Auteur : Playwrights' Workshop Montréal

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Announcing the 2025 Gros Morne Playwrights’ Residency Participants

A photo of Gros Morne National Park on a sunny day. On the bottom left, the words 2025 Gros Morne Residency Playwrights written in white.

Dévoilement des Participant.e.s de la Résidence de Gros-Morne 2025

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 Fondation Cole, are pleased to announce the seven playwrights participating in the 2025 Résidence d’écriture théâtrale de Gros Morne. 

This dual-lingual residency welcomes playwrights from across Canada and gives the creative space to work and share in the unparalleled landscape of Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador. The program offers dramaturgical conversations in French and English. 

For 10 days, Tara Beagan, Anahita Dehbonehie, Thomas Dufour, Sanita Fejzic, Dominique Leclerc, Elie Marchand, and Melissa Williams will be staying at the Bonne Bay Aquarium & Research Station in Norris Point. The artists-in-residence will have the opportunity to explore their plays through unstructured writing time, one-on-one dramaturgical conversations, and group discussions, held in both French and English.

Help support the artists of the 2025 Gros Morne Playwrights’ Residency by donating to PWM.

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 essentiel de la Fondation Cole, ont le plaisir de dévoiler les sept auteurs et autrices qui participeront à la Résidence canadienne d’écriture dramatique de Gros-Morne 2025.

Cette résidence bilingue accueille des écrivains de tout le pays pour partager un espace et nourrir des échanges portés par le paysage sans pareil du parc national du Gros-Morne, à Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. Le programme offre un accompagnement dramaturgique en français et en anglais.

Pendant 10 jours, Tara Beagan, Anahita Dehbonehie, Thomas Dufour, Sanita Fejzic, Dominique Leclerc, Elie Marchand et Melissa Williams 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, qui auront lieu en anglais et en français.

Soutenez les artistes de la Résidence d’écriture dramatique du Gros-Morne 2025 en faisant un don à PWM.

Meet the Playwrights | Rencontrez les auteurs

tara beagan (alberta)

Tara Beagan is a proud Ntlaka’pamux and Irish “Canadian” halfbreed. She is cofounder & codirector of ARTICLE 11 with Andy Moro. Nine of her 38 plays are published. One won a Dora Award. In 2020, Honour Beat won the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama. In 2025 The Ministry of Grace did the same. Beagan was the 2020 laureate of the Siminovitch Prize for theatre, playwriting.

Photo credit:  Andy Moro

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: Squeaky

1969. Squeaky is a young woman ageing out of foster care. Just as she fears she has no place to belong the news is overtaken by reports of some heinous murders in California – surely her true sisters! – and the election of a charismatic PM who is certainly Squeaky’s real father. 

anahita dehbonehie (ontario)

Anahita Dehbonehie is an Iranian artist currently based in Toronto. Her practice extends across design, direction and playwriting. Her award winning design work in performance has been featured across Canada and internationally. As a playwright she has received support from Nightwood Theatre, Outside the March, Driftwood Theatre and the Urjo Kareda residency at Tarragon Theatre, where her first play will premiere in the coming season. She is committed to work that challenges positions of power and creates space for incendiary conversation.

Photo credit: Nick Brownlee

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: Swallow the Fire

A bomb is about to go off but it’s unclear whether it will change the world or merely feed the algorithm. As the clock ticks toward detonation, the play unspools in real time: a confrontation between generations, between reform and revolution, and between public performance and private conviction. Swallow the Fire asks what happens when activism becomes theatre, when maternal love becomes collateral, and when the end of the world is less terrifying than the end of our illusions.

thomas dufour (QUÉBEC)

Thomas Dufour est un auteur dramatique et scénariste originaire du Lac-Saint-Jean. Il vit présentement à Montréal. En 2023, sa pièce Maison seule reçoit le prix Gratien-Gélinas. Il remporte en 2024 le grand prix du concours Cours écrire ton court avec son scénario Garage double. Thomas est diplômé du programme d’Écriture dramatique de l’École nationale de théâtre du Canada (2022).

Photo credit: Chantale Lecours

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: Surveillance

Frédérique travaille dans une salle de surveillance d’un CHSLD. Elle observe en continu les aînés par caméra, signalant chutes et anomalies. Pour survivre à cette proximité froide avec la mort, elle invente des vies aux résidents. L’arrivée de Jérémie, un jeune homme fuyant sa vie, change sa routine. Tranquillement, ils tombent amoureux en regardant des gens mourir. Surveillance questionne l’absurdité d’un système qui filme les derniers moments des personnes âgées, qui crée une distance entre eux et le monde. La pièce transforme progressivement ces corps filmés en existences singulières, vibrantes, dignes d’empathie.

sanita fejzic (ontario)

Sanita Fejzić is a playwright, poet, and literary writer. Her award-winning play, Blissful State of Surrender, about a refugee-turned-immigrant family from Bosnia and Herzegovina premiered at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in 2022. In 2023, Sanita produced Why Worry About Their Futures at the undercurrents festival, a tryptic of three short plays about eco-social justice. Sanita is midwifing Peasant Futurisms, an artistic movement that resists late capitalism and imagines edible and wilder futures grounded in Bosniak peasant traditions. Her radio play, Machines and Moss, produced in 2024 by the National Arts Centre, enacts a post-apocalyptic version of Peasant Futurisms. Sanita lives with her wife and kids on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people in Ottawa.

Photo credit: ​​Curtis Perry

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: Land Matters

Land Matters dramatizes two brothers, Elvis and Amar, who must decide what to do with the vast plot of land they have inherited after the death of the father. Amar wants to keep the house and give back 95% of the land to the Indigenous community it was stolen from centuries ago. Elvis—who barely survived the Omarska concentration camp as the Army of Republika Srpska stole the family’s land—is more than outraged. After everything their family has been through, genocide and forced exile, he wants to sell and cash out. Muslim Bosniaks did not colonize Canada, so why should they contend with its colonial history? The clash of values between the two brothers is a personal story with universal resonance as refugee-turned-immigrants grapple with their responsibilities in an era of truth and reconciliation, growing political and economic uncertainly, and the normalization of neoliberal slogans like “build, baby, build” and “drill, baby, drill.”

Dominique leclerc (QUÉBEC)

Dominique est autrice, co-metteure en scène et interprète des pièces Une vie intelligente (Théâtre Duceppe), i/O (Festival TransAmériques, Carrefour international de théâtre de Québec, Centre du théâtre d’aujourd’hui,), et Post Humains (Espace Libre, FIND festival de la Schaubühne, Carrefour international de théâtre de Québec). Ses deux premières créations ont été finalistes au Prix Michel-Tremblay et ont été présentées en tournée à travers le Québec. Elle a réalisé et scénarisé le long métrage documentaire Post Humains, produit par l’Office national du film du Canada, paru en 2025. De 2009 à 2019, elle a été codirectrice de la compagnie de théâtre Les Biches Pensives, qui a produit 5 créations.

Photo credit: Robby Reis

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: À la perfection (titre provisoire)

Les millénariaux sont plus perfectionnistes que jamais. Encensée par la société occidentale, cette volonté d’exceller dans tout a des impacts majeurs sur leur équilibre mental (insatisfaction chronique, procrastination, anxiété, dépression, suicide). Confrontée à ses propres règles et standards trop élevés, l’autrice interroge notre capacité à errer et à tomber dans une époque obsédée par l’optimisation. Et si on priorisait la route à l’arrivée? À la perfection (titre provisoire) est une performance sur la performance, une mise en abyme de nos obsessions contemporaines, une invitation à célébrer l’imperfection humaine dans un monde en crise.

elie marchand (QUÉBEC)

Elie Marchand est un auteur et un artiste multidisciplinaire qui a créé cinq pièces de théâtre pour les jeunes publics. Dans ses œuvres, Elie cherche à montrer des personnages peu représentés et à donner espoir aux enfants pour qui la différence peut parfois apporter des difficultés. En plus de sa pratique pour les jeunes publics, Elie écrit des pièces tout public et participe régulièrement à des événements internationaux sur la dramaturgie contemporaine.

Photo credit: Nani Pujol

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: Armure

Armure est un docu-fiction où j’explore la relation avec ma grand-mère à travers le fil de notre histoire familiale. En mêlant souvenirs personnels, archives et fragments de dialogues, je tisse un récit où la couture devient métaphore : coudre, découdre, raccommoder les silences et les zones d’ombre. Comme on suit le droit fil pour construire un tissu solide, je tente de suivre le fil sensible de nos transmissions — affectives, culturelles, invisibles. Ce projet  interroge ce qu’on hérite malgré soi, ce qu’on choisit de garder, et ce qu’on peut transformer, ensemble, à la main.

melissa williams (newfoundland and labrador)

Melissa Williams is a playwright, theatre and dance artist from St. John’s, Newfoundland. She is a graduate of Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus Theatre Performance program and has spent nearly a decade studying and working in Toronto. Her work focuses on the exploration of womanhood, trauma, neurodivergence and queerness. Melding dance and theatre in her most recent years of creation, Melissa aims to create curiosity and consideration with her work, investigating what we fear most and questioning preconceived notions.

Photo credit: Ashley Harding

PLAY IN DEVELOPMENT: The Fever

FEVER follows W1, W2 and W3 on their journey of self-discovery and realization as they navigate an unfamiliar world causing them to question everything they know. Rooted in the deepest parts of our subconscious, the women muse over the things they wish they could forget, the things they wished they knew sooner, and the things they will never understand.

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Call for Dramaturgical Collaboration Applications for 2026-2027

A light blue background of a brainstorming wall filled with posts it and photographs. On the top left, blue dots form a rectangle, with a turquoise dotted line passing through. On the top right, the PWM logo in blue. Beneath it, the words Call for Applications written in black. Beneath that, a blue circle, with another turquoise dotted line passing through. To the left, the word Dramaturgical in blue, and Collaboration in black.
Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal is now accepting applications for Dramaturgical Collaboration in our 2026-2027 season.

Application deadline: Sunday, September 14, 2025, 11:59PM EST.

All applicants will receive a response by the end of January 2026 informing them of the outcome of their application. Please note that some applications may require additional time following this period if external resources are required, but applicants will be informed of this in advance.

If you have any questions regarding accessibility, require assistance with your application, or would like to discuss alternative methods of applying and deadline flexibility, please contact Heather at accessibility@playwrights.ca. For accessibility information and video tours of our location, please click ici.

The ASL video format of this section is viewable ici.

About the Dramaturgical Collaboration program

Through Dramaturgical Collaboration, PWM offers playwrights and theatre creators across Canada an individually considered, dramaturgically-led process for playwrights and theatre makers to explore, question, and shape their work. Engage in deep explorations of form and process, regardless of your experience or background, or the current status of your project – whether you have an idea, a draft or a production on the horizon.

To remove financial barriers, the opportunities and resources offered through Dramaturgical Collaboration are free of charge to the artists.

As each artist and project is unique, Dramaturgical Collaboration begins with a PWM dramaturg meeting with the artist to consider how best to approach development, and to learn about the artist’s process, intentions, and creative vision. 

Developmental opportunities will include dramaturgical conversations and potentially, mentorships, workshops, technical or digital explorations, and residencies. Read more about the most common developmental opportunities we offer below, or visit our glossary of terms.

If you have any questions regarding Dramaturgical Collaboration, please contact dramaturg@playwrights.ca. 

Considerations for Dramaturgical Collaboration at PWM

The ASL video format of this section is viewable ici.

 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+, 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.

Stage of Development: We accept applications for projects at various stages of development, depending on the nature of the work. This could include, but is not limited to, an initial idea, a first draft (in any form), a new iteration of a previously presented project, or a draft that is in an advanced stage of development.

Discipline: In addition to traditional scripts, we accept unique and interdisciplinary projects. This project could be a play, a non-text based performance, a digital work (for example: AR/VR, interactive game-based presentation, etc.), or something hybrid in terms of language, discipline, or technology.

Lieu : We welcome local and national applications. We work in-person, virtually (for example: by video chat or by use of online collaborative tools), or a combination of both.

Program Capacity: Developing new plays, performances and translations takes time, and PWM has numerous ongoing projects and programs. Therefore, we can only welcome a limited number of new collaborations per season despite receiving many inspiring applications. 

How to Apply for Dramaturgical Collaboration at PWM

The ASL video format of this section is viewable ici.

Individual playwright/creator(s) can apply for Dramaturgical Collaboration via our Google form.  Theatre companies are asked to please contact dramaturg@playwrights.ca to discuss Dramaturgical Collaboration before submitting an application online.

Audio and video answers to some of the questions in the form are also welcomed. Click here to preview the form as a PDF.

The application will ask you to provide: 

  • Name, pronouns (optional), age (optional), and contact information 
  • Information about your project 
  • How you would like to work with PWM
  • Your CV and bio and that of any collaborators
  • A sample of the proposed project (if available) or past work 

Your proposal will not be sent until you click the SUBMIT button at the end of the application via the Google form. You will be able to edit your responses by reusing the same email address and login until you click the SUBMIT button. 

If you have any questions regarding Dramaturgical Collaboration please contact dramaturg@playwrights.ca.

If you have any questions regarding accessibility, require assistance with your application, or would like to discuss alternative methods of applying and deadline flexibility, please contact Heather at accessibility@playwrights.ca. 

Dramaturgical Collaboration Development Opportunities

Dramaturgical Collaboration begins with Dramaturgical Conversations and may continue to include one or a combination of the following opportunities, to be mutually determined by PWM and the playwright/creator(s) based on the needs of the project: 

Workshops: An opportunity to explore a work-in-progress with actors/collaborators in order to develop the project. Each workshop is led by a PWM dramaturg in collaboration with the playwright/creator(s). For text-based projects the script is read by a company of actors and the playwright and dramaturg will then have the opportunity to ask and explore questions with the company. For non-text based projects, the workshop is shaped around the elements that create and drive the narrative or event. Sometimes a private reading for invited guests is included, as an opportunity to introduce the work to an audience for the first time. The length of a workshop is determined by the needs of the project.

Résidences: As part of the Dramaturgical Collaboration, PWM may offer dedicated Studio time for exploration (not rehearsal) to a playwright/creator(s) developing a project with PWM. These residencies take place in our studio in Montreal, and are separate from our national residencies, the Résidence d’écriture théâtrale de Gros Morne and the Résidence de Traduction Glassco à Tadoussac.

Mentorships: Mentorships are designed to address specific needs during the early stages of the creation process. In collaboration with a PWM Dramaturg, the playwright/creator determines the person best suited to support them through this essential phase of development. The mentor may be an expert in a particular discipline, a creator from a similar or different scope of experience or a dramaturg with a particular field of experience.

A glossary of these and other terms can be found ici.

Learn more about Dramaturgical Collaboration.

The Dramaturgical Collaboration program is made possible and accessible through the support of our funders:

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Introduction to Theatre Translation Call for Applications

A red background with a red pyramidal shape on the left side. The words Introduction to Theatre Translation written in white. On the right, the words Call for Applications written in white. Beneath it, the logos of PWM and CEAD.
The call for applications for the 2025-2026 Introduction to Theatre Translation is now closed. Subscribe to our newsletter to see all open opportunities.

Offered in partnership with le Centre des auteurs dramatiques (CEAD), this unique, one-on-one mentorship provides theatre artists an in-depth opportunity to begin developing their craft in the art of theatre translation. 

PWM provides a mentorship focused on French to English theatre translation. Details on the English to French mentorship can be found on the CEAD’s website.

Application deadline: Sunday, July 27, 2025, 11:59PM EST.
All applicants will receive a response by September 5, 2025. 

If you have any questions regarding accessibility, require assistance with this application, or would like to discuss alternative methods of applying, please contact accessibility@playwrights.ca.

About the Introduction to Theatre Translation program

PWM and le CEAD have worked in partnership for years to forge links between French and English language theatre communities, and in 2019, came together to design a program that would encourage and foster emerging skills in the art of theatre translation. 

The Introduction to Theatre Translation program, also known as Traductions Croisées, is an individual mentorship opportunity for a theatre artist with little or no prior translation experience. From September to February, one selected theatre artist will work with PWM on translating two excerpts from contemporary Québécois plays from French to English. Le CEAD will support another mentee translating from English to French. 

With the guidance of acclaimed playwright and theatre translator Alexis Diamond, the participant will receive 20 hours of dramaturgical support over the course of the mentorship. They will also have the opportunity to engage directly with the original playwrights to deepen their understanding of the texts. 

The mentorship will culminate in two workshops per excerpt (4 total), where professional actors bring the translations to life, providing experience hearing the translations read. The workshops will be spaced out to provide the mentor and mentee a chance to rework sections. 

Finally, the PWM and CEAD participants and mentors will meet for a presentation day at the PWM Studio to share their work, discuss the process, and reflect on their experiences.

Critères d’admissibilité 

  • Be a Montréal-based theatre artist with a strong interest in French-to-English theatre translation;
  • Be a Canadian citizen or hold permanent residency status in Canada;
  • Have excellent writing skills in English and have fluent reading comprehension of Québécois French;
  • Have little to no experience in theatre translation;
  • Be available to take part in in-person workshops in January/February 2026.

PWM welcomes all applications. 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 regarding accessibility, require assistance with this application, or would like to discuss alternative methods of applying, please contact Heather at accessibility@playwrights.ca.

Comment postuler :

If you are interested in applying, please fill out this Google Form by Sunday, July 27, 2025 11:59PM EST.  Audio and video answers to some of the questions in the form are also welcomed. 

You will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Your name, pronouns (optional), age (optional), and contact information ;
  • Confirmation that you are based in Montreal;
  • A brief bio of yourself and your experience as a theatre creator; 
  • A description of why you are drawn to the opportunity and in French-to-English theatre translation more generally;
  • Your goals for this mentorship and what you hope to accomplish from taking part;
  • A CV (2 pages maximum)

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Preview the application form as a PDF.

If you have any questions about the Introduction to Theatre Translation program, please contact dramaturg@playwrights.ca with the subject line: Introduction to Theatre Translation.

Schedule for Introduction to Theatre Translation 2025-2026

September 2025 – February 2026
20 hours of translation mentorship with translation mentor and meetings with playwrights.

January 7 – 15, 2026 (Exact dates TBD)
Two development workshops (one for each excerpt) with actors. 

February 15 – 24, 2026 (Exact dates TBD)
Second two development workshops (one for each excerpt) with actors. 

February 25 – 28, 2026 (Exact date TBD)
PWM and CEAD mentees and mentors meet at PWM Studio for culminating final reading and discussion regarding experience in the program. 

Mentor and mentee may choose to meet again in March, if both feel it would be beneficial. 

PWM Translation Mentor, 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.

Since 2019, Alexis has been the English-language translation mentor for Traductions Croisées, a joint project run by Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal and the CEAD (Centre des auteurs.trices dramatiques). She was the first and only curator for English-language theatre for the francophone Festival du Jamais Lu from 2019 to 2022, facilitating translations of contemporary Canadian English-language texts into Québécois French. From 2018 to 2022, Alexis served as literary manager for a multiyear collaboration with professor Erin Hurley (McGill University) and Emma Tibaldo (then artistic director of Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal) researching the history of English-language theatre in Quebec. 

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. 

Alexis has a B.A. Honours in English and Creative Writing from Concordia University and an M.A. in English Literature from the Université de Montréal. Active with various local, provincial and federal arts organizations, Alexis has also served on several theatre and playwriting juries and reading committees and mentored other artists.


This mentorship is presented in partnership with:

Les activités de la formation continue du CFC sont soutenues par le programme Intervention-Compétences et grâce à la participation financière du gouvernement du Québec.

With financial support from:

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Young Creators Unit 2025-2026 Call for Applications

A red background with a purple brushstroke covering the right side of the banner. On the top right, PWM's logo in white. On the bottom right, the words Call for Applications in white block letters, highlighted in black. On the left side, the words Young Creators Unit in white block letters, highlighted in black. Beside, the season 2025-2026.
Calling all emerging playwrights and theatre creators: The 2025-2026 Young Creators’ Unit is now accepting applications!

 Offering emerging creators innovative workshops that focus on creation, dramaturgy, and professional development, applications for the  11th edition of the Groupe des jeunes créateurs program are now open!

Application deadline: Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:59PM EST.
All applicants will receive a response by September 6, 2025. 

If you have any questions regarding accessibility, require assistance with this application, or would like to discuss alternative methods of applying, please contact accessibility@playwrights.ca.

“The Young Creators Unit was a perfect mixture of collective growth, individual exploration, and process. Through the various workshops and different approaches given to us to tackle the page, I now have the embers of my writer’s process, made connections with new theatre practitioners, and took my idea to a nearly-completed draft. If you are seeking the time and the place to discover how you write, while being supported by Montreal Theatre Community, this is the program for you.”

— Olaoluwa Fayokun (’25)

About the Young Creators Unit

Are you a theatre maker under 30, looking to hone your craft in storytelling? Do you have a brilliant idea for a play, but are not sure how to get it on paper? Or maybe you need feedback and guidance to elevate your first draft to the next level?

If any of this sounds like you, then PWM’s Young Creators Unit is the place to develop your craft. This creative incubator supports emerging artists to find their voice, make connections, and learn new storytelling skills, all while developing the practical skills they need to establish a successful career in the arts. All you need to apply is an idea, a question, theme, or an image you’d like to explore.

The YCU will once again be led by PWM’s Artistic Producer & YCU Dramaturg, Leila Ghaemi. From September 2025 -June 2026, participants will receive one-on-one dramaturgical sessions with Leila, mentorships with industry professionals, and group writing sessions and workshops. YCU participants are also provided professional development resources and opportunities, such as grant writing support and guidance, access to local theatre experiences and performances, and networking opportunities. 

The program will run from September 10th, 2025, to June 1st, 2026. Group sessions will take place biweekly on Wednesdays from 5-8PM in the PWM Creative Studio, located at 7250 Rue Clark, suite #103.

If you are interested in learning more about the Young Creators Unit and PWM, or about the YCU 2025-2026 Application process, please email Leila at leila@playwrights.ca.

Critères d’admissibilité 

  • Be an artist under the age of 30;
  • Be a Canadian citizen or hold permanent residency status in Canada;
  • Be located in Montreal and able to attend sessions in person; 
  • Be available for the whole program, September 2025 – June 2026;
  • Be willing to participate in group activities during the program.

YCU is led by PWM’s Artistic Producer & Dramaturg, Leila Ghaemi.

Leila is a first generation Persian dramaturg and theatre creator. She received both her BFA in Theatre Arts and MFA in Theatre Education & Direction from Boston University’s School of Theatre. Early in her studies, she was introduced to dramaturgical methods, which quickly became the heartbeat and entry point of her artistic practices. Having spent a decade working for various theatre organizations in the United States, Leila was able to further develop her admin and artistic skills professionally, specifically focusing on new play development. Her artistic pillars include responsible MENASA representation, radical theatre empowerment, asking endless questions, and creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive spaces – on and off stage. She also serves as the board president for Persephone Productions Montreal. When not dreaming about theatre, her world revolves around her very sassy cats: Leslie & Hiccup.

PWM welcomes all applications. 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 regarding accessibility, require assistance with this application, or would like to discuss alternative methods of applying, please contact Heather at accessibility@playwrights.ca.

 Click here to preview the application form as a PDF. 

Comment postuler :

If you are interested in applying, please fill out this Google Form by 11:59 PM EST by July 6th, 2025. 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 in the YCU this year, or a list of some ideas (writing samples are not mandatory, but encouraged).
  • A brief description sharing why you would like to join the Unit, and what you hope to get out of the experience.
  • Any additional writing and/or artistic materials you would like to have considered with your application. This can be a current script excerpt, mood boards, music playlists, past work, etc. 

This helps us get to know you and what sparks your interest as an artist and how you might fit into the YCU ensemble!

Due to the high level of interest in the YCU each year, we will be holding interviews with some of the potential candidates  to learn more about their interests and goals, and what they hope to gain from the program. This is also a great opportunity for you to ask us questions! Please note that not all applicants will be contacted for an interview, and that an interview does not indicate whether or not you have been accepted into the program.

The number of Cohort members we can accept are limited, and participants are expected to attend the group sessions, one-on-one meetings,  as well as commit to additional self-directed activities. Please only apply to the Unit if you are able to commit to the full schedule. All applicants will be informed of their results by Saturday, September 6th, 2025.

The Selection Process

Once the application period is closed, all applications will be reviewed and considered by a selection committee. Please note that there are many factors that go into the selection process, such as group dynamics and the range of experience within the Cohort. Decisions will not be based on training or competencies; we therefore encourage applications from all backgrounds and experience levels.

If you have any questions, please contact YCU’s Lead Dramaturg, Leila Ghaemi, at leila@playwrights.ca. 

Learn more about the Young Creators Unit.

The YCU is made possible through the generous support of our funders:

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The 2024-2025 Young Creators Unit Showcase

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PWM’S YOUNG CREATORS UNIT IS NOW IN ITS 10TH YEAR, FEATURING AN EXCITING GROUP OF emerging MONTRÉAL THEATRE ARTISTS. 

With a focus on artistic risk and discovery, this year’s cohort is preparing for the annual YCU showcase! This private event will take place at the PWM Studio on Tuesday May 27th and Wednesday May 28th at 7:00 PM.

Learn more about each cohort member by clicking the “show more” button under their names.

The YCU showcase is a private event due to limited seating capacity. If you are interested in attending, please contact leila@playwrights.ca. Please note that seats are provided based on availability. 

Thank you for supporting Montréal’s emerging artists!

TUESDAY, MAY 27

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28

Headshots by Emelia Hellman.

This program is facilitated by YCU Dramaturg, Leila Ghaemi.

Leila Ghaemi (she/elle) is a dramaturg, director and teaching artist. Her artistic pillars include responsible MENASA representation, radical theatre empowerment, and new play development. She received her BFA in Theatre Arts and MFA in Theatre Education & Direction from Boston University’s School of Theatre, where she grew her love for and skills in dramaturgical methods. She currently serves as the board president for Persephone Productions Montreal. 

Recent external credits include: Creative Consultant, POTUS (The Segal Centre); Cultural Consultant & Audience Engagement, English (The Segal Centre for the Performing Arts); Senior School Drama Teacher, The Study School; Co-Director, Pool (No Water) (Persephone Productions Montreal); Director, Romeo & Juliet (Classic Repertory Theatre); Director, The Scarlet Letter (Classic Repertory Theatre); Artistic Associate, New Repertory Theatre; Dramaturg & Director, The Tragic Ecstasy of Girlhood (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre); and Script Reader & Conservatory Associate, American Conservatory Theater.

THE YOUNG CREATORS UNIT IS FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED BY:
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Announcing Danielle Le Saux-Farmer: 11th Recipient of the Cole Foundation Mentorship for Emerging Translators

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PLAYWRIGHTS’ WORKSHOP MONTRÉAL AND THE COLE FOUNDATION ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE DANIELLE LE SAUX-FARMER AS THE 11TH MENTEE OF the Cole Foundation Mentorship for Emerging Translators.

Danielle Le Saux-Farmer est comédienne, metteuse en scène, autrice et traductrice.

Diplômée de l’Université d’Ottawa en théâtre puis du Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Québec en interprétation, elle a assuré la direction artistique et générale du Théâtre Catapulte de 2017 à 2023. Elle a joué au Théâtre du Trident, à la Bordée, à Premier Acte, au Périscope, au Théâtre la Licorne, au Théâtre Denise-Pelletier, ainsi qu’en tournée à travers le pays, notamment avec Un. Deux. Trois. de Mani Soleymanlou. Elle a signé trois traductions pour le théâtre (The Art of the Fall, Avant l’archipel, Beyond the night sky).À l’automne 2023, elle a créé le premier chapitre de son projet de théâtre documentaire sur la langue française, Oh ! Canada – Chapitre 1: L’Est du pays qui jouera prochainement à La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins, la Salle Fred-Barry du Théâtre Denise-Pelletier et au Théâtre du Bic à Rimouski. Plus récemment, elle a joué dans Durant des années de Louis-Philippe Roy, présenté aux Zones théâtrales et au Carrefour international de théâtre de Québec en 23-24. Elle signe la mise en scène de La Trajectoire des confettis au Théâtre du Trident en avril 2025 et assure la co-mise en scène et dramaturgie du projet pancanadien Nuits claires du Théâtre français du Centre national des arts en 2024-2025.

“As the translator of Hope Town by Pascale Renaud-Hébert, I am thrilled to be bringing this emotionally charged and multifaceted play to an English-speaking audience. Set in a small town in the Gaspesian peninsula, the story unravels the tense relationships among family members grappling with secrets, lies, and unresolved pasts. In translating, I will aim to preserve the raw, authentic voice of the original French while ensuring that the nuances of the dialogue, deeply rooted in realism and a tight, precise Québécois language, are conveyed accurately. The project will be a rewarding challenge in reflecting the emotional intensity and dramatic depth of Renaud-Hébert’s work.”

– Danielle Le Saux-Farmer

Theatre translations are instrumental in bridging linguistic barriers, and the Mentorat pour traductrices et traducteurs émergents de la Fondation Cole is a cornerstone of our mission to exchange ideas, cultural perspectives, and creative practice. Since its inception in 2013, the Mentorat pour traductrices et traducteurs émergents de la Fondation Cole has been providing opportunities for the next generation of French to English theatre translators to hone their craft.

Danielle will benefit from the support and skilled guidance of acclaimed translator Maureen Labonté for a year-long mentorship, where they will have the chance to dive into every stage of the process in writing a new translation of a play. In partnership with the Fondation Cole, PWM has supported the creative and professional development of ten other theatre translators through the Mentorat pour traductrices et traducteurs émergents de la Fondation Cole, sharing our knowledge and experience to welcome new voices to the field. Learn more about the program here.

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