Group photo of two rows of smiling people with their arms around each other.

Photo by Moonrider Productions

LEAP Playwriting Intensive

Applications are now open for the 2025–2026 LEAP Playwriting Intensive - Apply by October 14, 2025!

LEAP—Learning Early About Playwriting—is a free and interactive program for young people (ages 16–25) in the B.C. Lower Mainland who are interested in playwriting. Over 180 students have been mentored through the creation of original dramatic works since the program’s inception in 2006. Participants learn the basic principles of playwriting, share their work with classmates, and provide feedback for one another in a safe and supportive environment. Students also receive feedback from theatre professionals and have their plays workshopped and presented to the public in staged readings.

LEAP is a full-scholarship program, and it is 100% funded by donors and sponsors. There is no cost to students.

Instruction is offered at three levels: Level 1 students are mentored through the creation of a short-form play (10 minutes); Level 2 students write one-act plays; and one Level 3 student is supported through the creation of a full-length play.

For more information, contact Kevan Ellis, Director of Education, at kellis@artsclub.com.

Watch this short video that documents the journey from classroom to workshop to reading.

THIS PROGRAM IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

RBC Emerging Artits Project

The Lindsay Family Foundation
River Foundation

Applications are now open for the 2025-2026 season! Apply by October 14, 2025!

The LEAP program seeks young people interested in creative writing for the theatre who are passionate, engaged, and inquisitive storytellers. We’re looking for young artists with distinct voices who are looking to develop the skills that will allow them to explore new stories from unique perspectives, whether they be based on personal experience or created narratives borne out of curiosity and imagination. We are excited by the possibility of helping young playwrights create and develop their unique stories.

The facilitation at LEAP draws from a script-based theatre creation model with the individual playwright at its centre. At the same time, we encourage applicants who take a range of approaches to process, form, and structure.

LEVEL 1
This level is geared toward writers with very little or no experience and the course provides an introduction to some of the basic principles of playwriting. Absolutely no previous playwriting experience is required—just a passion for writing and a curiosity about the possibilities of writing for the theatre. Level 1 students will be mentored through the creation of a short-form play about 10 minutes in length. There are 10 spots available for this level.

LEVEL 2
This level is for students with some playwriting experience who want to deepen their process and practice with a small cohort of playwrights. (Applicants do not need to have completed Level 1 in order to qualify for Level 2.) The writing schedule is more intense for this level and students are expected to continue to generate material for their play throughout the program’s duration. Level 2 students each write one-act plays, which are usually between 20 and 40 minutes in length. There are 4 spots available for this level.

LEVEL 3
This level is for a single student with a considerable amount of experience as a playwright. This experience can take many forms, including being self-taught, receiving mentorship from other artists/cultural practitioners, and/or receiving formal education. This placement is ideal for a young passionate playwright who is committed to theatre creation and who is poised to emerge onto the professional stage. The successful Level 3 candidate is mentored through the creation of a full-length play.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY

We encourage applications from equity-deserving writers, including but not limited to those who are Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Trans, gender diverse, Intersex, Queer, Neurodivergent, Deaf, and Disabled/have lived experience of disability (including mental health disability).

We use a non-prescriptive feedback model, which respects each writer's self-determination. Since our meetings will bring together people with different relationships to privilege and oppression, we will collaboratively create community care and accountability guidelines. The facilitators will consult participants about their access needs and strive to adapt the program accordingly. Our access practices will include:

Regular check-ins for access needs
COVID-19 safety procedures (everyone will physically distance and wear masks, unless they can’t because of an access need)
Physically accessible and gender-neutral washrooms
Sighted-guide assistance
Personal Support Workers are welcome in the space; advance notice is requested so we can adjust numbers based on safety procedures
Wheelchair user friendly space
Program materials provided in accessible formats
Automatic captions through participants’ personal devices
Relaxed environment in class and chill-out zones in the building
Fragrance-free space (everyone will be encouraged to use fragrance-free products; if this is a barrier for you, we will collaborate on finding a way to meet everyone’s needs)
We currently cannot offer ASL services during classes

LEAP meetings will mostly take place in person, with some online classes. If in-person attendance is inaccessible for you, please contact us to discuss the possibility of remote participation.

Our Accessibility Coordinator, Amy Amantea, will be happy to talk to you about your access needs, and how they may be addressed in the Arts Club's LEAP Playwriting Intensive. Amy can be reached at aamantea@artsclub.com.

We welcome personal support workers and companions. Sharing this information ahead of time, while not required, may support the access needs of others.

INSTRUCTORS

Tetsuro Shigematsu/LEAP Program Co-Leader and Instructor

A former writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Tetsuro Shigematsu became the first person of colour to host a daily national radio program in Canada, when he became host of The Roundup on CBC Radio. Tetsuro’s theatrical solo work Empire of the Son was named the best show of 2015 by the Vancouver Sun. It has toured throughout Canada and beyond, playing in 18 cities to over 20,000 people. His other solo work, 1 Hour Photo, garnered five Jessie nominations, winning for Significant Artistic Achievement, and was named as a finalist for the 2019 Governor General's Award for Drama. Tetsuro also serves as Creative Director of the Research-based Theatre Lab at UBC, and as a teaching artist at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. shiggy.com.

V (Veronique) West – LEAP Program Co-Leader and Instructor

Photo by Kimberly Ho

V is a non-binary, neurodivergent, and disabled settler of Polish descent, living on stolen Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territories. Their practice spans multidisciplinary artistic creation, arts education, and disability advocacy. As an educator, V strives to offer collaborative, non-hierarchical learning experiences that centre each participant’s agency and access needs. They've facilitated programs and workshops on creative writing, accessibility, Disability Justice, and trauma-informed teaching methods. In this capacity, they've worked with the Arts Club, Gateway Theatre, Playwrights Theatre Centre, Workman Arts, and New Works, among others. You can find out more about their practice at: www.veroniquewest.com

Ashleigh Giffen – LEAP Program Assistant Instructor

Ashleigh Giffen is a 26 year old mixed Oji-Cree multi-disciplinary artist exploring fragmented histories, place, and futurisms. Her first play, Kamwatan Nipe (Quiet Water) held its first reading at the Arts Club Theatre company, followed by a silver commission and artist in residency at the Arts Club. Her work has been featured in Briarpatch Magazine, Canadian Arts and Stories, and she was the second place winner of Room Magazine poetry contest. Her stop motion film, Pesowan, created in collaboration with Maura Tamez, was featured in the Lake Country Art Gallery and was also featured at the Kelowna Art Gallery as well as her multimedia collage work. She currently lives in the territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) with her two kitties.

The 2025–2026 program will take place at the BMO Theatre Centre.

LEAP Launch & Orientation: Sat, Nov 1, 2025 12–4 PM

To view the full schedule for each individual level, download the attached word docs:
FULL PROGRAM SCHEDULE, LEVEL 1 SCHEDULE, LEVEL 2 SCHEDULE, LEVEL 3 SCHEDULE

CLASSES

Level 1 (Mondays, 7– 9:30 PM)
Nov 3, 10, 17
ONE WEEK BREAK
Dec 1, 8
HOLIDAY BREAK
Jan 12, 29, 26
Feb 2, 9
ONE WEEK BREAK
Feb 23
Mar 2

Level 2 (Wednesdays, 7– 9:30 PM)
Nov 5, 12, 19
ONE WEEK BREAK
Dec 3, 10
HOLIDAY BREAK
Jan 14, 21, 28
Feb 4, 11
ONE WEEK BREAK
Feb 25
Mar 4

Level 3
The Level 3 student will meet monthly with the LEAP leaders beginning in November. Additional meetings will be added based on the expressed needs of the student. The Level 3 student will also be offered a workshop of their first draft with professional actors in January 2026.

WRITING LABS
These are devoted rewriting sessions in a quiet environment with the focused energy of your cohort. The LEAP leaders are available for feedback on new material and coaching if required.
Writing Lab #1 – Mar 21, 12–4 PM
Writing Lab #2 – Apr 25, 10 AM–2 PM

WORKSHOPS
Professional actors are at your disposal to read your play for you and to provide feedback using the model that has been developed as part of the program.
Level 1 Workshops: Apr 4 & 5, 10 AM–6 PM
Level 2 Workshop: Apr 11, 10 AM–6 PM
Level 3 Workshop: Apr 19, 2–6 PM

REHEARSALS
Level 1 Rehearsal: May 9, May 10, 10 AM–6 PM
Level 2 Rehearsal: May 11, 10 AM–6 PM
Level 3 Rehearsal: May 13, 6 –10 PM

FESTIVAL
Three nights of staged readings of the LEAP cohort plays!
Fri, May 15, 2026, 6–10 PM (Level 1)
Sat, May 16, 2026, 6–10 PM (Level 2)
Sun, May 17, 2026, 6–10 PM (Level 3)

Fill out an application form. You can use the online application form, or fill out this Word version and email it to leap@artsclub.com
Submit a writing sample. You can do this through the online application form or email your writing sample to leap@artsclub.com. The writing sample requirements are as follows:

For Level 1: Up to two pages of writing in any style. It could be a monologue, a poem, a rant, an essay—any writing that you feel represents you and that you feel good about.

For Level 2: Up to 5 pages of an excerpt from a play that you have written.

For Level 3*: Up to 10 pages of an excerpt from a play that you have written. A $1,000 stipend will be offered to the successful applicant to allow for dedicated writing time.

*Given the expected time commitment for LEAP, Level 3 applicants should not be attending school full-time. You may be invited to attend an interview, send us references, and send us a full draft of the play you excerpted for your writing sample.

We encourage written applications because LEAP is a writing-based program. However, if this format is inaccessible for you, you can use another format (such as an audio or video application). Contact us at leap@artsclub.com or 604.687.5315, ext. 244, with any questions or access requests. Video calls can be arranged.

Photo by Mark Halliday
Photo by Mark Halliday
Photo by Mark Halliday
Photo by Mark Halliday
Photo by Mark Halliday
Photo by Mark Halliday
Photo by Mark Halliday
Photo by Mark Halliday
Photo by Mark Halliday

LEAP Playwriting Intensive

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