turkey.
Needles is the grandson of University of Waterloo co-founder Ira G. Needles.
Stephen Leacock Medal nominations and wins
- Letters From Wingfield Farm, short-listed for the 1989 Stephen Leacock MedalStephen Leacock Memorial Medal for HumourThe Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour is an annual literary award presented to the best work of humorous literature in English by a Canadian writer. The award is a tribute to well-known Canadian humorist Stephen Leacock , and is accompanied by a cash prize of $15,000...
- With Axe and Flask – A History of Persephone Township from Pre-Cambrian Times to the Present, winner of the 2003 Stephen Leacock MedalStephen Leacock Memorial Medal for HumourThe Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour is an annual literary award presented to the best work of humorous literature in English by a Canadian writer. The award is a tribute to well-known Canadian humorist Stephen Leacock , and is accompanied by a cash prize of $15,000...
- Wingfield's Hope – More Letters from Wingfield Farm, shortlisted for the 2006 Stephen Leacock MedalStephen Leacock Memorial Medal for HumourThe Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour is an annual literary award presented to the best work of humorous literature in English by a Canadian writer. The award is a tribute to well-known Canadian humorist Stephen Leacock , and is accompanied by a cash prize of $15,000...