Play Development Festival to be held from March 6 to 11, 2026
June 16, 2025 – Port Dover, ON | Lighthouse Festival is excited to announce the official call for submissions for the 2026 Play Development Festival, taking place March 6 to 11, 2026. Canadian playwrights from coast to coast are invited to submit their unproduced comedic works for the chance to be developed and showcased on Lighthouse’s mainstage.
Now entering its second year before the pandemic, the Play Development Festival is an integral part of Lighthouse’s commitment to supporting new Canadian voices in theatre. Submissions are open from June 1 to September 15, 2025, and selected playwrights will receive dramaturgical support, rehearsal time with professional artists, and a staged reading in front of a live audience who are invited to give feedback.
“We’re on the hunt for fresh, funny, and fearless storytelling,” says Jane Spence, Artistic Director of Lighthouse Festival. “Our audiences love to laugh, and this festival is an incredible opportunity for playwrights to develop their comedic voice in a supportive and collaborative environment.”
Playwrights are invited to submit unproduced, comedic two-act plays that run approximately 90 minutes in length. Scripts must require no more than six actors (though those actors may play multiple roles). If submitting a musical, scripts must be designed for a maximum of four performers. Plays that have not yet received a professional production are eligible, including those that have had previous readings or workshop presentations.
A selection committee of theatre professionals will review all eligible submissions. Three scripts will be chosen to participate in the 2026 Play Development Festival. Each selected playwright will work closely with a dramaturge and director to refine their script and present it to an engaged audience during the festival week. The festival also serves as a potential pipeline to full productions in Lighthouse’s summer seasons.
“As a company, we’re always looking ahead to what Canadian theatre can be,” adds Spence. “The Play Development Festival gives playwrights space to take creative risks and shape the future of comedic storytelling on our stages.”
Lighthouse Festival remains dedicated to fostering new Canadian work and championing the development of playwrights at all career stages. Past festivals have included emerging and established voices alike, and several featured scripts have gone on to full productions and publication.
Interested playwrights are encouraged to review the full submission guidelines at lighthousetheatre.com/play-development/play-development-festival/ and submit their script by the September 15, 2025 deadline.
About Lighthouse Festival
Lighthouse Festival is a charitable organization devoted to the development and production of new and existing Canadian plays. Lighthouse Festival strives to be artistically excellent, support and encourage local and regional artists, and be a source of enjoyment and pride in local communities while promoting local tourism. Located in two beautiful towns on Lake Erie, our theatres operate on a central policy of hospitality, inclusivity, accessibility, and affordability for all.
Media Contact
For media inquiries, cast interviews and further information, please contact:
Don Kearney-Bourque
Marketing & Communications Manager
Lighthouse Festival Theatre Corporation
don@lighthousetheatre.com
Direct: (226) 290-0070
Cell: (289) 541-7410
www.lighthousetheatre.com
