CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Theatre by the Bay is now accepting applications for its first session of the Indie Producer Co-op.

The Indie Producer Co-op is made possible through the generous support of 

The McGuire Trust and Angela Baldwin.

COMPENSATION: $3,500 / selected participant ($500/week)

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: May 18th, 2024 at 11:59pm EST

This year, Theatre by the Bay will be accepting rolling submissions for the Indie Producer Co-op, each accepting two applicants. This coveted opportunity provides two emerging artists unparalleled training in theatre producing through in-class instruction and on-the-job placements. This program is exclusively for emerging artists who have some experience in theatre creation and are looking to expand their professional skill sets. Its graduates have worked across Ontario at such companies as Stratford, Crow’s Theatre, Canadian Stage, Singlethread Theatre Company, Roseneath Theatre, Soulpepper, and many more.

This first submission will be for artists residing in Ontario. Emerging theatre artists who have fewer than four years of theatre producing experience and have graduated/are graduating from an accredited post-secondary theatre program can apply. Dependent on funding, there may be other calls for submissions as well – announced separately, such as our local Co-op. 

Any/all separate calls for submissions for other Co-ops this year will be announced later.

As part of Theatre by the Bay’s commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion in theatrical leadership positions, priority will be given to global majority (BIPOC) artists, bilingual artists (French-only is not available at this time), trans and non-binary artists, and artists with disabilities.

THE PROGRAM

Selected participants will begin their work with approximately two weeks of virtual training on theatre producing with TBTB Artistic Director (and former Indie Producer) Iain Moggach. They will also be connected with guest instructors and other artists who will share their insights with the participants. 

Utilising what they have learned, the producers will spend four weeks in Barrie putting their skills into practice by working with Theatre by the Bay on its 2024 season programming. Participants will receive accommodations and will have travel expenses from their home city covered by the company.

The dates of the summer session is:

SUMMER: June 17 – July 26

• Virtual instruction: June 17 – 28 (approx. 20 hours/week)
• Travel to Barrie: July 2
• TBTB Placement: July 3 – July 26 (approx. 30 hours/week)

Participants will serve as Associate Producers on the 2024 Simcoe County Theatre Festival; a regional theatre festival featuring seven new one-act plays. 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Please apply by submitting your resume and a one-page cover letter in a single PDF file. The cover letter should include who you are, your interest/experience in producing, what this opportunity would mean for you, and what your aspirations are as a theatre creator.

An integral part of the Co-op is the ‘passion project.’ This is the project (ie. a production – be it theatre, opera, virtual reality performance, whatever) through which participants will apply their learning. For example, after learning about budgets, you will create a budget for your passion project. 

Please include a description of your passion project that is no more than one page. The idea is welcome to be rough – it does not need to be fully fleshed out – but it should be a reflection of your artistic interests and something you are ready to seriously put some time and work into potentially realizing one day (some of our alumni have done this). After all, it is your passion project!

If you have any theatre producers/leaders with whom you would like to be connected to/learn from during this program, please include them as well and why you selected them within the submission email. Guest instructors are an integral and exciting part of the process.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Send your application to the attention of Iain Moggach, Artistic Director, at tbtb@rogers.com, with the subject of your email “Indie Producer Co-op Submission.”