The Playwrights Lab is a two-week residency supporting the development of new theatrical work in a generative, artist-centred environment. The Lab gives playwrights dedicated time, space, and resources to experiment, rewrite, and explore their work with experienced faculty. Community is central to the residency. Through facilitated conversations, shared inquiry, and informal exchange, participants learn from mentorship and one another while pursuing their own creative process. The result is a dynamic and supportive environment in which new work can take risks, evolve, and deepen.
Description
Led by experienced experts in new plays, the Lab fosters risk-taking and innovation and is a catalyst for meaningful artistic breakthroughs. Through dedicated time, expert mentorship, and collaborative exchange, playwrights will:
- 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 & As
Faculty talks and group 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.
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
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.
Emerging playwrights spend structured instruction time with a faculty mentor, whereas the established stream is more self directed. Please identify your preferred stream in your application.
Participants must be available to attend all elements of the program for its entire duration; variable participation dates will not be considered.
Collaborative applications are limited to two co-writers. The lead applicant may include one collaborator. Both co-writers must participate in the full program.
Total Program Fee $4 123.35
Banff Centre Arts Scholarship $4 123.35
Participant Cost *$0.00
Application Fee
$65 for individuals or groups, $35 for applicants who identify as Indigenous.
This non-refundable fee covers the full cost of processing your application, including the SlideRoom fee.
We are pleased to offer a range of scholarships to support participants in our programs.
- Banff Centre Arts Scholarship
Program participants receive a Banff Centre Arts Scholarship that covers the full cost of tuition, accommodation and meals.
*Participant costs shown above reflect the cost after the scholarship has been applied. To be eligible for Banff Centre scholarship, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials.