Indigenous Playwrights Nest - Fall 2021

Overview

The Indigenous Playwrights Nest is a two week residency that offers Indigenous playwrights an inspiring environmental workspace to write their plays surrounded by nature in the Leighton Artists Studios. The Indigenous Playwrights Nest is designed to offer support and space for new works in various stages of dramaturgical development. This residency includes revisiting textual work on plays that have had some performance life but are still in process of finalizing, as well as open to new works in development.

Writers will be on campus, while actors will be hired to do online-only readings in alignment with playwrights writing needs. 

What does the program offer?

This self-guided residency will support the development and creation of a new work by the Indigenous writer(s) working in theatre by providing actors, space, and resources for Indigenous writers to further their career and scripts that have exceptional merit and high impact. The program also offers the inclusion of Treaty 7 and area knowledge keepers and Elders to witness and to provide wisdom that will enhance community engagement in the project, and be a resource to the performers, if requested and appropriate. On campus, the program creates dedicated space and time away from home to add to the depth and breadth of the work in development.

Who should apply?

Indigenous artists in Canada who have a play in development or are creating a new work are encouraged to apply.

As we re-open campus and welcome artists back to programming in a safe and mindful way, we have made the difficult decision to restrict recruitment for on-campus programs to those currently residing in Canada.  We continue to monitor the situation closely and look forward to the future relaxation of travel measures that will allow us to welcome international artists once again. 

Application Deadline: September 15, 2021

Program Dates: November 01 - November 12, 2021

Arrival: October 31, 2021
Departure: November 13, 2021

*Image credit: Imajyn Cardinal - Sould, 2019, Indigenous Arts. Photo by Jessica Wittman.