Play Development
Theatre Creators' Reserve Fund
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
- The Theatre Creators’ Reserve Program is a third-party recommender program that provides theatre project grants to professional artists and collectives based in the province of Ontario.
- GCTC will assess applications on the basis of the funding priorities identified by GCTC.
- Artists can request a minimum of $1000.00 and a maximum of $5000.00.
- The program is meant to deliver money to playwrights/creators to “buy time” to work on new creation.
- Although artists who receive funding are under no obligation to GCTC, the program is meant to encourage relationships between theatre companies and creators.
- The program aims to reflect the range of artistic practices in the theatre community and to support excellence, regional activity, cultural diversity and Aboriginal identity.
- Professional theatre artists or informal collectives based in the province of Ontario.
- Organizations, whether incorporated or not, are not eligible.
- Production or workshop costs are not eligible. Please note: if the proposed piece is created collectively through a workshop-like process, those costs are considered eligible.
- Work completed before receiving notification from GCTC is not eligible.
- Equipment costs are ineligible.
- Professional expenses such as translation and dramaturgy are not eligible.
- Creation of non-theatre work is not eligible.
- Applicants who have outstanding reports for previously awarded OAC grants are not eligible
- GCTC will give priority to applications from playwrights and collectives based in Ottawa. We will also consider applications from artists who originate from Ottawa.
- GCTC will assess the applications on the basis of artistic quality. We will also give higher priority to work that reflects GCTC’s mandate for theatre “that provokes examination of Canadian life and our place in the world”. If you would like to know more about GCTC and the kind of work that we produce, please visit our website: www.gctc.ca
1. Go to the OAC website (http://www.arts.on.ca/Page86.aspx) and download a form. Or e-mail info@arts.on.ca and request that an application form be mailed to you.
2. Send us the following:
- 3 copies of a completed and signed application form
- A detailed project description
- Your Bio or resume
- A script sample or draft. If the work is non-text based, please include a detailed description and timeline of the process that will be employed to create the work.
- If you are not able to include a substantial script sample or draft, you may send optional support material that illustrates your work: i.e. video, script. Please limit optional support material to 30 pages maximum.
3. Send your application package to GCTC: applications must be RECEIVED by December 15, 2009. If you would like your support material returned, please include a SASE. Fax and e-mail submissions will not be considered.
Playwright-in-Residence
Over the years the Great Canadian Theatre Company has hosted several playwrights-in-residence including, most recently in 2008, two-time Governor General’s Award nominee Richard Sanger. Richard used the residency to continue work on his fascinating new play Whispering Pines.
We are pleased to announce that the GCTC Playwright-in-Residence for 2009-2010 is Pierre Brault, whose play 5 O’Clock Bells wascommissioned for our 2007-2008 Capital Letters Season. Pierre will use the residency to work on a new GCTC commission entitled The Shadow Cutter, which will be co-developed with Sleeping Dog Theatre.
Both of the aforementioned residencies were generously supported by the Ontario Arts Council.
Script Submissions
Who can send us a script:
GCTC only accepts submissions from Canadian playwrights.
We only respond to full-length plays sent by writers we are familiar with or whose work comes recommended by another theatre, a play development centre or a professional theatre artist such as a director or dramaturg. We also accept work sent by agents.
If you are a Canadian playwright who does not meet the above criteria, you can send us the first 15 pages of your script, along with a synopsis, and a letter outlining the development history of the play. We will be in touch with you only if we want to request the full script.
What we produce:
GCTC produces a subscription season of six full-length plays in English for adult audiences. Our mandate is to produce theatre that “provokes examination of Canadian life and our place in the world.”
What to include:
Please include the following:
- Your script
- Information about the development or production history of your play
- A cast breakdown
- Your full mailing address, phone number and e-mail.
Please do not e-mail scripts.
If you include a self-addressed stamped envelope, we will return your script. Otherwise, they will be recycled.
How we respond:
We will send you a brief e-mail indicating that we have received your submission.
Once we have read your script, we will let you know via e-mail or letter if we are interested in developing or producing it.
We do not provide dramaturgical feedback.
Response time is slow due to the high volume of submissions and the fact that the Artistic Director is the only staff member who reviews submissions. Therefore, it can take up to 12 months to hear from us. We ask for your patience in receiving a response from us.
Where to send your script:
Lise Ann Johnson, Artistic Director
Great Canadian Theatre Company – Administration
300-1227 Wellington Street West
Ottawa, ON K1Y 0G7
Commissions
GCTC has a long tradition of developing challenging new works of Canadian theatre and supporting playwrights, both local and from across the country. The theatre has commissioned several new plays, including translations, which most recently include:
5 O'Clock Bells by Ottawa playwright Pierre Brault
A new play about the charmed life and tragic death of jazz guitarist Lenny Breau. Produced in our 2007-08 season.
Coma Unplugged by Pierre-Michel Tremblay; translated by Micheline Chevrier
GCTC commissioned the English translation of this hit play from Quebec. Produced in our 2008-09 season.
The Net by Marcel-Romain Therriault; translated by Maureen Labonté and Don Hannah. A new translation of maritime tragedy by Acadian author Marcel-Romain Terriault. Produced in our 2008-09 season.
The Children’s Republic by Hannah Moscovitch
GCTC and the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama have co-commissioned Hannah Moscovitch to write a new play about the life and times of Janus Korczak. Korczak was a Polish-Jewish children’s author, pediatrician and champion of children’s rights in the first half of the 20th century. Korczak founded several orphanages, where he set up a republic for children, which included its own parliament, court and newspaper. Korczak perished, along with 200 of his orphans, in the Treblinka extermination camp. Slated for our 2009-10 season.
NEW COMMISSIONS
The Shadow Cutter by Pierre Brault
A new show by Pierre Brault about the life of Dai Vernon, an Ottawa-born magician who was widely considered one of the top conjurers of the 20th century. This project assembles the same successful team that created 5 O’Clock Bells, and will be co-developed with Sleeping Dog Theatre.
La Liste by Jennifer Tremblay; translated by Shelley Tepperman.
This one-person narrative won the 2008 Governor General’s Award for French Drama and will premiere next season at the Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui. GCTC has commissioned Shelley Tepperman to create the translation.
