Write Here Immersive Theatre creation program

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS 

2025-2027 WRITE HERE IMMERSIVE THEATRE CREATION PROGRAM

Thou Art Here Theatre is thrilled to be calling for submissions for our next Write Here Immersive Theatre program. We are looking to select one playwright or collective and support the development of a new immersive theatre play from initial idea through two years of development. The development includes a week-long workshop with a creative team and actors plus a production run the following year. Only Edmonton based playwrights will be accepted.

We believe immersive theatre has the power to highlight communities, locations, and landmarks. Our hope is that this play will shine a light on special parts of our city through the eyes of the playwright.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Friday July 25, 2025

Key Milestones:

  • August 2025 - May 2026: Writing period, meeting regularly with a dramaturge, and Thou Art Here producing team

  • June 2026: Weeklong play development workshop with creative team and actors including a staged reading.

  • July 2026 - March 2027: Continued writing, development of script with dramaturge and Thou Art Here production team.

  • April 2027: Premiere production directed by Andrew Ritchie and produced by Thou Art Here 

*Timeline has some flexibility and will change based on chosen artist’s availability

Rate: $8000.00 (over the course of two years)

ABOUT THOU ART HERE THEATRE

Thou Art Here is an award winning artist-driven theatre collective creating audience-engaged immersive experiences. We live and present stories in Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) on Treaty 6 territory on Turtle Island. Our calling is to make theatre in unexpected places, in unexpected ways, for and about the people who are here. We will do this through developing cyclical processes for diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. Our work is based on forming ensembles grounded in the values of collaboration, community, and innovation. We aim for our theatre to be authentically and intentionally Edmontonian. Founded in 2011, incorporated as a non profit in 2021 and a charity in 2022, Thou Art Here is a small and nimble collective led by Alyson Dicey, Dayna Hoffmann, and Andrew Ritchie. Learn more about our past projects and new play development.

ABOUT THE POSITION

  • Work to develop a new play

  • Meet regularly with a dramaturg/collaborator;

  • Work with Thou Art Here’ creative team; 

  • Work within a team-based environment to achieve agreed upon goals and timelines;

  • Work with artistic director Andrew Ritchie as director of your play during the workshop in 2026 and premiere production in 2027.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • Pitch us an idea! In whatever format represents you best (cover letter, video, drawing, etc). We are looking for plays that:

    • highlight Edmonton in a unique way; and

    • are an immersive theatre experience (theatre that engages the audience and/or the space, often takes place outside of a traditional theatre environment or change how you use the theatre space, or invites the audience to be a part of the play);

    • Pitch document (max 2 pages) or pitch video (max 5 minutes)

  • Resume that outlines your area(s) of artistic practice (max 2 pages)

Thou Art Here Theatre is committed to diverse and inclusive hiring. We encourage submissions from artists who self-identify as members of under-represented communities. 

TO APPLY

  • Email your submission package to thouartheretheatre@gmail.com.“Write Here 2025 Submission” in the subject line;

  • If you require any assistance with your submission we encourage you to email thouartheretheatre@gmail.com with the subject line “Application assistance” and we will happily work alongside you to help with your submission.

In 2023, Thou Art Here Theatre launch our inaugural Write Here Immersive Playwright’s Unit to support the development of three new immersive theatre plays by Edmonton playwrights. We believe immersive theatre has the power to highlight communities, locations, and landmarks. Our hope is that these plays will shine a light on special parts of our city through the eyes of these playwrights.

10 Stops East

by Candace Job

“While most of my work is created through collaboration and devising, I am excited to have the opportunity to bring to life two new original works as a playwright in Edmonton this year. I will be working hard to bring to life the immersive theatre piece “10 Stops East” (working title) with Thou Art Here Theatre as a part of their Playwrights Unit. This new work aims to cultivate critical thought around how people in positions of power can restrict both physical mobility and class mobility amongst social groups. Alongside this project I will be writing a new one-man show, “For Her” through the RBC Emerging Artists Playwright Mentorship Program.” – Candace Job

Creative Team

Playwright: Candace Job
Director: Alexandra Dawkins*
Dramaturge: Beth Graham
Actors: Jake Tkaczyk* & Dayna Lea Hoffmann
Stage Manager: Steven Sobolewski*

Producer: Alyson Dicey

*The participation of these Artists are arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy (DOT).

Photography by Mat Simpson

A TALE OF TWO BUNDLES

by KIJO GATAMA

“I grew up sitting on the salon chair or the living room floor with a small cushion under my bum, to the backseat of my mother’s car, getting my hair slicked back for church. Putting them cornrows, twists, crochet, braids, beads, weaves, and all the colours of the rainbow on a Sunday and then a fresh look on a Monday, having kids and teachers asking me, “how’d your hair grow so fast?” and me grinning. This piece is a love letter. Period. All curls. No perms. In the next couple of months, I’ll gather stories visiting my sister’s salon (sassy salon) in Montreal, where I grew up. I’ll be interviewing folks in the chair and behind it, then in Toronto, and returning to Edmonton’s Black salon scene on 118 avenue, the epicenter for Black-owned barbershops and beauty salons engaging directly with the Black stylists of our city. It’s the traveling of the strands, an education and an invitation to the magic and versatility of the Afro and Afro wearers. I’m excited to work alongside Shima Robinson, and a few local artists/hairstylist who will be crafting this story together.” – Kijo Gatama

Creative Team

Playwright: Kijo Gatama
Dramaturge: Shima Robinson
Director: Patricia Darbasie*
Actors: Helen Belay*, Moses Kouyaté, & NiLo
Stage Manager: Patton Wei

Producer: Alyson Dicey

*The participation of these Artists are arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy (DOT).

Photography by Mat Simpson

Love Letter

by aisha

“I hope to work on an interactive walk experience which highlights a very special neighbourhood in Millwoods. Through interactive and innovative storytelling methods I want to write an experience that tells the story of my childhood growing up Trans, Queer, and Indian. When I had to leave Edmonton, I didn’t realize just how connected I was to the neighbourhood, nature, and environment I grew up around. How I somehow came back to the same street, same park, and same people, with different identities, values, and homes. I really want to capture the essence of all that Edmonton and my experiences mean to me.” – Aisha

Creative Team

Playwright: Aisha
Dramaturge: desirée leverenz
Director: Tracy Carroll*
Actors: Alexander Ariate*, Noori Gill*, & Shrina Patel

Design Consultant: T. Erin Gruber
Stage Manager: Patton Wei
Producer: Alyson Dicey

*The participation of these Artists are arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy (DOT).

Photography by Mat Simpson