Playwright Intensive 2014
November 2014
There is no such thing as Writer’s Block: A series of playwriting workshops with playwright Maja Ardal
The Alumnae Theatre invites beginning and experienced playwrights to submit their work for a Playwrights’ Intensive led by renowned Canadian playwright Maja Ardal as part of the FireWorks Festival.
Maja will introduce exercises that launch/refresh the playwright’s imagination in convivial, challenging, and imaginative sessions. Over the course of five sessions totaling ten hours, playwrights will have the opportunity to go back to the creative source, and enrich and challenge their existing work. Playwrights will bring writing tools and get involved in spontaneous “on the spot” writing exercises, and by the end of the first session, every participant will have written something. Participants who are already writing plays will have the chance to share their work and receive individual feedback from Maja (both in workshop and also privately between the sessions if they wish). Selected pieces will receive readings at the end of the FireWorks Festival on November 30th.
About Maja Ardal: Maja’s play HER 2 will be co-produced by Nightwood Theatre and Buddies in Bad Times in January 2015. She is Playwright in Residence at 4th Line Theatre and is currently developing The Hero of Hunter Street a musical play for 4th Line 2016. Maja’s first play Midnight Sun was produced by Tarragon Theatre and The National Arts Centre in 2001 and published by Playwrights Canada Press. Maja wrote and performs her Dora Award-winning play You Fancy Yourself (Canadian Tour, Edinburgh Fringe, UK Tour) and Dora Nominated The Cure for Everything (LA international Theatre Festival). Other plays by Maja include: Joy, a Musical about Depression (Workman Theatre), and The Prisoner of Tehran (Contrary Company in association with Theatre Passe Muraille). Maja was Playwright in residence at Theatre Passe Muraille 2014, and 4th Line Theatre 2013/14, and Nightwood Theatre 2010. She has taught playwriting at Humber College for 14 years and continues to give workshops in playwriting, and theatre techniques in various communities.
If you are interested in applying to participate in this workshop, please email alumnaetheatre@yahoo.ca by Friday October 10th and include:
1) A sample of your work – up to 10 pages (an excerpt of a play or other creative writing)
2) A short bio outlining any related experience (playwriting experience not required)
3) A paragraph about what you hope to gain from the course
If selected, participants must attend ALL sessions (introduction on Wed. Nov. 12 in the evening, sessions 10am-12pm Sat. Nov 15/22/29 and a Final Showcase Workshop on Sun. Nov.30). Cost is $75 ($60 for Alumnae Theatre Members) payable by cheque to the Alumnae Theatre upon acceptance.
FireWorks Festival @ The Alumnae Theatre 70 Berkeley Street (at Adelaide) November 13-30, 2014
The Alumnae Theatre invites beginning and experienced playwrights to submit their work for a Playwrights’ Intensive led by renowned Canadian playwright Maja Ardal as part of the FireWorks Festival.
Maja will introduce exercises that launch/refresh the playwright’s imagination in convivial, challenging, and imaginative sessions. Over the course of five sessions totaling ten hours, playwrights will have the opportunity to go back to the creative source, and enrich and challenge their existing work. Playwrights will bring writing tools and get involved in spontaneous “on the spot” writing exercises, and by the end of the first session, every participant will have written something. Participants who are already writing plays will have the chance to share their work and receive individual feedback from Maja (both in workshop and also privately between the sessions if they wish). Selected pieces will receive readings at the end of the FireWorks Festival on November 30th.
About Maja Ardal: Maja’s play HER 2 will be co-produced by Nightwood Theatre and Buddies in Bad Times in January 2015. She is Playwright in Residence at 4th Line Theatre and is currently developing The Hero of Hunter Street a musical play for 4th Line 2016. Maja’s first play Midnight Sun was produced by Tarragon Theatre and The National Arts Centre in 2001 and published by Playwrights Canada Press. Maja wrote and performs her Dora Award-winning play You Fancy Yourself (Canadian Tour, Edinburgh Fringe, UK Tour) and Dora Nominated The Cure for Everything (LA international Theatre Festival). Other plays by Maja include: Joy, a Musical about Depression (Workman Theatre), and The Prisoner of Tehran (Contrary Company in association with Theatre Passe Muraille). Maja was Playwright in residence at Theatre Passe Muraille 2014, and 4th Line Theatre 2013/14, and Nightwood Theatre 2010. She has taught playwriting at Humber College for 14 years and continues to give workshops in playwriting, and theatre techniques in various communities.
If you are interested in applying to participate in this workshop, please email alumnaetheatre@yahoo.ca by Friday October 10th and include:
1) A sample of your work – up to 10 pages (an excerpt of a play or other creative writing)
2) A short bio outlining any related experience (playwriting experience not required)
3) A paragraph about what you hope to gain from the course
If selected, participants must attend ALL sessions (introduction on Wed. Nov. 12 in the evening, sessions 10am-12pm Sat. Nov 15/22/29 and a Final Showcase Workshop on Sun. Nov.30). Cost is $75 ($60 for Alumnae Theatre Members) payable by cheque to the Alumnae Theatre upon acceptance.
FireWorks Festival @ The Alumnae Theatre 70 Berkeley Street (at Adelaide) November 13-30, 2014
