Writes of Passage: An In School Playwriting Program
PRESENTED BY WORKSHOP WEST PLAYWRIGHTS’ THEATRE
How does Writes Of Passage work?
Writes Of Passage is a program designed to introduce students to the exciting world of playwriting and theatre creation. Over five sessions, our team of experienced Teaching Artists collaborate with students teaching them the skills of writing and creation, on the skills of writing a play, and empower them to write their own original short plays. By the 5th session, select student excerpts are brought “to life” by two professional actors who will read and perform the student’s work.
Created in 2015 by Governor General Award-winning playwright, Vern Thiessen, this program sparks students to discover their inner creative voice. Participants of the program have written plays that have been presented at high school one-act festivals, Nextfest, and the Edmonton Fringe Festival. Since its creation, thousands of students have participated in the program and experienced the power of playwriting! (Scroll down for testimonials)
This creative educational program can be taught at the Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High levels and responds directly to many Alberta Education Curriculum requirements related to English Language Arts, Social Studies, Career and Life Management, and Drama. Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre can bring this program to schools across Alberta in English, Arabic, and French and can also expand the program into a longer play development residency. At the end of the school year, we organize a final event featuring the work of participating schools.
We have adapted the program to be taught online!
For a detailed explanation of how the #WritesofPassage program fits within your classroom curriculum, consult our Curriculum GUIDE AND CONSULT THE BROCHURE FOR PRICING, available below.
GET FUNDING!
This funding program is an opportunity for your school to benefit from the #WritesOfPassage program at 50% of the cost. Schools can submit grant requests for up to $15,000. Each year, we help schools with the application process. If you are interested in applying for this funding opportunity to bring the program to your school next year, please be in touch and we will be happy to help! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GRANT
By participating in the #WritesofPassage program, your students will:
work with professional theatre artists
develop new skills in writing & communication
grow confidence in their own unique voice
learn to talk about and evaluate theatre
build collaboration skills
explore critical thinking and reflect on diversity through linguistic and cultural expressions
Josh Languedoc, Youth Education & Outreach Coordinator
TO BOOK THE PROGRAM AT YOUR SCHOOL, CONTACT:
Josh Languedoc, Youth Education & Outreach Coordinator
or call our offices at:
780-477-5955 ext. 101
TEACHER, STUDENT, TEACHING ARTISTS & SPONSOR TESTIMONIALS
Ermineskin teacher Meagan Dillabough talks about the impact of the #writesofpassage program on her students.
Ross Sheppard teacher, Kristen Forsyth on what makes #WritesOfPassage a fantastic experience for her students.
Tracy Carroll, Teaching Artist, shares why she finds #writesofpassage inspiring
WritesOfPassage sponsor, Arden Tse talks about supporting this landmark writing program for teenagers and tells us why he believes in it.
Teaching artist, Emanuel Dubbeldam, talks about the Writes of Passage program with WWPT partner L'UniThéâtre in Edmonton and the program’s positive impacts.
Amena Shehab, Teaching Artist, shares about why the program is important as a launch pad for becoming a writer and for self-expression, and talks about the process of the #writesofpassage series.
Writes of Passage alumni, Jinin Alyousef talks about the impact of the #writesofpassage program on her as a student.
A student participant of #writesofpassage shares about how cool #writesofpassage is, literally.
Sponsor, Doug Mertz (Citadel Theatre, Edmonton) talks about the program and why he supports it as a sponsor and teaching artist.