Established by his family, this bursary aims to encourage new writers by giving them the means to have their plays read by professional actors. Harry used to write a script and, after it was read by actors, revise it. “They make me hear everything that's wrong with my script !” he used to say. Writing, having it read, rewriting, having it read again, etc. That was Harry's method. Harry's first readers were always actors. And it was his regular practice, at La Porte Rouge, to gather actors together to read and then discuss the ongoing drafts of his works in progress.  Last season's Sakura (presented at Centaur) was developed this way.  All of Harry's plays were developed this way (and we do not have sufficient time here to list all of the actors who — over the years — have partaken in this process. You are many).  It is a practice that we, at La Porte rouge, want to continue and perpetuate, by opening regular slots in our schedule where untried scripts by new authors may be given a readthrough with actors followed by a discussion.  Let's call it «Harry's Playwrights Bursary”  at La Porte rouge». And you're all invited to partake.

La bourse Harry Standjofski a été créée afin d'honorer la mémoire de ce grand homme de théâtre montréalais. Fondée par sa famille, cette bourse vise à encourager de nouveaux auteurs en leur donnant les moyens de faire lire leur pièce par des acteurs professionnels. Harry avait l'habitude d'écrire un texte et, suite à sa lecture par des acteurs, de le réviser. "Ils me font entendre tout ce qui ne va pas dans mon texte" avait-il l'habitude de dire. Écrire, faire lire, réécrire, refaire lire, etc. Ça c'était la méthode Harry....