PROGRAMS, DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, & JOBS
PAGE TURN
Are you an IBPOC or equity-seeking writer ready to deepen your practice and build a career in arts criticism? Page Turn is a professionalization and skills-building network for emerging performing arts critics in Canada, created by Neworld Theatre and Karen Fricker in partnership with Festival TransAmériques, Intermission Magazine, Punctuate! Theatre, Stir Magazine, and the Toronto Fringe.
Running from September 2025 to July 2027, Page Turn supports a cohort of 10 writers—of any age—who have some experience in criticism, feature writing, or online content creation. Participants will build skills in pitching, editing, networking, and reviewing, while fostering community, solidarity, and a sustainable practice in arts journalism. Visit Neworld Theatre’s website for more details.
DEADLINE: July 24, 2025 at 11:59. PDT.
NEW ART CITY – SUBMISSION CALL FOR FESTIVAL ’26
New Art City Theatre is seeking original full length comedies, dramas, or musicals for Festival ’26. If you’re a playwright, librettist, composer, or lyricist, we welcome your submission regardless of your age, race, religion, or previous success or experience. New Art City strongly believes in letting the work speak for itself and keeps their selection process blind. For more information and the application form, visit their website.
DEADLINE: August 12, 2025
WILDFIRE NATIONAL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
The Wildfire National Playwriting Competition is a free opportunity for young Canadian playwrights. Major Matt Mason Collective is looking for playwrights 30 years of age or under to submit fresh, young scripts that embrace risk, grit and innovation. Submitting a play to the competition is free and the two winning scripts selected by our jury receive a cash prize, a development workshop, and a public sharing at MMMC’s Wildfire Showcase in association with Sage Theatre’s IGNITE! Festival. More details on their website.
DEADLINE: August 15, 2025 at midnight MST
YALE DRAMA SERIES
The Yale Drama Series is seeking submissions for its 2026 playwriting competition. The winning play will be selected by the series’ current judge, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. The winner of this annual competition will be awarded the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000, publication of their manuscript by Yale University Press, and a staged reading at the Schwarzman Center at Yale University. The prize and publication are contingent on the playwright’s agreeing to the terms of the publishing agreement. There is no entry fee. Find full details and contact information on their website.
DEADLINE: August 15, 2025 midnight EST.
2026 Scripted Series Lab – PACIFIC SCREENWRITING PROGRAM
The Scripted Series Lab is a full-time 15 week curriculum that polishes and prepares candidates for an entry-level writer position on a series. Every year, up to six committed writers receive the necessary support to expand their portfolio and pursue opportunities in the evolving TV marketplace. Visit their website for more information.
Application fee – $25
APPLICATION WINDOW: August 5 – 27, 2025
ONLINE INFORMATION SESSION: June 25 @ 6:30 – 7:30 pm via Zoom
Register here.
2025 ECHO NEW PLAY COMPETITION
The Echo Theater Company of Los Angeles is accepting submissions through August 31st for its Annual New Play Competition! Winners are determined by a prize committee (TBA) including playwrights, artistic directors, and other working creatives. The winners will be announced on December 1st. For submission guidelines and prize details, visit their website. There is a $40 USD submission fee.
DEADLINE: August 31, 2025
NEW YORK ITC – INTERNATIONAL THEATER SCRIPT COMPETITION
The ITC is an international competition open to scripts from around the world. The first place prize is a fully produced production of your play or musical in a theater in Manhattan, New York City. Learn more about how to apply on their website.
DEADLINE: December 25, 2025
AWARDS, COMPETITIONS, & GRANTS
THE NATIONAL CREATION FUND
The National Arts Centre‘s fund is a catalyst for Canadian artists to take their projects to a new level. It provides the additional time and resources that bold, ambitious projects need to be successful on the national and international stage. The fund will invest up to $3 million a year in the development of 15 to 20 new Canadian works in theatre. Application form here.
CANADA COUNCIL DEADLINE EXTENSIONS
Canada Council for the Arts has been working to establish relief for artists in need and the application deadline for some of their programs has been extended. The new deadlines and application information can be found here.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Stay tuned for upcoming festivals and events!
CONFERENCES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS
CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP WITH NANCY JEAN ROSS, M.F.A.
JULY 6 – AUGUST 17
Join a supportive workshop to explore writing styles, spark creativity with prompts, and dive into free-writing exercises. Sundays from 1-3 PM in the Boardroom at the Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver). There will also be opportunities to share Your writing. $95 for 6 sessions, drop-in for $20. Learn more here: https://anc.ca.apm.activecommunities.com/vancouver/activity/search/detail/548778.
STAGE COMBAT AND PHYSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOPS – AFFAIR OF HONOR
This summer, Affair of Honor is throwing down! Join them for their Stage Combat and Physical Theatre Workshops, where movement meets mayhem in the best way possible. Affair of Honor is offering an exciting lineup of classes designed to get you moving, sweating, and kicking ass. From dynamic stage combat and high-impact physical theatre to kick techniques, text work, and creative movement, there’s something for every performer ready to level up.
July 15–18 – Kick It Up a Notch: High Kicks, Back Kicks & Roundhouses. A Kicking Technique BootcampJuly 29–Aug 1 – Physical Fury: A Stage Combat Movement Bootcamp + Sword Work
July 28–Aug 2 – Clash Course: 18-Hour Sword Intensive w/ Actor Showcase
July 28–Aug 2 – Scene & Destroy: Text + Fight Intensive w/ Actor Showcase
Visit Affair of Honor’s website for details and registration.
TUNING IN: SOUNDSCAPE RECORDING WITH NANCY TAM
July 12 – 13, 2025
This two-day workshop by VIVO Media Arts Centre highlights the creative process of soundscape recording and composition. It features artist Nancy Tam, showcasing her expertise in field recording for film, theatre, and music. Participants will explore outdoor field recording techniques on the first day, followed by editing and manipulating recordings on the second. The workshop introduces a variety of microphones, recording equipment, and editing software, offering both creative and technical skills for composing with sound. Visit their website for more details.
RESIDENCIES & RETREATS
SATORI ARTIST RETREAT
Satori Artist Retreat is a quiet place to create. On Panmure Island, PE, you can breathe and reconnect with your creative self. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.
KELOWNA ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM
Kelowna’s Artist in Residence program broadens the community’s experience with arts and culture, and stimulates thoughtful conversations on local topics.
The Artist in Residence will:
– Address the topic of the environment and/or climate change through community engagement and the work of art.
– Engage with the community in the context of arts and culture;
– Create a work of art for the City of Kelowna; and
– Address the topic of the environment and/or climate change through community engagement and the work of art. Visit their website for full details.
DEADLINE: July 14, 2025 at 4 pm PT.
SEND A PLAY
SUBMISSIONS FOR PTC’S DRAMATURGICAL READING PROGRAM ARE OPEN!
Do you want trained, appropriate feedback for your work? Our dramaturgs are here to provide meaningful recommendations and help you get to the next phase with your work. Submit your work here.
READ MY PLAY
A free Script Exchange Service for Playwrights.
readmyplay.com
FOR IBPOC ARTISTS
We’re delighted to partner with Vancouver-based arts company, Visceral Visions, to spread the word about their fantastic initiative, CultureBrew.Art (CBA). A digital platform created by racialized artists for BIPOC artists, CBA features a Canada-wide searchable database of Indigenous and racialized artists working in every artistic discipline: literary, media, performing, and visual arts.
ONGOING CALLS & OPPORTUNITIES
BLACK THEATRE WORKSHOP
Black Theatre Workshop is always on on the lookout for new works. BTW’s mission is to promote and produce outstanding theatre that educates, entertains and inspires. The company strives to create greater cross-cultural understanding by challenging its audience and the status quo. Expanding the representation of Black Canadian artists, BTW bridges cultural divides – uniting hearts, minds and communities.
blacktheatreworkshop.ca
RISER PROJECT
The RISER Project is a collaborative producing model for theatre artists and companies to create and present new work. It was developed by Why Not Theatre in 2013 in order to address some of the challenges of producing independent theatre, and to provide more opportunity for artists to take on risks in producing their work. riserproject.org
#cdnopening- CELEBRATE YOUR OPENING NIGHT ONLINE
Canadian theatre companies celebrate Opening Night hundreds, possibly even thousands, of times per year. Spiderwebshow.ca wants to unite opening night celebrations coast-to-coast-to-coast and more than anything, they want to connect our theatre communities that are doing great work – and having great parties – nationwide. Help us by posting your opening night celebrations on Instagram with #cdnopening. Your theatre, your production and your work will appear alongside theatres from across the country on the Spiderwebshow.ca Instagram feed, one click away from fellow opening night revellers from Victoria to Iqaluit to St. John’s.
CHAMELEON THEATRE COMPANY
Chameleon Theatre Company welcomes new work by women.
chameleontheatrephilly.com
DANCING SKY THEATRE
Dancing Sky Theatre accepts unsolicited manuscripts of full-length and original plays.
dancingskytheatre.com
THE CRIPSTERS
The Cripsters is a monthly Akimblog feature on disability and culture from the point of view of people with disabilities.They are looking for submissions of 750-1000 words on topics that intersect with art and disability through a social justice lens and that crip/disrupt the way we think about disability. Submissions can take the form of a critical review, an interview, or an article on artistic/curatorial processes, theory and ideas, commentary, community, etc. A writer’s fee is paid.
akimbo.ca
THE 50 PLAYWRIGHTS PROJECT
The 50 Playwrights Project is a digital resource for Latin@ theatre and a virtual home for the voices of Latin@ playwrights and other Teatro allies, created by Dr. Trevor Boffone. The 50 Playwrights Project is engaged in providing accessible information about contemporary Latin@ theatre artists. This project serves as a dramaturgical and pedagogical database for artists, educators, scholars, and students who are looking for more online information about playwrights: where are they from, how do they identify, what are they working on, what advice would they give to aspiring artists, and links to relevant online resources. More info at 50playwrights.org.
GREAT CANADIAN THEATRE COMPANY
Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) produces a subscription season of six full-length plays in English for adult audiences.
gctc.ca
INTERMISSION MAGAZINE
Intermission publishes artist perspectives, original journalism, spotlight profiles, original drama, and audio and video content. Intermission is expanding their content to include publishing short original drama. They now accept excerpts of longer plays as well as short plays. Their focus is on high quality writing (in the vein of The New Yorker or McSweeney’s, if they featured Canadian theatre writing) They’re looking to hear from Canadians—both established playwrights and new, original voices.
intermissionmagazine.ca
LADY PLAYS PODCAST
The online literary journal Lady Plays Podcast, a monthly podcast dramatizing new plays by women, is accepting submissions for future podcast episodes. Each episode will consist of a “staged” reading of the play and an optional interview with the playwright. Submission Guidelines: Plays that will easily translate to a “radio” medium and that feature 5 characters or less will take priority. Plays of all length and style will be considered, writers may submit more than one script.
greenroomblog.com
MIXED BLOOD THEATRE
Mixed Blood Theatre welcomes submissions of contemporary plays that pursue and realize the company’s mission and aesthetic. Mixed Blood uses theatre to address pluralism, usually manifest in race, culture, language, disability, gender, nationality, affectional orientation, and political worldview. Predictably unpredictable, the theatre particularly invites polyglot plays, scripts from the global stage, and work that advances the art form.
mixedblood.com.
METRO OPEN CALL FOR PLAY & PLAYWRIGHTING SUBMISSIONSMetro encourages all playwrights to submit their work for consideration. Read more about what Metro is looking for and how to apply here.
NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
Submit your theatre project proposal to The National Arts Centre.
nac-cna.ca
NATIVE EARTH PERFORMING ARTS
Submit a script to Native Earth Performing Arts.
nativeearth.ca
PLAYCONNECT
Launched in April 2017, PlayConnect is Playwrights Guild of Canada’s revamped version of the Canada Council Readings Program. It connects playwrights with communities and new audiences by providing an opportunity for travel funding, promotion, and professional development. As a network liaison, PGC ensures that the program is accessible and inclusive of a wide-ranging group of artists and audiences.
playwrightsguild.ca
PGC STAGE READY SCRIPTS AND COPYSCRIPTS PROGRAMS
The Stage Ready Scripts program is for plays which have not yet had a professional production but are ready for the stage. Entering your script into the Stage Ready Program promotes your play to theatre companies, schools, and individuals internationally and may lead to a production. You must be a member of PGC to take advantage of The Stage Ready program. Questions? Contact them at [email protected]. PGC also has the Copyscript program for plays that have been produced, but aren’t yet published. The program exists to distribute professionally produced, unpublished plays by full members of PGC. *Only plays that have received a professional production are eligible for the copyscript program. Check out PGC’s services here.
PLAYME CBC PODCAST
Submit plays or short stories to Playme Podcast for a unique opportunity to produce your work in podcast format.
playmepodcast.com
PLEDGE PROJECT
The Pledge Project is searchable database of large cast plays (6 characters or more) written by Canadian women. Enroll your play or find a show today.
pledgeproject.ca
THE PURPLE ROSE
Submit a script to the Purple Rose Theatre Company – dedicated to the development and production of new plays and emerging playwrights.
purplerosetheatre.org
RESOURCE CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
The Resource Centre for the Arts wants to present your play.
rca.nf.ca
STUDIO 180 THEATRE
In keeping with Studio 180’s mandate to produce socially relevant theatre that provokes public discourse and promotes community engagement, they are interested in material that engages audiences intellectually and emotionally, and encourages dialogue and action even after the curtain falls. Their Core Artistic Team is most interested in works that tackle politically and ideologically challenging issues using a non-prescriptive approach. Interested artists should submit an outline of their play, including a description of its production history and/or stage of development (maximum two pages). Please do not submit a complete script unless requested to do so.
studio180theatre.com
SUBLETSERIES: CO-OP
The SubletSeries@HERE Program supports 250 guest independent artists and groups and their audiences each season. This creative, curated rental program has allowed many upstart companies and emerging artists to realize their full artistic vision on a small budget.
here.org
TEESRI DUNIYA THEATRE
Teesri Duniya Theatre seeks culturally diverse and First Nation plays that are politically relevant examining meaningful social and cultural questions, exploring diverse worldviews and historical events that affect our lives and our socio-cultural heritage.
teesriduniyatheatre.com
THEATRE NEW BRUNSWICK
Theatre New Brunswick invites playwrights to submit scripts for future consideration for both Main Stage and Studio Theatre productions.
tnb.nb.ca
THEATRE TIMES
Theatre Times is a rapidly expanding global theatre portal. If you’re passionate about world theatre, consider joining their team as Regional Editors, Managing Editors, Bloggers, or Editorial Assistants.
thetheatretimes.com
THEATRE ART LIFE
Love to write or have something to say? Become a contributor to Theatre Art Life!
theatreartlife.com
URBANSTAGES
Submit a play to Urban Stages.
urbanstages.org
WOMEN ARTS BLOG
Do you have an idea for an article you would like to write for the Women Arts Blog?
womenarts.org
YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE
Submit a script for developmental support with Young People’s Theatre.
youngpeoplestheatre.org