Description
The Stratford Festival commissioned its first play in 1958 and since that time has commissioned or developed about 100 new plays, translations and adaptations. Currently the department focuses on (but is not limited to) ambitious, large-cast plays that articulate the great themes of classical theatre, as well as plays that feature a female point of view or reflect the cultural diversity of Canadian life.
There are at any given time about twenty-five projects in active development in The Foerster Bernstein New Play Development Program.
We don’t accept, and won’t read, unsolicited manuscripts. However, our Director of New Plays, Keith Barker, welcomes letters of inquiry about specific projects. Please contact him by email. We ask for a description of the work, plus any background on development to date. A brief bio is also helpful. If we feel the project might be appropriate for further consideration, we’ll ask the playwright to submit a draft. We consider only material by Canadian playwrights.
Participation in the Retreat is by invitation only. Playwrights may indicate their interest by contacting Keith Barker.
