Playwrights Lab 2026

Overview  

The Playwrights Lab is a 2 week residency for Canadian Playwrights dedicated to supporting the development of new theatrical work in a generative, artist-centered environment.

This residency provides time, space, and resources for playwrights to experiment, rewrite, and explore their plays. With a focus on community, the lab brings playwrights together through facilitated conversations and shared creative practice, fostering a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere for artistic growth.

Description

Led by experienced experts in new plays, the Lab fosters risk-taking and innovation. Ideal for both emerging and established Canadian playwrights working in English, this residency is a catalyst for meaningful artistic breakthroughs. Program Goals include: 

• Support New Play Development: Provide playwrights with dedicated time, space, and resources to advance a new or in-progress script.
• Learn from Lectures and Q & A's: Faculty talks and dialogues on issues of the day.
• Prioritize Artistic Process: Emphasize experimentation, discovery, and revision, creating a lab environment where risk-taking and failure are part of the process.
• Cultivate Dramaturgical Practice: Deepen participants’ understanding of structure, language, and character through dramaturgical support.
• Build Artistic Community: Create a national and international network of artists, offering space for exchange, mentorship, and long-term creative relationships. 

Faculty will offer constructive feedback, share ideas, and address the challenges of writing for contemporary theatre.

Requirements

This program is open to Canadian playwrights writing in English at all stages of their careers who are looking to dedicate time to developing their scripts.

This year’s Lab features two application streams:

• Emerging Playwrights: For writers with less than 5 years of practice and fewer than 2 professionally produced plays.
• Established Playwrights: For those with significant experience who are looking for dedicated time to work on their projects.

Please identify your preferred stream in your application.

Collaborative groups of no more than two co-writers are welcome to apply but both parties must attend the full program to be considered. 

• Scholarship covering 100% of the Total Fee is awarded to all arts participants, made possible through endowments and donations .