Rejuvenate, meet other community members, and inspire yourself for future projects. We love to meet folks in the community who are interested in trying a new skill or refreshing their practice.
Workshops are PAY WHAT YOU CHOOSE* and registration is on a first come basis, no experience required.
PAY WHAT YOU CHOOSE* We recognize that the current economic climate may create challenges to one’s capacity to nurture their creative practice. At PTC, our aim is to foster community in a way that is accessible and supports the talented artists we feature in our programming. To meet our community’s need we are offering two first come, first serve free spots, along with a discounted fee for the majority of our workshops. We ask folks to be considerate of booking the free spots, and if there is an alternative fee request, please reach out to Carmela Sison (carmela@playwrightstheatre.com), and we’d be happy to accommodate.
*At this time, PTC is unable to offer any $0 spots for the following workshops: Writing Book and Lyrics for New Musicals 101 and Book, Music, Lyrics… and Dramaturgy: Collaboration in Musical Theatre
Learn about the basics of planning an event. Ideal for folks new to organizing live events and shows, with some “ensemble” building allowing folks to share their big production questions and Davey offering some best practices in response.
In this workshop, Davey Samuel Calderon, a producer and coordinator of various events (festivals, workshops, indie shows, community gatherings, and fundraisers etc), invites participants to learn about the basics of planning an event. Ideal for folks new to organizing live events and shows, with some “ensemble” building allowing folks to share their big production questions and Davey offering some best practices in response.
Participants of all experience levels are welcome.
Materials and Tech setup to have ready
Participants will need a description of their project, and a 1 – 2 questions they may have about event organizing/producing.
Participants to prepare the best way they would like to record notes at home
Making sure their devices camera and microphone set up is ideal for Zoom (especially having the most updated version of Zoom).
Access:
Davey’s basics tips will be shared as Word and PDF documents post workshop
We’ll be using Zoom, so access to chat transcripts and use of the AI captions function will be available
Please email workshops@playwrightstheatre.com and the instructor will work with you to ensure access can be equitably provided. If email is a barrier, leave a message at 604-685-6228 and we will communicate in your requested mode.
Writing Scenes of Intimacy… beyond “they kiss” with Melanie Yeats
DATE:June 5th & 12th, 2025 | TIME: 6 – 8 pm | LOCATION: online via Zoom COST: Full $300 | Reduced $75 | 2 FREE spots
Playwrights often struggle to articulate scenes of sexual or physical intimacy on the page. Scenes of intimacy can include depictions of sexual innuendo, kissing, sex acts (consensual and non-consensual), personal/medical care, or non-sexual physical touch that conveys essential storytelling in the play. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to approach intimate moments in your play with precision and creativity. If you can write scenes of intimacy well, you’ll empower directors and performers to stage your work in ways that do justice to the play as a whole.
Writing From Real History–Including Your Own with Joanna Garfinkel
DATE:June 19th & 26th, 2025 | TIME: 6 – 8 pm | LOCATION: online via Zoom COST: Full $300 | Reduced $75 | 2 FREE spots
Learn to work from archival documents, family history, personal memoir, and other “real” texts in this workshop with Joanna Garfinkel.
Testimonials:
“I just wanted to thank you again for an energizing, inspiring workshop. I came across the ad by chance and it was the right thing at the right time. It’s wonderful to be breathing new life into project I abandoned so long ago, and to have discovered new ways to approach the material so it isn’t so overwhelming.” – Sara Graefe
Workshops with Deborah Vogt
Workshop 1 –Writing Book and Lyrics for New Musicals 101 with Deborah Vogt DATE:June 24, 2025 | TIME: 6 – 9 pm | LOCATION: In Person at PL1422 – 1422 William Street, Vancouver COST: $200
Learn (or re-learn) the basics of writing the words for a new musical. From the “I Want” song to your “11 O’clock Number”, this workshop will focus on the rules (and how to break them), making the most of your song moments, nailing the structure of musicals, and avoiding common mistakes that new writers can make. Leave with the confidence and tools to write your first, fifth, or finest new musical.
Workshop 2 –Book, Music, Lyrics… and Dramaturgy: Collaboration in Musical Theatre with Deborah Vogt DATE:June 25, 2025 | TIME: 6 – 8 pm | LOCATION: online via Zoom COST: $150
Collaboration is a key part of musical theatre. Even if you are working on book, music, and lyrics alone, this workshop will help you understand the development process of new musicals and how/when to work with a dramaturg (and even teach you how to be a dramaturg to each other). Learn how to give and receive productive notes, become a stronger collaborator, and ensure all the elements of your musical are singing together!
These two offerings are open to all with no prerequisites or previous experience. Choose to take one of the workshops or both for a discounted price (save $50). At this time, PTC is unable to offer any $0 spots for either of these workshops.
Mapping a Creative Project: Out of your Head and into the World with Heidi Taylor
DATE:June 24th, 2025 | TIME: 2 – 5 pm | LOCATION: In Person at PL1422 – 1422 William Street, Vancouver COST: Full $250 | Reduced $62.50 | 2 FREE spots
Do you have a play, writing project, or creative project you’d like to understand better? Join dramaturg Heidi Taylor in a fun learning session to gain tools to apply to any creative project.
We’ll use different mapping techniques that you can apply to the content of your piece (ideas, images, spaces, times, and people) and to your approach to making it (strategies, timelines, collaborators). You’ll finish the session with a visual or tactile version of your project that you can use to springboard your next creative steps.
Enjoyed this session last year? This is a workshop you can repeat! Participants will use a creative project of their choosing as an example. Participants of all experience levels are welcome.
Materials to bring:
Participants will need a description of their project, and a copy (text, audio, video) of what they are working on to reference.
Participants can bring their own notetaking materials (computer, tablet,notepad). Mapping/tactile materials will be provided.
Access notes:
This process uses visual characteristics (colour, physical placement, shapes) as a tool. Participants who use other sensory modes are welcome.
Please email workshops@playwrightstheatre.com and the instructor will work with you to ensure access can be equitably provided. If email is a barrier, leave a message at 604-685-6228 and we will communicate in your requested mode.
ASL will be provided upon request to ensure the interpreter of choice can be booked, pending availability.
All workshops are pay what you choose. Registration is on a first come basis, no experience required. Please note that this does not guarantee a spot in the workshops. We will email you with a confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation email (and please also check your junk mail), contact Alyssa at alyssa[at]playwrightstheatre.com
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