Category: Uncategorized

SCHEDULE

Monday, January 29th: 1-4PM

Tuesday, January 30th: 10AM-1PM

Wednesday, January 31st: 10AM-1PM

Thursday, February 1st: 10AM-1PM

Friday, February 2nd: 10AM-1PM

In person at the PWM Studio.

LOCATION

PLAYWRIGHTS’ WORKSHOP MONTRÉAL
7250 Clark Street, #103
Montréal, QC
H2R 2Y3

Gillian Clark is a disabled multidisciplinary theatre creator and the artistic co-director of Keep Good (Theatre) Company. She is a settler of British descent, with a smile that consumes most of her face, resembling a Troll Doll, and scars that cover most of her legs, resembling birch trees. She currently resides in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montréal, with a large part of her heart in Kjipuktuk/Halifax. Gillian is a graduate of the National Theatre School’s playwriting program and aims to create with joy, innovation and risk. Her plays include: Trojan Girls and the Outhouse of Atreus (Outside the March, Factory Theatre, Neworld Theatre, The National Arts Centre), POOF, (Geordie Theatre), The Ruins (Two Planks and a Passion Theatre), Let’s Try This Standing and Adventures (Keep Good (Theatre) Company). She has held residencies with Nightswimming, Outside the March, 2b theatre and Two Planks and a Passion Theatre. Gillian is grateful for everyone who has intersected and shaped the Germination community!

Photo Credit: Fortunat Nadima Nadima

Kalale Dalton-Lutale is a Black queer performance maker and dramaturge from Tkaronto/Toronto. Her work embraces experimentation, mothers, loss and pop culture. Some of her plays include Pinky Swear, Crybaby, and i am entitled to rest. Kalale is the recipient of the 2021 RBC Tarragon Emerging Playwright Prize and a graduate from the National Theatre School of Canada. She is currently the Associate Artistic Director of Factory Theatre.

Photo Credit:  Maxime Côté

Gabrielle Banville 

Gabrielle is a bilingual performer and collaborator who investigates duality in all of her work. After graduating from Concordia’s Acting for the Theatre program in 2020, she created her company Half Twin Theatre to tell the stories of forgotten people through breaks in timelines, overlapping memories, movement and song. She is also focusing on expanding her skills in voicework, film performance and motion capture. She wants to professionally stage one of her works within the next year, and create theatre with more Montreal artists.

Joshua Bilbao

Joshua Bilbao is a multidisciplinary Mexican/Canadian artist born in Taiwan and raised all throughout North America. Jumping into the world of show business in his early twenties has led him to train under the direction of acting coaches such as Bernard Hiller, Tom Todoroff, Austin Pendleton and Mary Lou Rosato. Bilbao also completed a 2-year acting program at the Tom Todoroff Conservatory with extensive work on voice, speech, movement & Shakespeare in New York City. 

In addition to his training, Bilbao has always taken pride in being a creator. He produced and starred in his first theater production ( “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train”) that won “best direction” at the Broadway World awards.  He has also produced, directed, written, and starred in a number of short films and music videos. One of his most recent projects was “The Wild World Itself,” a short film on which he served as both an actor and producer which had its world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival. With multiple projects on the horizon, Bilbao is excited to continue exploring the world of arts and culture through his curiosity.

Tiernan Cornford

Realizing her passion at an early age, Tiernan has been intuitively moulding as an artist for nearly a decade. Born and based in Tiohtià:ke (Montréal), Tiernan has worked and trained as an actor, playwright and overall creator in the city. She is thrilled to be joining this year’s YCU ensemble to continue creating theatre she aspires for future stages.

Chloe Giddings

Chloe is a bilingual theatre creator in Montreal. She began as an actor, most recently appearing in La Campagne, a french translation of Martin Crimp’s The Country, directed by Jérémie Niel at the NAC. In spring, she finished an internship in cultural mediation and theatre education for young audiences with the Petit Théâtre de Sherbrooke. That’s where she was inspired to begin writing for young audiences, which is what has brought her to YCU.

Hwaan Han

Hwaan Han is an emerging theatre-maker based in Tiohtià:ke/ Montreal. She holds a B.A. in drama and theatre from McGill University (2023) and is a graduate of Imago Theatre’s ARTISTA program (2022). In the summer of 2023, she took part in the Calgary Fringe Festival, contributing to the creation of They Must Have Smoked, a Chinese play about navigating regret in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hwaan is ever exploring the wonderfully multidisciplinary world of theatre through acting, directing, costume design, research, and playwriting. If Hwaan disappears suddenly, look for her in Montreal’s many grassy parks—if she isn’t there, leave her be—she might have yet again run off into deeper nature to recharge her soul.

Banafsheh Hassani

Banafsheh Hassani (any/all pronouns) بنفشه حسنی is an Iranian, Montreal-based theatre creator. They’re currently in their final year of studies in Performance Creation at Concordia University. Banafsheh’s joys in life are her cats, her rats, literature about difficult feelings and writing plays that help them understand the world around them. Most recent credits as a creator include GRIEF directed by Jessica Carmichael, Blood Family (Sometimes Not) and À Confirmer / T.B.C. (Montreal fringe festival 2023) by The Sky is the Limit Theatre. Her work mostly centers home, memory, loss, blood and illness.

Sam Lemieux 

Sam Lemieux is a bilingual actor, writer and creator from Coaticook, Qc, currently living in Montreal. Some of his credits include Saltzman’s Antiques (One-act play for the Montreal Fringe 2022) and The Mother Is Dead (Short film currently in post-production), both of which he’s written, acted in, and produced. Other credits include Suzy Stork (Dawson College Professional Theatre), One Way Ticket (Montréal Fringe 2023), and Island Life (Short Film, Upcoming).

Rana Liu

Rana Liu (she/her) is an Asian Canadian multidisciplinary arts creator, and lover of bagels & dumplings. Her principle goal is to (re)vitalize diversity and cultural understanding through shared perspectives. To not just tell these stories, but to celebrate them. 

Rana earned her BA at McGill University, in Political Science and English: Drama & Theatre, and completed her MA at Columbia College Chicago in Arts Management. She’s had the chance to work & perform in Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, and Shanghai.

Anton May

Anton May (he/him) is a British born, now Montreal based Creator/Performer, an honours graduate from Dawson College’s Professional Theatre Program and alumni of Black Theatre Workshop’s Artist Mentorship Program in the acting discipline (2016-17). He has had the privilege to perform across eastern Canada as well as in New York as a singer and actor. In 2018, he was the recipient of the META for Outstanding Emerging Artist (performance). The pandemic allowed him to focus on his writing. Something he’s always been passionate about, but never had the time to pursue. In his writing, he focuses on QPOC (queer people of color) struggles. He tackles these themes through poetry/spoken word. He continues to seek out opportunities to tell stories through the black queer gaze through song, dance, and poetry. His latest digital work An Account Of Many was showcased in BTW’s Belonging Project (2021) alongside many powerful queer black stories. He is also a proud member of the Montreal Kiki Ballroom scene (as Godfather Broadway Mulan) where he frequently competes and emcees for the dwolls at Balls in both Toronto and Montreal. When he’s not acting, he’s voguing or performing in concerts and Cabarets singing or moving audiences with his poetry. He is thrilled to be a part of this year’s cohort. 

Anna Morreale

Anna Morreale is a multidisciplinary actor and artist, based in Montreal and southern Ontario. Since graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada in 2021, they have been working professionally in the theatre, film and voice acting industries. Anna is also an artistic producer for Scaredy Cat Company and co-founder of SEANCE: a queer cabaret for emerging artists.

Toby Walma

Toby Walma is studying at Concordia University in the Honours English & Creative Writing program. He writes in a variety of genres, from spec fic to literary realism, with a particular eye towards subjects such as gender identity and neurodiversity. He’s excited to get to work on his modern take on a Shakespearean classic in the YCU program.

Thrilled to be back leading the YCU for her second year, Leila Ghaemi (she/elle) is a first generation Iranian-Canadian theatre maker. She returned to her hometown of Montreal, Quebec during the COVID-19 pandemic after a decade of working for theater companies in the United States, including American Conservatory Theater, New Repertory Theatre, and Boston Playwright’s Theatre; where she grew her love for and skills in new play development. 

Leila received her BFA in Theatre Arts and MFA in Theatre Education & Direction from Boston University’s School of Theatre and currently serves as co-artistic director of Persephone Productions Montreal and Artistic Producer & Dramaturg at PWM.  Leila’s artistic pillars include responsible MENASA representation, radical theatre empowerment, and arts advocacy. Recent projects include: dramaturg for The Flick at Centaur Theatre, cultural consultant for English at The Segal Centre for Performing Arts, teaching-artist at The Study School, and director for Pool No Water at The Segal Centre for Performing Arts.

stephen booth

Stephen Patrick Booth is an actor/playwright based in Montreal who works in theatre and film. A graduate of Concordia University’s with a BFA in Theatre and Political Science. Stephen has worked with the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre won “The Dybbuk,” VillageScene Productions on “A Twin’s Tail,” and Cote Saint Luc Dramatic/Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre on “The Producers.” Most recently, he appeared in La Tigressa Productions’ “The Autism Monologues” in the 2018 Montreal Fringe Festival.

Aharon Elter

Aharon Elter; a transmasculine, neurodiverse, multidisciplinary artist. A white settler of Danube Swabian, Austrian, Scottish and Irish descent; living and creating in Tiohtiá:ke/Mooniyang/montréal. They are a being of dreams, regularly getting lost but always finding their way home. Often found daydreaming about atoms; the ways in which they dance, the memories they may collect and the events they witness as they exchange form becoming this then that. They create work about neurodiversity, bravery, brats, agency, belonging, grief, survival, divinity and magick.

Robert Girolami

Sam Melnick 

Sam Melnick is a Montreal born-and-bred emerging theatre creator and graduate of John Abbott College’s Professional Theatre program. 

Sam has been involved in the community theatre scene as an actor and assistant stage manager. Sam has recently turned his hand to writing and is a member of the New Stories unit with Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal. Sam spends most of his time watching foreign films, delving into the world of electronic music-making, and hanging out with his lovable dog, Benji.

Kyng Rose

Erika Squires 

Erika Squires is a theatre artist from Newfoundland. Erika has an English degree, with a specialization in Theatre and Drama, and a diploma in Performance and Communications Media from Memorial University of Newfoundland. An emerging playwright, Erika has written three plays: Hush (for PerSIStence Theatre) Baby and Fixed (self-produced with support from ArtsNL and the CCA). Erika is an acting student at the National Theatre School of Canada.

Philippe David

Anne Tremblay

Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal (PWM) and le Centre des auteurs dramatiques (CEAD), in partnership with Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, Creative Gros Morne, the Bonne Bay Aquarium & Research Station, and with the vital support of the Cole Foundation, are pleased to announce the seven playwrights participating in the 2023 Gros Morne Playwrights’ Residency. 

The Gros Morne Playwrights’ Residency is a dual-lingual residency that welcomes playwrights from across the country to share space and conversation in the unparalleled landscape of Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador. The program offers dramaturgy in French and English. 

From October 12th to 23rd, 2023, Elena Belyea, Guillaume Corbeil, Cole Hayley, Emmanuelle Jimenez, Breton Lalama, Mishka Lavigne, and Christine Rodriguez, will be staying at the Bonne Bay Aquarium & Research Station in Norris Point. The residents will have the opportunity to explore their plays during unstructured writing time, one-on-one dramaturgical conversations, and group discussions.

Look out for future social media posts about the artists and the residency!

Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal (PWM) et le Centre des auteurs dramatiques (CEAD), en partenariat avec Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, Creative Gros Morne, le Bonne Bay Aquarium & Research Station, et avec le soutien vital de la Fondation Cole, ont le plaisir d’annoncer les sept auteurs et autrices dramatiques qui participeront à la Résidence canadienne d’auteurs et d’autrices dramatique de Gros Morne 2023.

La résidence d’écriture théâtrale de Gros-Morne est une résidence bilingue qui accueille des dramaturges de tout le pays pour partager un espace et la conversation dans le paysage sans pareil du parc national du Gros Morne, à Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. Le programme propose de l’accompagnement dramaturgique en français et en anglais.

Du 12 au 23 octobre 2023, Elena Belyea, Guillaume Corbeil, Cole Hayley, Emmanuelle Jimenez, Breton Lalama, Mishka Lavigne et Christine Rodriguez séjourneront au Bonne Bay Aquarium & Research Station à Norris Point. Les résidents auront l’occasion d’explorer leurs pièces pendant des périodes d’écriture non structurées, des conversations dramaturgiques individuelles et des discussions de groupe.

Ne manquez pas les prochains messages sur les médias sociaux concernant les artistes et la résidence!

ELENA BELYEA (ALBERTA)

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: Untitled

Elena Belyea (they/she) is a queer playwright, performer, producer, arts educator, and Artistic Director of Tiny Bear Jaws. She was born and raised in amiskwaciwaskahikan (colonially known as Edmonton) on Treaty 6 territory and have had work produced across Turtle Island and internationally (including Hungary, Austria, Berlin, New York, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, Quebec, and Wells). Her play “Smoke” was recently published by Playwrights Canada Press. They’re also half of queer sketch duo “Gender? I Hardly Know Them” (on Tiktok + Instagram at @genderihardlyknowthem). Elena was the recipient of the 2023 Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical. Her company, Tiny Bear Jaws’ production of “Smoke” won the 2023 Sterling Award for Outstanding Indie Production. 

Photo credit: ​​Brianne Jang

Guillaume Corbeil (QUÉBEC)

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: La vérité sur David Alpis
(titre de travail)

Guillaume Corbeil a écrit des livres (L’art de la fugue, Brassard, Trois princesses), des pièces de théâtre (Tu iras la chercher, Unité modèle) et des scénarios (À tous ceux qui ne me lisent pas).  En 2021, il présente Pacific Palisades à Paris, au théâtre Paris Villette, puis au Poche, à Genève. Sa pièce Cinq visages pour Camille Brunelle s’est vu décerner le prix Michel-Tremblay. Avec À tous ceux qui ne me lisent pas, il a remporté l’Iris du meilleur scénario.

COLE HAYLEY (newfoundland)

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: And they Found Them Melted into the Carpet 
(working title)

Cole Hayley is a creator originally from Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, but now is based between St. John’s and the “Mainland,” as he continues to pursues a life in the arts.

Cole is a recent graduate of the National Theatre School and an alumni of Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he received a BA in English and Communications. He’s a current member of the inaugural Poverty Cove playwrights unit, and is currently working on publishing a collection of poetry.

Photo credit: Maxime Côté

emmanuelle jimenez (québec)

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: Grand feu 
(titre de travail)

Emmanuelle Jimeneza suivi une formation en interprétation au Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal. Tout en poursuivant sa carrière de comédienne, elle se consacre à l’écriture dramatique. Parmi ses textes qui ont été montés, on compte Du vent entre les dents (Théâtre D’Aujourd’hui), Rêvez, montagnes! (Nouveau Théâtre Expérimental), Centre d’achats (Centre du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui), Cendres (Des pieds des mains), Bébés, spectacle coécrit avec Alexis Martin (Nouveau Théâtre Expérimental) et Alice! (Théâtre du Trident). Elle est dialoguiste pour la série dramatique NOUS (Duo Productions), de Dominick Parenteau-Lebeuf. Elle a mené de  nombreux projets de médiation culturelle, notamment avec La Maison bleue à Côte des-Neiges et la Maison culturelle et communautaire de Montréal-Nord. Elle a été  membre du conseil d’administration du Festival du Jamais Lu de 2003 à 2010. Et elle siège au conseil d’administration de l’Association québécoise des autrices et auteurs  dramatiques (AQAD) depuis 2014.

Photo credit: Eva Maude TC

BRETON LALAMA (ONTARIO)

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: quid pro quo

Breton Lalama (he+they) is a multimedium artist fascinated by the intersections of truth and performativity and how they tangle with our amoebic identities of public and private self. He’s a proud co-founder of the Spindle Films Foundation, an initiative created to support transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse Canadian filmmakers. They’ve received Merritt and Dora award nominations, and won a Broadway World Award and a Tootsie Award. His play, THE LAST SHOW ON EARTH! TRADEMARK SYMBOL, premiers at Neptune Theatre in 2024, and is featured in Playwrights Canada Press’ upcoming 2SLGBTQIA+ Monologue Anthology. They’re Tarragon Theatre’s RBC Emerging Playwright in Residence. @bretonlikethecrackers

Photo credit: Dahlia Katz

Mishka Lavigne (QUÉBEC)

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: Lichen

Mishka Lavigne est autrice dramatique, traductrice littéraire et scénariste basée à Ottawa/Gatineau. Ses textes ont été produits et développés au Canada, aux États-Unis, en Europe, en Australie, à Haïti et au Mexique. Son texte Havre, créé à la Troupe du Jour (Saskatoon) a remporté le Prix du Gouverneur Général en 2019. Copeaux, produit par le Théâtre de Dehors (Ottawa), a remporté ce même prix en 2021 en plus du Prix Jacques-Poirier. 

Mishka écrit aussi en anglais. Son texte Albumen, produit par TACTICS en 2019 (Ottawa), est récipiendaire du QWF Playwriting Prize et on a récemment pu voir Shorelines (TACTICS) en 2023.

Autant vers le français que vers l’anglais, Mishka signe près d’une vingtaine de traductions de théâtre, de prose et de poésie.

Photo credit: Marianne Duval

Christine Rodriguez (QUÉBEC)

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: The Civil Suit

A recent alumna of the CFC, Christine Rodriguez is a writer from Montreal who creates from a mixed-race, Afro-Trinidadian perspective.  Her play, Dreaming in Autism, received third prize at Ottawa Little Theatre’s 72nd National One-Act Playwriting Competition. Her TYA play, Simone, Half and Half, was published by Playwrights Canada Press in 2022.  Christine is also a filmmaker whose first short film, Fuego, earned her a nomination for Best Filmmaker of the Year from Gala Dynastie. She’s been a part of the WBD Access x ACCT Writers Program and has received two Rogers – BSO development grants.  Christine has a Certificate of Professional Screenwriting from UCLA and is currently working on a Major in Hispanic Studies at Université de Montréal. 

Photo credit: Janice Reid