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:
1. A biography or résumé;
2. 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.
3. A rough schedule/sense of the applicant’s availability throughout the year and for the 2027 Collider Festival dates – June 25-27, 2027
4. Any access needs required for participation.
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