NATIONAL QUEER AND TRANS PLAYWRITING UNIT
Theatre Projects Manitoba is proud to announce our partnership with a consortium of Canadian theatre companies, introducing Canada’s first-ever National Queer and Trans Playwriting Unit.
The Consortium Partners:
- ZEE ZEE THEATRE – Vancouver
- GWANDAAK THEATRE – Whitehorse
- THEATRE OUTRÉ – Lethbridge
- PERSEPHONE THEATRE – Saskatoon
- THEATRE PROJECTS MANITOBA – Winnipeg
- NATIVE EARTH PERFORMING ARTS – Toronto
- BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE – Toronto
- IMAGO THEATRE – Montréal
- NEPTUNE THEATRE – Halifax
2SLGBTQ+ mid-career theatre makers from across Canada were invited to submit applications by July 5, 2022 for consideration in the new mentorship and play creation program. The selection process chose five artists:
- Tyra Ashauntie Gill – YUKON
- Smokii Sumac – BRITISH COLUMBIA
- Elio Zarrillo – MANITOBA
- Nathaniel Hanula-James – ONTARIO
- Robyn Vivian – NEWFOUNDLAND
These playwrights have participated in a 10-month process, during which they received living wage compensation and one-on-one mentorship as they wrote a new work. Over the course of the process, the artists have held Open Houses to discuss with the public, answer questions about the process, and share their progress! The NQPTU has also held Community Offerings for the public, a series of workshops hosted by the playwrights of the unit to share their skills and help workshop participants grow, develop, and learn.
The developed plays will be performed live and streamed online this October! For more information, visit Zee Zee Theatre Company’s Website Here!
MTC & TPM PRESENT: AMONG MEN BY DAVID YEE
January 24 – February 10, 2024 | Tom Hendry Warehouse
In an exciting first, two iconic Manitoba theatre companies come together to tell the story of two iconic Canadian poets coming together in a pivotal moment in their lives and their art form. TPM is partnering with the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre to present Governor General award-winner, David Yee’s newest play, among men. It’s the story of Canadian Poetry legends, Al Purdy and Milton Acorn, building Al’s iconic A-frame cabin, in a couple of wintery months that changed Canadian literature forever.
This heartfelt and crude drama makes cussing sound like poetry (and coffee taste like whiskey) as the two men struggle to build an A-frame cottage, while dismantling the narrow notion of 20th century masculinity. On the precipice of greatness, and a hangover, the poets must wrestle with a darkness that fights back to turn everything into something greater than it is.
WALK&TALK THEATRE & TPM PRESENT: END OF THE LINE (A NEW MUSICAL)
May 2 – 12, 2024 | Asper Centre for Theatre and Film — University of Winnipeg
After a successful staged reading in April 2022, and 3 years of development, TPM is proud to co-produce Walk&Talk Theatre Company’s newest & biggest musical, End of the Line. Walk&Talk’s Duncan Cox, Tanner Manson and Ben Townsley explore the stories of 8 beautifully eccentric characters as they navigate a time before, during and after “The Flood”; an oddly uplifting confluence of lives featuring a birthday party, a homemade boat, and the biggest splash in above-ground pools the world has ever seen as we follow the interwoven stories of eight strangers struggling to find their purpose before “The Flood.”
A new piece of theatre filled with catchy songs & thoughtful lyrics, bursting at the seam with evocative & hilarious text, and brought to life with innovative staging and choreography. The performing ensemble is filled with Winnipeg’s fiercest young performers who are making waves as they hit the scene: singer-songwriters, opera singers, dance artists and more!
End of the Line has received development support from the Manitoba Association of Playwrights.
TRANSFORMATION
Beyond these exciting artistic projects, TPM is in the midst of Transformation! The board and staff are devoting time to strategic planning for the future of the company. In one of our biggest transformations, we have hired our first ever Managing Director following the departure of our long-time General Manager, Rea Kavanagh, who served the company for 17 years. We are so excited to welcome Sam McLean to the team as our new MD – you can read the announcement here!
We look forward to sharing this season with you, and will keep you posted as the projects develop!