Lunchbox Theatre invites playwrights to submit one-act plays (45-60 minutes) for consideration for the 36th Annual Stage One Festival of New Canadian Work.
Lunchbox Theatre presents one-act plays with a focus on celebrating human stories—creating engaging theatre that is accessible, inclusive, affordable and sustainable. We are committed to representing diverse voices and encourage playwrights of all backgrounds to submit. We acknowledge that Lunchbox has a history of programming a majority of white playwrights, and we are committed to continuing to build a more inclusive future. We are eager to hear from IBPOC creators.
New this year, we are pleased to announce that we are accepting pitches as well as submissions of workshop-ready scripts.
Stage One submissions must be suitable for an eventual production at Lunchbox Theatre. Scripts must be able to be performed by 1 to 4 performers (including live musicians for musicals) and the final running time must be under 60 minutes. While selection to participate in Stage One does not guarantee a future production, please note that certain complex technical requirements and excessive use of foul language or nudity may limit a project’s viability at Lunchbox. Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with our mandate and recent programming to ensure their submission is appropriate.
For our 2023 Stage One Festival, we particularly invite submissions that reflect one or more of the following themes: joyful explorations of identity, IBPOC perspectives, perspectives shaped by lived experience with disability, hopeful looks at the future, the climate crisis, particularly stories that positively imagine ways forward, connection across lines of difference… and of course: comedies, love stories, musicals and plays for the winter holidays
Playwrights will receive a $1,000 development fee: $600 during the workshop process and $400 upon receipt of the post-workshop draft.
Stage One will take place in late May/early June 2023. Funding dependent, up to six plays will be chosen for development. Successful applicants must be available to attend the full schedule of workshops and reading. Consideration of the playwright’s availability is given when scheduling the workshops, and playwrights who are not based in Calgary can attend virtually.
Submission Dates:
For Pitches – due January 15, 2023
For Scripts – due January 30, 2023
For full details and full submission process please visit: lunchboxtheatre.com/stage-one-festival-of-new-canadian-work
