Past Opportunities

EMERGING ARTIST PROGRAM For playwrights & directors

Studio 180 Theatre’s Emerging Artists Program provided three early-career playwrights or directors each season with the opportunity to advance their skills, gain exposure and accelerate their career trajectory by spending one year working with and being mentored by Studio 180 Theatre’s artistic team. This barrier-free initiative was designed to help artists bridge the gap from emerging to established by providing them with the experience and resources they need to succeed.

Thanks to the RBC Foundation, all three emerging artist positions were paid and featured both mentorship and public showcase opportunities.

Studio 180’s emerging artist alumni

Rebecca Auerbach

2023/24 Emerging Playwright

“My RBC Emerging Playwright experience was transformative. The opportunity to have the support of a renowned theatre company like Studio 180 was pivotal in taking my script to the next level… It’s an incredibly valuable program that fosters burgeoning talent, and I feel grateful and galvanized as an artist moving forward in my career. I wouldn’t be at this thrilling next stage without this experience!”

CAMILLE INTSON

2023/24 Emerging Playwright

“Thanks to the generous support of this program, I was able to complete multiple full drafts of the work… This kind of process is incredibly rare in the Canadian theatre ecology—having the time, space, and creative freedom to focus on my craft and give the script the attention it needed and deserved. As a result of this program, I learned so much about myself as a playwright and developer of new work.”

chantelle han

2023/24 Emerging Director

“What I really appreciated about being an RBC Emerging Director with Studio 180 was the thoughtful consideration of my ideas and input… As a director who has been emerging and creating for some time, it was really validating for this process to accommodate where I am in my artistic practice. I believe that I was truly recognized for my experience and existing skill set, then empowered to contribute accordingly. This opportunity felt like a true collaboration.”

郝邦宇 Steven Hao

2022/23 Emerging Director

“This program has not only helped develop my artistic voice, but strengthened my opinion in the type of work that we need to continually invest our time in. As a young-in-craft artist, this program helped me gain the necessary industry experience that I needed to further my practice and taught me invaluable lessons regarding how to run a rehearsal room, the tech process, the prep work as a director and many more teachings.”

MARCEL STEWART

2022/23 Emerging Playwright

“Being selected as one of the emerging artists has been a transformative experience, both personally and professionally. The program provided a safe and nurturing workshop environment that enabled me to address several of the more significant questions plaguing this artistic process. Not everything was answered, but clarity was certainly achieved and I know the direction we are going in. Being part of this program has been an absolute game-changer for me.”

TAYLOR TROWBRIDGE

2022/23 Emerging Playwright

“The RBC Emerging Artist Program at Studio 180 Theatre offers a truly transformative experience. Delivering dramaturgy, play workshops, an online public reading, and a chance to work with Studio 180’s amazing IN CLASS initiative, this program has provided vital growth opportunities and has been instrumental in my evolution as a playwright.”

Rebecca gibian

2021/22 Emerging Director

“I am thrilled and grateful to be able to return to [Indecent], return to my dusty research that’s been waiting for me since early 2020, and return to work with this team I hadn’t yet had the pleasure of fully meeting. The chance to learn and grow as an artist, particularly as a director, is a rare and precious gift that feels all the more valuable after a two and a half year pause.”

MARCEL STEWART

2021/22 Emerging Playwright

“I never felt pressured by Studio 180 to have something polished by the end of it, but was encouraged along the way to focus on drafting the story that I want to tell. That level of agency was foreign to me, but over the duration of the program it became apparent that this opportunity really was for me to develop an idea beyond just being an idea. I can now confidently say I have a completed first draft of a story that not only seems to resonate with audiences but is something that I am proud of.”

TAYLOR TROWBRIDGE

2021/22 Emerging Playwright

YOLANDA BONNELL

2020/21 Emerging Playwright

“I was so happy with how the students engaged with the work. It was really great getting to spend that time with them… I’m looking forward to engaging again! My favourite thing about leading IN CLASS workshops is watching the youth discover their own abilities in creation.”

RACHEL MUTOMBO

2020/21 Emerging Playwright

“One of my greatest joys as a writer is watching a piece develop and evolve every time I work on it. As an audience, typically we only get to see the finished, polished, “perfect” product. This partnership with Studio 180 Theatre was a gift to allow me to explore this play without the pressure of a finished product.”

ALI JOY RICHARDSON

2020/21 Emerging Playwright

“Thanks for everything Studio 180 has brought to my life this year. It’s been a true blessing. I couldn’t be happier about all that’s been accomplished through this RBC Emerging Playwright opportunity… I am so grateful for your support and championing this year. Thank you so much for believing in this play and allowing it to enter the world. You made it happen.”

Sabryn Rock

2019/20 Emerging Director

“As a result of this entire experience, I feel respected and confident that I can be taken seriously as a budding director…. They’ve made space for me to solidify my voice as a director and foster my talent.”

REBECCA GIBIAN

2019/20 Emerging Director

“This kind of opportunity, to choose a play, cast it, rehearse and direct it all within a short window of time, was an incredible concentrated lesson in leadership, process, and taught me so much about the kind of director I hope to be, and about what kind of work inspires me most.”

SAM KHALILIEH

2019/20 Emerging Playwright

“Studio 180’s faith in me, as an artist and as a human being, means it feels safe to share, not just my work, but also myself with them. I am an immigrant one step closer to producing a fantastic piece of theatre — a lifelong wish coming true… Writing my family’s journey has opened me up.”

YOLANDA BONNEL & NATASHA GREENBLATT

2018/19 Emerging Playwrights

“Having the support of Studio 180 and the RBC award was invaluable to the development of our show. Opportunities like these are vital to the development of new voices, nurturing the artistic leaders of the future. Thank you so much for believing that I am one of those voices.”

KERRY ANN DOHERTY

2018/19 Emerging Director

“The RBC Emerging Director position gave me the start I needed and the confidence to pursue the next step in my directing career. I have felt like a valued member of the team and have established myself as a professional in this field.”

CYNTHIA JIMENEZ-HICKS

2017/18 Emerging Playwright

“The incredible opportunity I had to develop Apple with Studio 180 gave me a new way to express my voice. Before this workshop with Studio 180 I hesitated to call myself a playwright; now I hold the title with confidence.”

SARAH ORENSTEIN

2017/18 Emerging Director

“Being linked and presented by Studio 180 as director to the theatre community has changed my profile. I’ve noticed the interest. And I feel that gives me the opening to approach other companies in that role as I look for the next step.”