According to a national study, in the Canadian theatre industry individuals who identify as female account for less than a third of the working directors and produced playwrights. And the numbers plummet further when you factor in gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender and non-binary individuals as well as cultural background, age, and physical/mental ability.
So as a direct response to the gross under-representation of diverse female-identifying individuals in the role of playwright and director, and to further diversity in Canadian theatre, the Advance Theatre Festival was born. Advance Theatre showcases dramatic readings of five new plays written and directed by female-identifying Canadian artists. These dramatic readings will take place over five days during the Vancouver Fringe Festival, in September 2020.
This year, we will be choosing 5 plays written by Indigenous women.
If you are an Indigenous playwright and your play is chosen to participate in the Advance Theatre Festival, Ruby Slippers Theatre and the Fringe Festival will cover the costs of all rehearsals prior to the day of the reading, your technical rehearsal, promotion, theatrical venue on Granville Island, and all artists’ fees.
If you are a director who wishes to participate, send us your resume and cover letter for consideration.
Playwrights: please send your play synopsis, brief bio, and a maximum ten-page script excerpt to diane@rubyslippers.ca by February 15, 2020. One submission per person, please. Successful candidates will be notified by May 15, 2020.
This is a curated process.