Verb Theatre’s
Queer & Trans Playwrights Unit
(Call for Submissions)
Are you a queer and/or trans artist in Calgary looking for a space to connect, create, and share your writing for the stage? Whether you are a seasoned playwright, an established writer in another genre, a mid-career theatre artist looking to write their first play, or simply an artist emerging into the Calgary theatre community, Verb Theatre’s second annual Queer & Trans Playwrights Unit is for you!
From November 2025 to May 2026, we’ll meet regularly in person to foster community and creativity among queer artists. Experienced mentor-dramaturges will facilitate sessions and work with participants individually on a playwriting project of their choice, to be presented as a staged reading, Spring 2026. Our goal is to uplift and celebrate queer voices in all their sparkling diversity, and we encourage anyone interested in storytelling through theatre to apply.
What the Queer & Trans Playwrights Unit Offers:
-A $1500 Honorarium.
-Connecting and Networking with other Queer and/or Trans writers, artists, and playwrights.
-Seven in-person meetups that will include creation/sharing space, strategies for expanding one’s writing skill set, theatre business knowledge, and community wellness.
-A queer and/or trans playwrighting mentor you will work with throughout the year. There will be two mentors, both of whom can be available to all playwrights during meetings, but each mentor will be partnered with two playwrights to work specifically on their piece of choice.
-Complimentary tickets to all events in Verb Theatre’s season.
-A professional workshop of your script, followed by a public presentation, June 2026.
More details:
There are four spots available in the 2025-2026 Playwrights Unit.
You may apply with a project in mind, but it is not a requirement.
Playwrights must reside in the Calgary-area and be available for in-person meetings from November through May.
Playwrights must cover their own transportation.
Interested? Google Form Application here: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/1M738cZIwNfD6pimRlXadpYQ7iJzvvFQuJ1Huo0HSwQY/edit?usp=forms_home&ouid=104666227366124319900&ths=true
Deadline: October 6, 2025
Alternatively (if you cannot access the Google form), email your resume to [email protected], along with a brief note about your experience in writing and why the Playwrights Unit is for you. If available, please submit a writing sample no longer than 10 pages. Plays, poems, short stories, screenplays, and other genres are welcome.
All applicants will hear back by late October, ahead of the unit participants being announced.
We appreciate your patience as we are a small team and it will take us time to read through and consider all applications.
Send questions to: [email protected]
