Theatre Creators Reserve Grant

The following information is for artists applying for the Theatre Creators Reserve Grant through the Ontario Arts Council. Only artists currently residing in Ontario are eligible. For more information about how to apply, please go to the Ontario Arts Council website.

With the change in the mandate in 2000 and the appointment of Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell in 2002, the Shaw Festival’s commitment to new play development has grown significantly. Belle Moral: A Natural History by Ann-Marie MacDonald and Tristan by Paul Sportelli and Jay Turvey were both developed at the Shaw Festival and adaptations include Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Susan Coyne; Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen, adapted by Neil Munro; The Invisible Man by Michael O’Brien, adapted from the novel by H.G. Wells; Love Among the Russians, two short plays by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Morwyn Brebner, Hotel Peccadillo by Georges Feydeau and Maurice Desvallières, adapted by Morris Panych and The President by Ferenc Molnar, adapted by Morwyn Brebner.

In selecting grant recipients, we are looking for proposals that engage in the world of the Shaw Festival’s mandate. We are interested in plays that are challenging, subversive and political – plays “à la Shaw”. We are open to the needs and variety of approaches that each individual creator or collective may have and to projects that are in all stages of development. Equal consideration will be given to: creators from diverse communities; new ideas and plays presented to us by playwrights who have had an association with the theatre; creators who are new to the Shaw Festival or creators emerging on the theatrical scene.

All plays submitted must be set within the mandate period (1856-1950) or create a link between the present and the past – otherwise, no other style or content restrictions apply.

Support Material

Along with 3 signed copies of the Theatre Creators’ Reserve Grant application, please submit:

– A cover letter
– If the project is in the planning stages, a maximum two-page description of the proposed project including a brief description, timeline, development path
– If the project is in development, a script, writing sample, or any other relevant support materials that best illustrate the proposed project ie. DVD, CD, music samples etc.

We will determine grant amounts based on our interest in the project and the needs determined by the project proposals. The deadline for applications is January 16, 2012.

Please submit your applications to

Joanna Falck, Literary Manager

The Shaw Festival

10 Queen’s Parade, Box 774
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
L0S 1J0

Questions can be sent to playdevelopment@shawfest.com but we will NOT accept applications via email.