Deadline: Midnight, Friday, August 11, 2017
Click here to download application form
The Emerging Creators Unit is accepting proposals for original 25-minute performance projects from queer or trans artists age 30 and under (age exceptions may apply – see below). Proposals can be for one of the following:
- An individual artist who wishes to create and perform a new work
- An individual artist who wishes to create and direct a new work to be performed by other artists
- A collaborative team of up to two creators who wish to collectively create, direct and/or perform a new work.
About the Emerging Creators Unit
The Emerging Creators Unit meets on Monday afternoons from 1 – 5 pm, October 23, 2017 – January 29, 2018, followed by performances in February 2018.
Selected participants meet weekly as a group with Emerging Creators Unit Director Sunny Drake and Company Dramaturge Mel Hague to take projects from idea to a performance-ready draft. The projects will be staged at The 39th Rhubarb Festival.The Emerging Creators Unit is an artist-driven, mentor-supported creative model; we look for strongly motivated emerging queer and/or trans artists who can work independently, are interested in creating original, text-driven, theatrical work and are ready to take their practice to the next level. Emerging Creators Unit participants are expected to devote a significant amount of time outside of weekly meetings to writing, research and preparation for their project; they must also be available for additional rehearsals to be scheduled in January and February leading up to the performance.
The Emerging Creators Unit supports a wide definition of “performance”, and is open to a wide variety of themes, form or content. Proposed projects could be autobiographically or community inspired or entirely fictional, use conventional or unconventional theatrical forms and could include a strong physicality although should also have a text base. The project could be intended as a longer work, with a 25-minute excerpt to be performed at Rhubarb. We do ask that the writing sample/support materials be original and be closely related to the proposed project, so we can fairly evaluate the project’s feasibility.
Individual creators who will perform their own work will be paired with a professional director to stage the work for presentation; individual creators who will direct their work will be supported to engage professional or suitable actors; collaborative creations may include a director in their creative team, or be matched with a professional director. Selected participants receive an honorarium at the end of the program; final performances will be documented and participants receive copies of professional production video.
Eligibility Requirements
- Be 30 years or younger (if you are older than this and feel you have faced barriers to pursuing your creative life earlier, please contact Sunny Drake to discuss – you may still eligible)
- Have less than 3 years of “professional” theatre practice (*see below)
- Those with a history of presentation (e.g. Fringe Festivals, Summerworks, community presentations) should demonstrate how their proposed project will expand their practice and take it to the next level
- Those with no history of presentation should demonstrate their readiness to take this next step and why this is important to them.
Accessibility Info
- The weekly sessions and presentations will be held at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. For full venue accessibility info, see buddiesinbadtimes.com/accessibility
- Unfortunately, we are not able to provide ASL interpretation at this time
- If you have any other access needs or requests, please contact sunny@buddiesinbadtimes.com or mel@buddiesinbadtimes.com
Application Process
Click here to download application form
Applications must be received on or before Friday, August 11, 2017.
The Emerging Creators Unit accepts email submissions only. Email your application as a single PDF document to sunny@buddiesinbadtimes.com
Short-listed applicants will be invited to an audition/interview to discuss their Emerging Creators Unit project proposal in greater depth and perform a short selection of their own work.
Got questions about the program or your proposal?
Email Sunny Drake sunny@buddiesinbadtimes.com or Mel Hague mel@buddiesinbadtimes.com
* We define a professional artist as someone who has developed their skills through training and/or practice, is recognized as professional by other theatre artists, actively practices their art, seeks payment for their work, and has a history of public presentation. Note – you do not have to have done any of these things in order to apply! If you have any questions about whether you have too much or too little experience to apply, contact sunny@buddiesinbadtimes.com