Mentorship

Nightswimming often hosts short and long-term internships in dramaturgy and producing. To do so we work with funders such as arts councils and foundations, theatre training institutions and university programs to support students, young-in-craft artists, and artists building new pathways in their careers. 

It is vital to us that students and artists under age 30 are welcomed into Nightswimming’s play development processes and are able to gain artistic leadership experience with an innovative small theatre company that operates on a national scale. This is central to our commitment to innovation and to advancing the field of dramaturgy and play development in Canada.

While many of the internships we have hosted focus on dramaturgy mentorships with Brian, we have also supported producing mentorships to train individuals in the specifics of producing new works in development, with a focus on the creation rather than the production process. 

Our invaluable partner in funding many of these internships has been the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation, whose Performing Arts Internship program has been central to our ability to host extended internships. A huge thank you to their leadership in this crucial element of our field, and their commitment to funding dramaturgical and producing mentorships. Please explore their website to review the funding opportunities the Foundation provides.

We have also partnered with universities and theatre training programs to invite students into our dramaturgical processes, particularly Pure Research and City of Wine. These partners have included University of Toronto Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies, George Brown Theatre School, Humber College Theatre, York University Department of Theatre, Simon Fraser University, Studio 58 at Langara College, University of Calgary’s School of Creative and Performing Arts, Concordia University, and Grenfell College at Memorial University.

In addition to our work with individual interns and mentees, we created the 5×25 initiative to specifically engage with new generation artists across Canada. Over five years from 2015-2020 we commissioned 5 artists under the age of 25, establishing a national network of more than 100 artists who’ve applied to the program, offering them guidance and mentorship.

Please note that we are not currently able to support short-term summer internships, and that all internships need to be funded by external partners.

If you’re interested in discussing internships and mentorship, please contact us and tell us what you’re interested in exploring.

Past Participants

Interns that we’ve supported have gone on to positions at organizations such as the Tarragon Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, Black Theatre Workshop, The National Theatre School, Cahoots Theatre, Theatre Direct, Arts Club Theatre, University of British Columbia, among others.

We’ve enjoyed working with and have learned much from these artists that have undertaken internships with Nightswimming: