
Welcome to the Nightwood Shadow Residencies! This program is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of the theatre industry and ignite lasting professional connections by integrating them in Nightwood’s operational ongoings and productions. Through hands-on experience and mentorship, participants will hone their craft while collaborating with industry professionals and peers.
A key component of the Shadow Residencies is the opportunity to shadow a position within Nightwood Theatre’s core operations or a current production. These positions aim to offer a maximum of 100 hours of experiential learning and mentorship to ignite a lasting personal and professional relationship with each other and Nightwood Theatre, Canada’s preeminent feminist theatre company.
This program is open to women and gender-expansive people. This includes cis and trans women, trans men, as well as non-binary, 2-Spirit, genderfluid, and gender non-conforming folks. We accept applications from early career theatre artists and/or arts workers who are aged 18+. The program runs from July to June and will be held in-person in Toronto.
If you have any questions about the program and want to talk through your application, please contact Jade at jade@nightwoodtheatre.net
GET TO KNOW THE 2025-2026 SHADOW RESIDENTS

Jadi Darawi
Production Management Shadow

Jadi Darawi
Production Management Shadow

Germaine Konji
Directing Shadow

Germaine Konji
Directing Shadow

Summer Mahmud
Directing Shadow

Summer Mahmud
Directing Shadow

Amelia Mielke-O'Grady
Costume Design Shadow

Amelia Mielke-O'Grady
Costume Design Shadow

Oliver Pitschner
Directing Shadow

Oliver Pitschner
Directing Shadow
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
All applicants must:
- Identify as a woman or gender-expansive person, per Nightwood’s mandate. This includes cis and trans women, trans men, as well as non-binary, 2-Spirit, genderfluid, and gender non-conforming folks
- Be over the age of 18
- Be eligible to work in Canada
- Self-identify as early career (in the first few years of their professional practice and/or have some practical experience outside of a post-secondary institution) or further along in their career and looking to expand into another area of practice within the sector.
If you fall outside of the eligibility or are unsure that you meet the requirements, please reach out to us! If the Shadow Residencies are not a fit, we’re happy to recommend other, more suited programs.
We’re looking for theatre artists and arts workers who are 18+ and self-identify as early career. The program is best suited for folks who are in the first few years of their professional practice or are looking to expand into another area of theatre practice. Practical experience outside of postsecondary institutions is recommended, though post-secondary training is not required.
Due to the new structure of the program, we are accepting applications from any previous applicants and participants. Priority will be given to folks who have not previously participated in the Innovators program.
Each shadow position will be led by a mentor from one of our season productions or a Nightwood staff member. You can attend meetings and rehearsals with them and will have the opportunity to contribute to the tasks you are shadowing. Any tasks that come up over the course of the position will prioritize your interests and education.
We believe that you will get the most out of this program if you are not currently a full-time student and we’d encourage you to apply once you’ve completed your program.
All of the shadow placements take place in-person in Toronto. We encourage folks in the GTA able to regularly travel to Toronto to apply and will continue to provide other opportunities to connect with other artists across Canada.
Applications are viewed by a small team of Nightwood Staff and mentors, with consultation from select members of the outgoing Innovators cohort.
We consider a number of factors, including:
Who will get the most out of this program?
Who would not get this kind of opportunity elsewhere?
Who demonstrates values that align with Nightwood’s?
We hear you! We recognize the strengths of the previous Innovators program in fostering connections and exploring diverse workshop topics. Building on this success, we’re expanding our workshop offerings to be open to the broader community. Additionally, we’re continually seeking new ways to engage the public throughout our season.
For individuals interested in a more structured program, we’re happy to recommend other suitable options offered by other amazing Toronto organizations.
You can reach Jade via email at jade@nightwoodtheatre.net.
Nightwood Shadow Residencies & Innovators Alumni
Trisha Harlan – Arts Management
Tsholo Khalema – Artistic Direction
Zoe Marín – Directing
Alyssa Ruddock – Production Management
Srutika Sabu – Fundraising
Emerjade Simms – Directing
Lee Stone – Directing
We were also happy to support additional learning opportunities of the following candidates:
Merle Harley, Keira Marie Forde, Bianca Guimarães, Kemi King, Avery MacDonald, Sanskruti Marathe, & Oliver Pitschner.
Melissa Avalos
isi bhakhomen
Lily Chang
Taija Shonée Chung
Lorna Craig
Shaharah Gaznabbi
Jill Goranson
Eli Holliday
Jae Janzen
Mathilda Kane
Kass Prus
Lee Stone
Darnie Tran
Sarah Yuen
A Blaine
Carly Anna Billings
Eish Van Wieren
Elm Reyes
Heather Lundrigan
Katherine Teed-Arthur
Kayla Ado
Kiah Francis
Kijo Gatama
Laura Piccinin
Montserrat Videla
Riley Ough
Sarah O’Brecht
Yoanna Joseph (Espérance Love)
Abigail Whitney
Alex Cameron
Augusta (Gus) Monet
Camille Rogers
Drea
Emily Maxwell
Erin Jones
Jade Silman
Jahnelle Jones
Maria Alejandra Cortes
Natércia Napoleão
Rahaf Fasheh
Rebecca Bauer
Rosiland Goodwin
Caitlin Kelly
Christine Lee
Hazel Moore
Jessica Rose
Kemi King
Kiera Publicover
Lucy Wong
Natasha Ramondino
Patricia Cerra
Qianna MacGilchrist
River Oliveira
Robin Luckwaldt
Sai Macikunas
Alethea Bakogeorge
Arinea Hermans
Ciana Henderson
Faly Mevamanana
Kate McArthur
Izzie Solis Lozano
Madison Angus
Rabiya Monsoor
Roxhanne Norman
Samantha Megarry
Sarah Flicht
Sarah Marchand
Shohana Sharmin Sicilia
Xanath Fuentes
Amanda Lin
Arielle Zamora
Brittany Banks
Ellie Elwand
Emma Welsh
Haley Vincent
Jasmine Cabanilla
Kai Taddei
Leah Pritchard
Marina Gomes
Max Fearon
Melissa MacKenzie
Rais Clarke-Mendes
Rochelle Richardson
Shaneill Floyd-Wlazlak
Adriana DeAngelis
Andrea Rankin
Barbara Martinez
Bryn Kennedy
Cathy Huang
Ellen Denny
Julie Foster
Justine Christensen
Keshia Palm
Lauren Wolanski
Lucy McPhee
Melissa Taylor
Mirka Loiselle
Natalie Liconti
Rachel Mutombo
Samantha Vu
Annie Clarke
Christine Rankin
Elizabeth Staples
Faith Paré
Li Chen
Liz Whitbread
Natalia Bushnik
Saba Aktar
Sarah Gibbons
Madeleine Brown
Michela Sisti
Shannon Murphy
Veronica Baron
Nightwood Shadow Residencies are generously supported by:

