ACTORS
GCTC operates according to the Canadian Theatre Agreement (CTA), annually presenting a subscription season of up to six productions.
We post submission information on Ottawa Arts Database and similar services, and below on our website. Please note that there is an annual deadline date for submissions to the general auditions. Auditions for specific roles are held according to the needs of our production schedule and the availability of directors, hence there is no standard timing for these meetings.
Auditions
Casting call breakdown for Beowulf in Afghanistan
Beowulf in Afghanistan is a world premiere by Laurie Fyffe, directed by Kate Smith, in GCTC’s 24-25 Season. The production runs Nov 12, 2024 – Nov 24, 2024.
You can see the season here.
Beowulf in Afghanistan
Show Description: Beowulf in Afghanistan jumps through time and space as it parallels the journey of Grant, a Canadian soldier in Afghanistan in 2006, and that of ancient warrior Beowulf, the subject of one of the oldest poems known to humankind. Introduced to ‘Beowulf' as a young man by his literature professor, Louise, the story becomes an anchor for Grant during his tour of duty and ultimately helps to guide him through the battlefield and perhaps his toughest assignment: the return to civilian life.
Character Breakdown
GRANT CLEARY (20-40 years old, IBPOC, male)
A Canadian Soldier and veteran of Canada’s War in Afghanistan. The actor should be able to play in an age range of 20-40 years of age. The character is intelligent, aware, and carries the weight of combat service.
LOUISE FLYNN (50-70 years old, White, female)
A professor of literature. The actor should be able to play in an age range of 50 to 70 years of age. Passionate, prickly, and struggling to achieve success as an academic.
Deadline for audition submissions: Friday April 26, 2024 @ 5:00pm, Eastern Time.
Auditions will be held at GCTC in the Studio Theatre in Ottawa on May 17th, 18th and 26th. Equity actors will be seen on May 17th, and non-Equity members on the 18th. May 26th is set aside for callbacks. These auditions will be in person for local actors.
PLEASE SUBMIT: Headshot, resume and cover letter as a single pdf to auditions@gctc.ca
Make the subject of your email the play title and part you would like to audition for. Make sure your Equity or non-Equity status are clearly marked in your email subject line and on your resume.
Send all applications to GCTC’s Artistic Director, Sarah Kitz, at auditions@gctc.ca.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only successful candidates will be contacted to arrange an audition. Please do not call the theatre to confirm receipt of submitted packages.
Casting call breakdown for Vierge
Application deadline extended to Monday, May 6, 2024.
Vierge by Rachel Mutombo, directed by Dian Marie Bridge, in GCTC’s 24-25 Season, in partnership with Black Theatre Workshop (Montreal). The production schedule is as follows: Jan 14 - Mar 2 in Montreal, and March 11 - 30 in Ottawa.
About BTW
Black Theatre Workshop (BTW) is Canada’s longest running theatre company dedicated to the works of Black and diasporic communities. The company primarily programs plays by Afro-Canadian playwrights, however plays are selected firstly on their artistic merit. Expanding the representation of Black Canadian artists, BTW bridges cultural divides – uniting hearts, minds and communities.
About GCTC
GCTC will celebrate its 50th Season in 2024-25. We continue to foster, produce and promote excellent theatre that provokes examination of Canadian life and our place in the world. GCTC aims to increase the diversity on its stages, in its creative teams, make its work inclusive for more audiences, and deepen their experience. GCTC also continues to embrace artistic risk and to ensure a wide range of theatrical experiences.
You can see the GCTC season here.
Production February/March 2025
Synopsis: Four Congolese-Canadian girls attempt to forge friendships despite the life events and circumstances that try to pull them apart. Pressures from the church clash with norms from mainstream society. These young women (ages 16 to 17) must learn how to be true to themselves, honouring their parents’ cultural values while finding firm footing on their own two feet. Secrets are revealed and everyone’s mettle is tested as they are forced into making hard choices that will forever change them from girls into women. Will they stand together or be pushed apart?
We are seeking 4 Black female actors who can play 16-17 years old. Actors with dance/movement skills are encouraged to apply.
Characters:
Divine: anglophone, born and raised in Canada, sheltered and devout
*Bien-Aimée: bilingual. Knows how to play the game of pretending to be what is expected, while still being herself
*Grace: cynical, with a bit of a mean streak; been in Canada a few years; half sister to Sarah
*Sarah: newcomer to Canada, half-sister to Grace with secrets of her own
*Capacity to speak French and/or Lingala would be an asset.
PLEASE SUBMIT: Headshot, resume and cover letter as a single pdf to auditions@gctc.ca
Make the subject of your email the play title and part you would like to audition for. Make sure your Equity or non-Equity status is clearly marked in your email subject line and on your resume.
Send all applications to GCTC’s Artistic Director, Sarah Kitz, at auditions@gctc.ca. Applications are due by 5pm on Monday May 6, 2024. Auditions will take place on May 21st.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only successful candidates will be contacted to arrange an audition. Please do not call the theatre to confirm receipt of submitted packages.
Designers
We produce at least four productions per season and provide both ADC and non-affiliated contracts to designers of all disciplines. If you’re interested in submitting your portfolio for consideration, just contact our Artistic Director, Sarah Kitz: sarah@gctc.ca
Directors
We operate under the Canadian Theatre Agreement and produce at least four productions per season.
Please note that we do not accept suggested play titles from freelance directors. This helps avoid misunderstandings in the event that a freelance director promotes a play that is already under consideration (this happens more often than you’d expect). If a director is affiliated with an existing script, we ask that the playwright pitch the project, with the director as a partner, or suggested artist. Freelance directors visiting Ottawa are welcome to contact us for complimentary tickets for any production, subject to availability of course.
If you’re interested in submitting your portfolio for consideration, please contact Sarah Kitz: sarah@gctc.ca.
Playwrights
Stay tuned for more information
Application access and information about the Recommender Grants program can be found on the OAC website:
http://www.arts.on.ca/grants/recommender-grants-for-theatre-creators.
Please read below for more information, as excerpted from the OAC website:
Eligible applicants
professional theatre artists who are residents of Ontario with a permanent physical address in Ontario
ad hoc groups/collectives composed of a majority of Ontario residents
Read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for more eligibility information.
Ineligible applicants
organizations
non-professional applicants
employees or board members of the recommending theatre organization, or immediate family members of staff or board members
This program funds
any type of creation activity by eligible applicants
This program does not fund
creation of non-theatre work – e.g. film, radio or TV, fiction, poetry, etc.
workshop costs, except when the intention of the workshop is creation
productions
activities in French (see the Théâtre – projets francophones program)
About recommender grants
Recommenders are organizations authorized by OAC to receive applications, review them and make grant recommendations. OAC allocates a budget to each of the participating recommenders. Within six weeks of an application deadline, the recommender will notify OAC of their grant recommendations. Funding recommendations are reviewed by OAC for final eligibility, and OAC then sends you an email letting you know that your notification letter is available online in Nova.
If recommended a grant, all grant recipients must acknowledge the notification letter in Nova. Individual grant recipients must also enter their Social Insurance Number (SIN). OAC then sends the grant cheque by regular mail.
Important
Recommender grants are outright grants to artists from OAC and cannot be represented as any form of payment to or from the recommender, or to or from any member or director thereof.
Under no circumstances should the grant be considered as a substitute for a commission fee.
Script Submission Guidelines
Have a look at our mandate: “To foster, produce and promote excellent theatre that provokes examination of Canadian life and our place in the world.”
This mandate doesn’t mean we don’t accept work from outside of Canada, but it’s imperative that the script “provokes examination of Canadian life”. What does that mean? That’s a good question. Discuss.
Due to the quantity of reading requests, we do accept a limited number of scripts per month. Please consult our Script Submission Guidelines before sending your script or proposal.
Theatre Recommenders Program
GCTC participates as a recommender in the Ontario Arts Council’s (OAC) Theatre Recommenders Program, subject to approval each year.
Residencies
GCTC supports independent artists’ applications to the OAC and to the Canada Council for the Arts.
Shannon Reynolds Fund
GCTC is the home of the Shannon Reynolds Fund, which supports an emerging female artist each season. The fund provides support in a different discipline each year (i.e. direction, design, stage management). We’ll be posting application guidelines here annually.