Collider is a new play development festival that celebrates and helps bring to life new stories and scripts for larger stages showcasing a mix of local artists and artists from across the country and beyond.
Check back for updates on Collider Festival 2022!
Donation
We are so excited to have you be a part of Collider!
As this event is free to the public, we ask that you consider donating to the Citadel Theatre. Through your donation, you can ensure this new exciting festival always makes a home for new work on Edmonton stages.
2021 Collider Program
May 12 – May 16, 2021
The 2021 Collider Festival was completely digital and featured five days of workshops, readings, a digital preview, and a keynote address dedicated to creating a creative collision of artists and audiences passionate about exhilarating new large-scale productions.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
SHERRY J. YOON
Wednesday, May 12 // 6:30 pm MDT
What is the journey from the creative spark to large-scale work?
Sherry’s Biography
ACCESS: KEYNOTE ADDRESS WILL FEATURE LIVE TRANSCRIPTION BY OTTER.AI. ASL INTERPRETATION IS AVAILABLE.
PLAY READINGS
ACCESS: PLAY READINGS WILL FEATURE LIVE TRANSCRIPTION BY OTTER.AI.
A DISTINCT SOCIETY
BY KAREEM FAHMY
Wednesday, May 12 // 7 pm MDT
A quiet library that straddles the border of the U.S. and Canada becomes an unlikely crucible for five people from around the world. When an Iranian family, separated from one another by the “Muslim ban”, use the library as a meeting place, the head librarian, a U.S. border patrol officer, and a local teenager have to choose between breaking the law and saving themselves.
Directed by Kareem Fahmy, featuring Will Brisbin, Diana Donnelly, Haysam Kadri, Jesse Lipscombe, and Bahareh Yaraghi.
ALMOST A FULL MOON
BY CHARLOTTE CORBEIL-COLEMAN AND HAWKSLEY WORKMAN
Thursday, May 13 // 7 pm MDT
Commissioned by the Citadel, Almost a Full Moon is inspired by the beloved Christmas album by Canadian singer/songwriter Hawksley Workman. The play incorporates Workman’s songs in three storylines that chase in and out of different ages of Christmas, love, and family, winding together for a timeless story.
Directed by Daryl Cloran, with musical direction by Ryan de Souza. Featuring Aira Alberca, Emily Dallas, Oscar Derkx, Austin Eckert, Chariz Faulmino, Peter Fernandes, Susan Gilmour, Justice James, Cassie Muise, and Luc Tellier.
JANE EYRE
BY ERIN SHIELDS
Friday, May 14 // 7 pm MDT
One of literary history’s great characters brought to life by one of Canada’s most exciting playwrights. A sharp, witty, modern feminist dive into Charlotte Brontë’s masterpiece, which will have its World Premiere in the Citadel’s upcoming season.
Directed by Daryl Cloran, with movement direction by Ainsley Hillyard. Featuring Helen Belay, Nadien Chu, Ivy Degagne, Braydon Dowler-Coltman, Hailey Gillis, Maralyn Ryan, Teal Sherer, John Ullyatt, Gianna Vacirca, and Ashley Wright.
BURNING MOM
BY MIEKO OUCHI
Saturday, May 15 // 2 pm MDT
A retired suburban Calgary housewife and mother tragically loses her partner after 45 years together. So what does she do? The only thing that makes any sense at all. She goes to Burning Man. An irreverent one-woman play that tosses us into the passenger seat of an RV and takes us on a journey through the process of grief and deep into the search for meaning, onto the madcap playa of the world’s largest free form creative gathering in the middle of the Nevada desert.
Directed by Mieko Ouchi, featuring Nicola Lipman.
THE FIANCÉE
BY HOLLY LEWIS
Saturday, May 15 // 7 pm MDT
Lucy gets engaged to three men during World War II because “No one should have to go overseas without someone to come home to.” A lovely thought, until the war ends and all three arrive at her apartment on the same evening – the apartment Lucy and her sister are in danger of losing to their acrimonious landlady. Will Lucy find a way to say “no” to what she doesn’t want so she can say “yes” to what she does? A mad-cap, wig-swapping, door-slamming, cake-facing farce with smart, hilarious women at its heart.
Directed by Daryl Cloran, with dramaturgy by Mieko Ouchi. Featuring Helen Belay, Lora Brovold, Patricia Cerra, Oscar Derkx, Braydon Dowler-Coltman, and Sheldon Elter.
READINGS FROM THE PUNCTUATE! PLAYWRIGHTS’ UNIT
Sunday, May 16 // 2 pm MDT
Hear short excerpts from the new plays in development as part of Punctuate! Theatre’s Playwrights’ Unit.
Featuring Plays from Punctuate! Theatre’s Playwrights’ Unit: Makram Ayache, Helen Belay, Joleen Ballendine, Simon Bracken, Lady Vanessa Cardona, Theresa Cutknife, Leah Doz, Sheldon Elter, Christine Frederick, Emma Houghton, Josh Languedoc, Jay Northcott, Thomas Olajide, Lianna Makuch, and Gianna Vacirca.
PARIS, SK
BY KENNETH T. WILLIAMS
Sunday, May 16 // 7 pm MDT
Part murder-mystery and part examination of a struggling community, this new work by Williams put the challenges of the streets and the corruption of politics side-by-side. The question might not be whodunnit, but rather what really is going on? Paris, SK is presented in partnership with Script Salon.
Directed by Keith Barker with dramaturgy by Mieko Ouchi. Featuring Joshua Beaudry, Robert Benz, Lora Brovold, Sheldon Elter, Jesse Gervais, Tai Amy Grauman, Aaron Hursh, and Lancelot Knight.
WORKSHOPS
ACCESS: WORKSHOPS FEATURE LIVE TRANSCRIPTION BY OTTER.AI. ASL INTERPRETATION IS AVAILABLE BY REQUEST.
PLAYWRITING THROUGH ADAPTATION
With Erin Shields
(Governor General’s Award-winning playwright of titles including If We Were Birds, Jane Eyre, Paradise Lost)
Saturday, May 15 //11 am – 1 pm MDT
In this workshop, participants will learn how to approach source material when adapting it for the stage. Using Charles Perrault’s Blue Beard, participants will dive into guided playwriting exercises in reimagining character, plot, conflict, and structure. Although all exercises are specifically geared to adaptation, they can easily apply to all playwriting.
DEVELOPING NEW CANADIAN MUSICALS
With Michael Rubinoff
(Tony Award-nominated producer for Come From Away)
Sunday, May 16 // 11 am – 1 pm MDT
An exploration of a producer’s perspective working with writers to develop new musicals from idea to opening night.