Stephen Near

Stephen is a writer and educator living in Hamilton. He is a graduate of York University (BFA), the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (B. Ed) and the MFA Creative Writing program at the University of Guelph. Stephen is a member of the Playwright’s Guild of Canada, the Theatre Aquarius Playwrights Unit and an alumnus of both the Sage Hill Writing Experience and the Banff Centre. With Reaching Symmetry Theatre, his writing credits include Quintessence, Interface, Monstrous Invisible, Test and The Conspiracy of Michael. With Same Boat Theatre his writing credits include Finding Mr. Right, Your Own Sons (Best in Venue, Hamilton Fringe), Creature and Whale Fall. In 2021, Stephen was Long-listed for the CBC Short Story Prize and was a Writer-In-Residence at the Cotton Factory in Hamilton. Stephen is a freelance writer and a feature columnist with the Beyond James arts and culture blog. stephennear.com