From page to stage

A few days before I sat down with Kris Williams, I had the pleasure of seeing him win the Emerging Artist of the Year Award from the City of Charlottetown. In his acceptance speech, he noted that our small Island “punches above its weight” when it comes to the creative and artistic people who live here. It was a pleasure to get to sit with Kris a few days after the awards ceremony to hear more about his own creative curiosities and to learn about the many ways he expresses himself through story.

Kris moved to PEI from BC after spending time living in Ireland. “It was time for a change, and we decided to make the move a reality.” I met Kris for coffee on a very wintery March morning, and I imagined that he may be missing the early blooming spring of the West Coast. “We are still adjusting to the East Coast seasons.”

Throughout his life, Kris has always been a writer, dabbling in various genres, including writing children’s books. “I hear stories in my head, and they come out in many ways.” With a drawer full of children’s books and novels-in-progress, Kris realized he could take what he loved about writing fiction—character development, plot, dialogue—and try his hand at playwriting. “Once I started, I wrote three plays in just a few months.” 

In 2024, Kris wrote a play as part of Fresh From The Island at the Kings Playhouse in Georgetown. “I met so many incredible people during that experience, many of whom I have built friendships with and continue working with in theatre.” With his play, Elmsdale, Kris was accepted into the Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (PARC) retreat that same year. “I felt outside my comfort zone and still so new to the playwriting world, but I learned so much from others at the retreat.” Kris is fortunate to be one of the PARC retreat participants again later in 2026. 

Though still new to the playwriting world, Kris is no stranger to theatre. “I always loved theatre and was part of drama during high school.” He left acting behind in his twenties and focused on other things, but his love of live theatre never left. “I attended shows whenever I could and have always been drawn to seeing stories play out live on stage.”

Many writers will agree that the writing process is often completed in solitude which can feel isolating. “Playwriting is so different than writing novels because of the collaborative nature of plays.” Between the dramaturgy, table reads, and actor’s input, there is an ongoing feedback loop in playwriting that simply doesn’t exist in other genres. “I am always so amazed with the generosities and genius of the people I work with. They provide so much feedback during the refining process that allows the play to come to life.”

Along with the writing process itself, Kris loves being in the rehearsal room. “I’m fortunate to work with excellent directors and actors who can take my words and bring them to life in a way that I could never have imagined.” Once the writing is complete, Kris loves to “sit in a black box and watch the words come to life on stage right before my eyes.” 

Kris had a show in the Island Fringe Festival in October 2025: Where It’s Too Deep to See which was recognized for its outstanding dramatic merit with the PARC PEI Award. A few short weeks later, he was rounding up people to film his debut television series, A Lick and A Prayer for Bell Fibe TV. “Writing for the screen is different than writing for the stage and I learned a lot in that process.” Kris writes the story and then has someone else direct and produce the show, whether for the stage or the screen. “I hear the story, but I don’t see it. The director role is essential in bringing my words from the page to the stage.”

When he’s not writing or working his day job at the University of Prince Edward Island, Kris enjoys playing guitar and mandolin, and spending time with other local creatives. “I feel fortunate to have met so many incredibly talented and creative people since moving to PEI and now my entire social life is also spent with these lovely people.”

As a self-taught playwright, Kris reminds us that “it’s never too late to try something new.” He generously shared parts of his journey with me and his belief in, and encouragement of other writers (including me) was evident throughout our entire conversation. “Everyone has a voice and a story to tell; you just have to be willing to give it a go.”