A colored graphic saying Groundswell festival

GROUNDSWELL FESTIVAL 2026

November 9 – 13, 2026
Nancy & Ed Jackman Theatre – Performance Hall  (877 Yonge St.)
Tickets:
 Will be available online or at the door. 

Join us as we celebrate creation, conversation and community at our 40th annual Groundswell Festival! This November, our annual Groundswell Festival is coming to the Nancy & Ed Jackman Theatre Performance Hall to spotlight brand new works from Nightwood Theatre’s Write from the Hip playwright’s unit (WFTH) led by Program Director Intisar Awisse and Program Associate Mya Wong. Hear new plays from Alison Adams, Rais Clarke-Mendes, Sal Currie, Nicci Pryce, Vanessa Spence as well as new Nightwood works in development.

GROUNDSWELL 2026 Schedule

Nightwood’s Write From The Hip playwright unit is generously supported by RBC Emerging Artists.

Meet the Groundswell Festival 2025 Team

Intisar Awisse

Program Director

Mya Wong

Program Associate

photo of a white person in 20s. they have short blonde hair and a wearing a red sweater and jeans.

Alison adams

Playwright

photo of a Caribbean woman in her 20s. she has curly dark hair and is wearing a sheer maroon top.

Rais Clarke-Mendes

Playwright

photo of a white person in their 20s. They have curly brown hair and are wearing a black turtle neck and gray blazer.

Sal Currie

Playwright

photo of a black person in their 20s. they are wearing a maroon floral shirt and have short curly hair.

Nicci Pryce

Playwright

Vanessa Spence

Playwright