Category: Trainings

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INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE TRANSLATION

abstract pink, green, and blue art with text that reads "Call for applicants" and "Introduction to theatre translation"

APPLICATION DEADLINE: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29TH 2023 11:59PM EST.

A one-on-one mentorship opportunity

For years Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal (PWM) and le Centre des auteurs dramatiques (CEAD) have worked to forge links between the French and English language theatre communities and foster the art of theatre translation. To this end, the two organizations have partnered once again to offer two individualized mentorships meant to familiarize playwrights with the craft of theatre translation: Introduction to Theatre Translation (Traductions Croisées). One Mentorship, described below, is focused on French to English theatre translation. Vous trouverez sur le site du CEAD les détails du mentorat anglais – français.

How the mentorship works:

  • PWM will select 1 participant with an interest in French to English theatre translation;
  • Over a period of several months, the participant will translate excerpts (roughly 10-12 pages) of two contemporary Québécois plays selected by the CEAD;
  • The participant will receive a total of 12 hours of dramaturgical support from acclaimed playwright and theatre translator Alexis Diamond;
  • The participant will have the opportunity to discuss their translations with the original playwrights;
  • The mentorship will culminate in two workshops during which professional actors will read and discuss the newly-translated excerpts;
  • The participant will then have the chance to meet with the second participant and both mentors to present their work and discuss their experiences;
  • After the workshops, the participant will submit their final drafts of the translated excerpts to the CEAD.

Who can apply?

  • Montreal-based playwrights with a strong interest in French-to-English theatre translation;
  • The candidate must have excellent writing skills in English and have fluent comprehension of Québecois French;
  • Playwrights with little to no experience in theatre translation are encouraged to apply;

How to apply:

If you are interested in applying, please fill out this Google Form by Sunday, October 29th, 2023, 11:59 PM EST. You will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Your name, pronouns (optional), and contact information ;
  • Your bio; 
  • A description of your interest in this mentorship and in French-to-English theatre translation more generally;
  • Confirmation that you are based in Montreal;
  • A CV

Video or audio responses are also accepted through the Google form.

Questions about this program can be sent to helena@playwrights.ca with the subject line: Introduction to Theatre Translation. Audio and video applications are also welcomed. 

If you have any questions regarding accessibility, or require assistance with this application, please contact accessibility@playwrights.ca. 

Click here for accessibility information and video tours of our location.

PWM is committed to creating an environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.  We are continuously working to make all of our programs accessible and inclusive. While recognizing that the identity of each person is fundamentally plural, and multidimensional, we strongly encourage applications from artists who are: Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Black, POC, racialized (including recent immigrants), 2SLGBTQQIPAA+, neurodivergent, disabled, living with chronic illness and/or chronic pain. PWM is strongly committed to supporting a wide range of cultural identities and lived experiences, therefore we encourage applicants to self-identify in their application if they are comfortable doing so.

Biography of Alexis Diamond


Based in Tiohtiá:ke / Mooniyang / Montreal, Alexis Diamond (she/her) is a theatre artist, opera and musical librettist, translator, dramaturg and theatre curator working in both English and French. She creates works for a wide range of audiences, from toddlers, to school-aged children, to all ages, to adults only, which have garnered awards, residencies, and attention at home and abroad. Playful, poetic and profound, her texts and performances break open the stories we inherit and the myths we perpetuate to spark some kind of collective epiphany.

Current and upcoming works include: NZINGA, co-written with Marie Louise Bibish Mumbu in collaboration with Tatiana Zinga Botao, premiering this November at Montreal’s acclaimed Centre du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui; Mars: Signs of Life, an installation-opera about the “colonization” of Mars with composer Tim Brady; the translation of Tout inclus (All-inclusive) François Grisé’s probing and poetic documentary-theatre investigation into ageing; a large-scale installation-performance with Finnish contemporary-circus artist Marjukka Erälinna; and a couple of musicals.

Alexis has translated award-winning plays by Audrey-Anne Bouchard and Marc-André Lapointe, Pascal Brullemans, Alexia Bürger, Marie-Hélène Larose-Truchon, Érika Tremblay-Roy and Marie-Claude Verdier for companies such as Geordie Theatre, Le Petit Théâtre de Sherbrooke, DynamO Theatre, Talisman Theatre, Theatre Direct, Théâtre Incliné, Bouche Theatre Collective and Playwrights Canada Press. Alexis was a finalist for the 2020 Governor General’s Award for her translation of Pascal Brullemans’ plays for young audiences, Amaryllis and Little Witch (Playwrights Canada Press). Many of her works can be found at the Canadian Play Outlet.

Tentative Schedule

October 29th
 Application deadline

November 9th
 Communication of results

November – March
 12 hours of translation mentorship and meetings with playwrights.

Before March 29th
 2 workshops of translated excerpts and final meeting with other participant.

This mentorship is made possible by:

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Now seeking applications for our 2022-2023 Young Creators Unit!

YCU NEWS: WE’RE welcoming a new dramaturG to lead the Unit

Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal is delighted to announce that dramaturg and director Leila Ghaemi will be leading this year’s Young Creators Unit! The current leader and creator of the YCU, Jesse Stong, will work with YCU alumni this year, while continuing their work as a dramaturg at PWM with both the Queer Reading Series and the New Stories Project.

“I’m so excited to have Leila taking the Young Creators Unit into the next phase. With her passion, intelligence, and experience, I am sure she will exceed expectations!” says long-time YCU facilitator Jesse Stong.

Find out more about Leila here

The application period for this year’s YCU has now passed. We’d like to thank each of the creatives who applied.

If you’re an aspiring playwright or storyteller who is 30 or under, then Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal’s Young Creators Unit (YCU) is the place to grow your work. This incubator for learning and experimentation helps emerging artists find their voice, as they workshop an original piece of theatre over the course of several months.

Playwriting is an ever-expanding field, and workshop environments are flexible and judgment-free spaces to work collectively. Interested storytellers need only apply with an idea, a question, a theme or topic. We welcome diversity of experience in life and in theatre, and all kinds of emerging writers and theatre makers are encouraged to apply. 

By taking part in group sessions every two weeks, participants establish their craft in conversation with a close cohort of creatives. A customized work plan and one-on-one mentorship supports the development of your play, alongside professional support with grant writing and networking opportunities.

PWM welcomes all applications to our programs. While recognizing that the identity of each person is fundamentally plural and multidimensional, we strongly encourage applications from artists who are: Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Black, POC, racialized (including recent immigrants), 2SLGBTQQIPAA+, neurodivergent, disabled, living with chronic illness and/or chronic pain. PWM is strongly committed to supporting a wide range of cultural identities and lived experiences, therefore we encourage applicants to self-identify in their application if they are comfortable doing so. 

If you have any questions about the Young Creators Unit, please contact both Leila Ghaemi Leila@playwrights.ca and Jesse Stong jesse@playwrights.ca.

If you have any questions regarding accessibility, or require assistance with the form, please contact Heather accessibility@playwrights.ca. Accessibility concerns are central to how we structure our programs and we’ve learned a lot from our Accessibility Committee conversations. Click here to read more about the work done by PWM’s accessibility committee. 

To learn about what it’s like navigating our space click here.

how to apply

Fill out this Google Form by 11:59 PM on September 27, 2022. Your application will require the following information:

A brief bio of yourself, and your experience (if any) as a storyteller/creator.

A brief description of the work you would like to develop, or a list of some ideas.

A brief description sharing why you would like to join the Unit, and what you hope to get out of the experience.

Group sessions will take place in person every 2 weeks on Tuesdays from 5PM-8PM, and will shift to a weekly format beginning in January 2023. The program runs from October 18th, 2022 to May 26th, 2023 in PWM’s studio at 7250 Rue Clark in Montreal.

There are limited spots in the program and participants are expected to attend the group sessions, one-on-one meetings,  as well as commit to some additional self-directed activities. Please only apply to the Unit if you can commit to the schedule. All applicants will be informed of their results by October 12. 

PWM is committed to upholding safety and comfort for in-person gatherings, with regard to COVID-19. We continue to strongly encourage the  regular wearing  of masks, frequent hand-washing and use of sanitizer, as well as frequent surface wipe-downs. To read more about PWM’s COVID-19 guidelines, click here. 

THE SELECTION PROCESS

A selection committee will be reading all applications and selecting the participants for the Unit. There are many factors that go into the selection process in addition to the consideration of your application, such as group dynamics and the range of experience within the cohort. There are no judgements with regard to training or competencies.

Learn more about the YCU

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Spatial Dramaturgy: Developing an Urban Performance Practice with Shauna Janssen

Image of Shauna Janssen inside a spotlight at the end of a graphic beam of light. The Image has text which reads "Exploring Practice."

Spatial Dramaturgy Application deadline: April 6th, 2022

Although the deadline to apply has passed, there are still a few spots available. If you are interested please apply as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, or need assistance with your application for Spatial Dramaturgy with Shauna Janssen, please contact the program coordinator Harris at harris@playwrights.ca.

This multi-day workshop led by Shauna Janssen (interdisciplinary artist and curator) will focus on exploring performance creation methods for developing site-specific/ responsive and urban performance works.

Participants will be engaged in “hands-on” activities taking place in the city, including site-writing and performative mapping workshops.  Each participant will realize a prototype for an urban performance project, as well as have an opportunity to engage with critical texts on interdisciplinary approaches to spatial dramaturgy and creating site-specific performances in the built environment. The workshop is open to playwrights, interdisciplinary performance makers and storytellers, scenographers, and dramaturgs.

PWM is committed to creating an environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.  We are continuously working to make all of our programs accessible and inclusive. 

PWM welcomes all applications to our programs. While recognizing that the identity of each person is fundamentally plural, multidimensional, changing and evolving, we strongly encourage applications from artists who are: Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Black, POC, racialized (including recent immigrants), 2SLGBTQQIPAA+, neurodivergent, disabled, living with chronic illness and/or chronic pain. PWM is strongly committed to supporting a wide range of cultural identities and lived experiences, therefore we encourage applicants to self-identify in their application if they are comfortable doing so.

Schedule:

(multi-day workshop)

Part 1: Thursday, April 21st, 6-9pm
Part 2: Saturday, April 23rd, 12-5pm
Part 3: Monday, April 25th, 12-5pm
Part 4: Tuesday, April 26th, 6-9pm
Part 5: Thursday, April 28th, 6-9pm
Part 6: Friday, April 29th, 6-9pm
Part 7: Sunday, May 1st, 12-5pm

Location:

The workshop will take place in-person and primarily in PWM’s studio. Some sessions will consist of in-situ writing sessions in various locations around the city.

If you have any questions, or need assistance regarding this application, please contact the program coordinator Harris at harris@playwrights.ca.

Application Instructions for Spatial Dramaturgy with Shauna Janssen

  • Send applications to harris@playwrights.ca with subject line: Exploring Practice with Shauna Janssen.
  • Please attach a bio and/or CV as well as a brief paragraph detailing your interest in the workshop.
    • We also accept alternative methods of application if requested, including video and audio applications.
    • If you have any questions, or need assistance regarding this application, please contact the program coordinator Harris at harris@playwrights.ca.
  • Apply before  5 PM on April 6th, 2022.

About the Workshop Leader

Shauna Janssen is an interdisciplinary artist and curator. She specializes in making site-specific performances, public art installations, and urban interventions. Her projects and collaborations have been staged in Montreal, and in various cities in Europe and Australasia. For over twenty years Shauna worked professionally in the theatre on the development of new works for theatre, opera, and dance. She is currently Professor in Performance Creation in the Department of Theatre at Concordia, where she holds a research chair in Performative Urbanism.

Presented in collaboration with
This workshop is financially supported by
Compétence Culture Logo

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Building Your Grant Proposal with Jesse Stong

Image of Jesse Stong inside a spotlight at the end of a graphic beam of light. The Image has text which reads "Exploring Practice."

Application deadline: January 21st, 2022

If you have any questions, or need assistance with your application for Building Your Grant Proposal with Jesse Stong, please contact the program coordinator Harris at harris@playwrights.ca.

Using innovative and interactive activities, Jesse Stong (art educator, playwright and dramaturg) will support the development of your grant writing skills in this Exploring Practice workshop!

From seeding initial ideas to developing dynamic writing samples for your grant, participants will have the opportunity to elaborate and articulate project outlines with realistic timelines and budgets. By the end of these hands-on sessions each participant will leave with a completed first draft of their grant proposal and be informed on how to seek diverse sources of funding, independent fundraising strategies, and guidance on partnership-building for the future of their proposed project.

PWM is committed to creating an environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.  We are continuously working to make all of our programs accessible and inclusive. 

PWM welcomes all applications to our programs. While recognizing that the identity of each person is fundamentally plural, multidimensional, changing and evolving, we strongly encourage applications from artists who are: Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Black, POC, racialized (including recent immigrants), 2SLGBTQQIPAA+, d/Deaf, neurodivergent, disabled, living with chronic illness and/or chronic pain. PWM is strongly committed to supporting a wide range of cultural identities and lived experiences, therefore we encourage applicants to self-identify in their application if they are comfortable doing so.

Schedule:

(2-part group session)

Part 1 – Tuesday, February 15th
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Part 2 – Wednesday, February 16th
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

In addition to the group sessions, individual or smaller group calls may be scheduled based on the participants’ availability.

Location:

The workshop will take place remotely via video-conferencing software.

If you have any questions, or need assistance regarding this application, please contact the program coordinator Harris at harris@playwrights.ca.

Topics Covered in Building Your Grant Proposal with Jesse Stong

  1. General grant writing tips/cautions.
  2. Stress and time management/infusing grant writing into your artistic practice.
  3. Hands-On Project Proposal Building (developing treatment, describing project.)
  4. Creative Activities (exploring innovative grant writing processes.)
  5. Expressing authentic need and attracting support.
  6. Group Brainstorm Sessions (exploring ideas, developing proposals further in the workshop.)
  7. Editing and Increasing Impact (How to sharpen your grant.)
  8. Action planning/specific measurable steps towards grant submission.
  9. Ongoing discussions/Group Sharing of resources/Sources of funding.

Expectations for Building Your Grant Proposal with Jesse Stong

  • Please come to the workshop with a project/residency idea that you are genuinely interested in developing a grant proposal for (the idea can be fully developed or a seed of a new project.)
  • Be prepared to support the ideas of others/contribute to the group discussions.
  • Expect to leave with a clear plan to complete your grant application.

Application Instructions for Building Your Grant Proposal with Jesse Stong

  • Send applications to harris@playwrights.ca with subject line: Exploring Practice with Jesse Stong.
  • Please attach a bio and/or CV as well as a brief paragraph detailing your interest in the workshop.
    • We also accept alternative methods of application if requested including video and audio applications.
    • If you have any questions, or need assistance regarding this application, please contact the program coordinator Harris at harris@playwrights.ca.
  • Apply before  5 PM on January 21st, 2022.

About the Workshop Leader

Headshot photograph of Jesse Stong
Photo by Nasuna Dawn

Jesse Stong is a proud father of twins, a graduate of Playwriting from the National Theatre School of Canada, and received his Master’s in Art Education from Concordia University. He is an award-winning artist, dramaturg, and educator.

Over the years, he has supported over 100 emerging Canadian storytellers as director of our Young Creators Unit.  He also leads our New Stories Project for artist with different abilities.

Jesse is an occasional content creator/editor for Moment Factory, and was recently Manager of Children’s Programming for Watchmojo.com, Associate Curator for the National Arts Centre Disability Summit, and Host of the Montreal English Theatre Awards.

Presented in collaboration with
This workshop is financially supported by
Compétence Culture Logo

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Young Creators Unit 2021-22: Now Open For Applications!

Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal is excited to once again be calling for all emerging storytellers under the age of 30 to apply for our YOUNG CREATORS UNIT (YCU)

Applications are open to new and emerging artists. Participants will receive a customized work plan that includes bi-weekly workshops, one-on-one mentorship, grant writing support, and networking opportunities.

PWM strongly encourages applications from Indigenous artists (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), racialized artists (including racialized recent immigrants), members of the 2SLGBTQQIPAA+ communities, Deaf artists, disabled artists, neurodivergent artists, and artists living with chronic illness and/or chronic pain. For questions about accessibility, please contact Jesse Stong at accessibility@playwrights.ca.

Due to the current circumstances of the pandemic, the YCU will only be supporting a maximum of 10 artists*, with a program that will start in October online (over Zoom), and then hopefully shift into smaller live groups/workshops. Group workshops will take place bi-weekly on TUESDAYS FROM 2PM-5PM. The program will run from October 19th 2021 to May 20th 2022  

*Because we only have limited spots this year, please only apply if you are available for this weekly timeslot, and committed to your project/attendance/participation.

how to apply

Send a one-page application to jesse@playwrights.ca by October 9, 2021. You will receive a response by October 12, 2021.

Your application should include:

  • A brief bio of yourself, and your experience (if any) as a storyteller/creator.
  • A brief description of the work you would like to develop, or a list of some ideas.
  • One paragraph on why you would like to join the unit, and what you hope to get out of it.


Please email jesse@playwrights.ca with any additional questions, or for support with the application if needed. 

Learn more about the YCU

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APPLY NOW: Script Analysis with Maureen Labonté

Note:
This workshop will be held physically in accordance to PWM’s COVID-19 safety procedures. Contact harris@playwrights.ca for any questions about the workshop.

This five-day workshop led by Maureen Labonté is an introduction to a script analysis method based on the belief that it is of supreme importance to take the time to read and analyze the play text well, and know it thoroughly before jumping to interpretation. 

It is essential to take the time to dig, to investigate, to question and to ponder what the playwright wrote before jumping to conclusions or interpretation. Maureen uses the term “archeological” to describe it. This investigative work is fundamental to a sound and imaginative take on the work. It is objective and detailed, but also visceral.

Participants will have the chance to : 

  • Learn how to slow down, be curious and enjoy discovering what makes the play work, what is really there versus what you might think is there or what you want to be there. It’s a way to free the imagination.
  • Put opinion on hold, at least temporarily, and grapple with what the playwright has put on the page. Cultivate curiosity and a spirit of inquiry. 
  • Develop a spirit of investigation. Learn to ask good questions in order to get at the mystery that’s at the heart of the script and discover its beauty, magic, musicality, passion
  • And finally, after a detailed analysis (micro) learn how to pull back (up) in order to arrive at a synthesis of your discoveries (macro) and move into pre-production and eventually the rehearsal hall and the stage. 

“The vision of a great play is inextricably bound up with the exact words of the text.”

Robert Benedetti

Schedule:

(5-day workshop)

Session 1: Monday, November 8th, 2021 10AM to 2PM

Session 2: Tuesday, November 9th, 2021
1PM to 5PM

Session 3: Wednesday, November 10th, 2021
10AM to 2PM

Session 4: Thursday, November 11th, 2021
10AM-2PM

Session 5: Friday, November 12th, 2021
10AM-2PM

Possibility of an extra 2-hour session on Saturday, November 13th, 2021.

NOTE: Participants will be assigned a play to read between the first and second sessions. This assignment is mandatory and central to the workshop.

Location:

PWM Studio
7250 Clark St., #103
Montreal, QC
H2R 2Y3

Application Instructions

  • Please send us a bio and/or artistic CV as well as a brief (1-2 paragraph) statement explaining why this workshop interests you, how it is relevant to your artistic practice, and what your expectations are.
  • The workshop is open to playwrights, dramaturges and other theatre creators with some professional experience.
  • Send applications and any questions to harris@playwrights.ca with the subject line: Exploring Practice with Maureen Labonté.

Apply before 1PM EST on October 4th, 2021 to ensure that your application will be considered.

About the Workshop Leader

Photo by Nasuna Stuart-Ulin

Maureen Labonté is a translator, dramaturg and teacher. She has translated over forty Quebec plays into English. And Slowly Beauty (Talonbooks) her translation of Lentement la beauté by Quebec City playwright, Michel Nadeau, was a finalist for the 2014 Governor General’s Literary Award in Translation.

Maureen has worked as a dramaturg and coordinated play development programs in theatres and play development centres across the country. She was the Co-Director of the Playwrights’ Lab at the Banff Center for the Arts from 2006 to 2012 and has taught at the National Theatre School of Canada since the mid-90’s.

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