Playwrights Lab 2027
Playwrights Lab 2027 supports Canadian playwrights with dedicated writing time, dramaturgical mentorship, and creative exchange to develop new and in-progress English-language plays.
This grant was recently updated
The application requirements no longer list a one-page project proposal describing your project’s themes and relevance to the program.
Funder: Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Due Dates: November 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MST (Application) | May 9–23, 2027 (Required residency attendance)
Funding Amounts: $4,123.35 scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, and meals for the two-week residency
Summary: A residency supporting Canadian playwrights developing English-language scripts through dedicated writing time, dramaturgical mentorship, and creative exchange.
Key Information: Recent Banff Centre residency participants are ineligible, including Lab or Retreat attendees within the past two years.
Description
Banff Centre’s Playwrights Lab is a two-week, artist-centred residency for developing new or in-progress theatrical work. Playwrights receive dedicated time, space, and resources to experiment, rewrite, and explore scripts with experienced faculty. The Lab prioritizes artistic process, treating discovery, revision, risk-taking, and failure as integral to development. Dramaturgical support helps writers deepen their understanding of structure, language, and character.
The program combines individual creative work with faculty talks, group dialogues, seminars, workshops, and informal exchange. Emerging playwrights receive structured instruction with a faculty mentor, while established playwrights work more independently. Participants can share work in progress and build lasting artistic relationships. Alberta Theatre Projects and the National Arts Centre support the program.
