Since its launch in 1973, The Banff Playwrights Lab has provided an inspiring, interdisciplinary, and inclusive environment for Canadian playwrights to work on their plays while surrounded by playwrights and performing artists from across the country and around the world. We are proud to gather on Treaty 7 territory to create, share, and explore theatrical storytelling.

The upcoming 51st edition of the Playwrights Lab encourages applications from established and emerging playwrights that are telling compelling stories and exploring new creative landscapes in this time of both deep challenges and great opportunities for the theatre world.

We invite artists developing new works for both adults and young audiences – especially artists that are new to the Lab – to join us in a dynamic conversation about storytelling and contemporary performance as we push Canadian theatre into the future.

Deadline for applications is November 22, 2023