The Citadel Theatre is excited to announce a call for Participants for our 2026/27 Playwrights Lab. This season-long program focuses on Edmonton and Alberta playwrights writing large scale productions suitable for the two Mainstage spaces at the Citadel: the Shoctor and the Maclab Theatre.
Once again this upcoming season, we would like to welcome original plays and musicals.
Our work is inclusive, reflecting the diversity of our communities and featuring a breadth of new stories, voices, and perspectives. We support innovative new plays that will excite both the artists that work on them and the audiences who take them in. Our vision is international, placing Edmonton and Alberta-based artists and stories in the international spotlight.
THE PROGRAM
The Citadel Theatre offers a lab-style program to support four playwrights, as they build a new full-length play or book for a musical project, suitable for production on one of the Citadel’s Mainstage spaces. Writers will meet regularly as a group, led by Associate Artistic Director Mieko Ouchi, culminating in readings of the four plays or portions of the four plays with professional actors at the 2027 Collider Festival.
This year we will have two returning playwrights and will welcome two new playwrights to join the cohort.
This year’s program will take place from October 2026 to June 2027 through in person meetings throughout the year. Participants will be paid a $3000 honorarium.
APPLICATIONS
We invite applications from Edmonton and Alberta playwrights who have already completed at least two full-length plays (1 hour long minimum each), and who would like to work on a new large scale play over the 2026/27 Season. While we encourage people of all ages to apply, this program is not built to support writers at the beginning of their writing journey. Applications should be a maximum of four pages, and should include:
- A biography or résumé;
- A letter outlining the applicant’s specific interest in the Lab and why this program and our spaces feel like a good fit for the project you are proposing to work on. This letter must include a 300-500 word project description for your new play idea.
- A rough schedule/sense of the applicant’s availability throughout the year and for the 2027 Collider Festival dates – June 25-27, 2027
- Any access needs required for participation.
EQUITY DIVERSITY INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY
The Citadel Theatre is in the heart of amiskwaciwâskahikan ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Edmonton, AB), and we are proud to call Treaty 6 territory home. As a regional theatre, it is integral that we ensure that the stories we tell, as well as the composition of our artists, board, staff, students, and audience are reflective of the diverse lived experiences in this dynamic city.
We commit to dismantling the systems of oppression that our organization has benefited from. We acknowledge our privilege as one of the largest arts organizations in Alberta, and one of the largest regional theatres in Canada; it is our responsibility to enshrine this commitment at the heart of our company. We pledge to be held accountable to this ongoing work with transparency and in dialogue with communities and all stakeholders.
We believe this work requires immediate and ongoing action and constant reflection. We will continue to build an anti-racism and anti-oppression intersectional framework through training, paid consultation, internal analysis, the engagement of an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Ad Hoc Committee (staff & community members to support internal actions), a commitment to Edmonton’s 35//50 Initiative, and significant policy changes and accountability throughout the entire organization.
We are proud to be part of our city’s vibrant theatre community and commit to working together with our colleagues to exchange knowledge and ensure lasting systemic change at the Citadel and throughout the arts community. We welcome and celebrate all voices, all bodies, and all experiences.
For more on Citadel Theatre’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility work, including our 35//50 commitment, statements of support, annual diversity reports, CAEA Declared Actions Regarding Anti-Oppression and Inclusion, and other information, please visit our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility page on our website.
SAFE WORKPLACE CULTURE
Citadel Theatre commits to providing a welcoming and safe experience for all artists, including clear workplace harassment policies. In situations where cultural safety and knowledge is needed as part of facilitating conversation, Citadel commits to working with third-party affinity counsel.
SUBMISSION
Citadel Theatre is accepting applications for the Playwrights Lab until September 18, 2026. Please submit up to four pages (PDF format) to: mouchi@citadeltheatre.com Subject: Playwrights Lab.
The Citadel Theatre strongly encourage submissions from performers who self-identify as members from under-represented communities. If there are barriers (language, disability, or any other consideration) about the process preventing you from submitting, please let us know and we will work with you to overcome them.
SELECTION
Artists will be selected by a panel of Citadel Theatre staff, including:
Daryl Cloran, Artistic Director
Mieko Ouchi, Associate Artistic Director
Kristi Hansen, EDIA Committee Co-Chair
All applicants will be informed of results via email by September 30, 2026