Nightwood Shadow Residencies
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.
Please see below for FAQs and information on our next round of applications.
Application Timeline
The Program Includes
- Practical experience in the area of the participant’s choice through our shadow position placements
A one-on-one session with Artistic Director Andrea Donaldson - A one-on-one consultation with Artistic Associate Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster (can be used to discuss current projects, dramaturgy, producing, career mentorship, etc)
- Free access to workshops available to the broader community led by Nightwood staff and guest artists on topics of interest for the cohort and the community
- Invitations to first-day table reads and dress rehearsals/performances for Nightwood’s mainstage programming*
- Observing a Write From The Hip new play development workshop before it is publicly shared at the Groundswell Festival
- Access to Nightwood staff for consultation
- A $2,400 (CAD) honourarium for participation in your shadow position
*Wherever possible, given Nightwood’s partnerships with other companies
Time Commitment
The Nightwood Shadow Residencies will run from July 2026 to June 2027, with particular busy periods identified next to each position below.
The bulk of the hours spent will be over the course of the shadow position with a maximum of 100 hours of practical learning. Please consult the shadow roles below to choose positions that most urgently respond to your areas of desired growth and fit into your general schedule (you and your mentor will work together to determine how best to use your time). There will also be a handful of group check-ins over the year, which will be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance. Other activities such as professional development workshops, one-on-ones, and dress rehearsal invitations will have encouraged, but optional, attendance.
To view the questions prior to filling out the form, click here.
If you have any questions about the program please contact Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster at courtney@nightwoodtheatre.net.
This season’s opportunities include shadowing in the following areas (view show descriptions):
- Production & Venue Management (July 2026 – June 2027)
- Lighting Design with To a Flame (July 2026 – October 2026_
- Artistic Direction with Andrea Donaldson (August 2026 – June 2027)
- Direction on The Lawyer Show musical (October 2026 – June 2027)
- Costume Design / Wardrobe on The Lawyer Show musical (October 2026 – June 2027)
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.
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 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?
You can reach our team via email at admin@nightwoodtheatre.net.
Get to know the 2025-26 Shadow Residents
Nightwood Shadow Residencies & Innovators Alumni
Jadi Darawi – Production Management
Summer Mahmud – Direction
Amelia Mielke – O’Grady – Costume Design
Oliver Pitschner – Direction
Germaine Konji – Direction
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
