PLAYWRIGHTS RETREATS

The Gillespie House Playwrights Retreat (GHPR) is an entirely self-directed paid opportunity for Ontario playwrights developing new works that are epic and mythic in nature. We currently support both emerging and established Ontario-based playwrights with projects that are in early stages of development. 

What we offer: 

  • A week-long stay at The Gillespie House (all accommodation expenses covered)
  • A travel stipend to and from The Gillespie House within Ontario
  • Complimentary daily breakfast
  • Access to support from our on-site dramaturg Caitie Graham, if desired. 
  • Fellowship opportunities with other invited playwrights
  • Optional group activities in and around Prince Edward County
  • An honorarium of $750.00

The Gillespie House Playwrights Retreat is designed to serve as a launching point for a playwright’s biggest, dreamiest ideas. Our aim is to provide a supportive, no-strings-attached environment, where playwrights are accountable only to their own creative impulses and desired gains from the experience. 

“The Gillespie House Playwrights Retreat was exactly what I needed. The supportive environment fostered creativity and inspiration in ways I didn’t expect but truly appreciated. The beautifully curated experience, meaningful group activities, and serene atmosphere made it a magical space for discovery and growth as an artist. I left with clarity, direction, and unforgettable memories.”

“With the time going faster and pressure growing stronger every day, I can’t imagine a better place for an artist to be than the Gillespie House Playwrights Retreat. These 5 days can fully upgrade your settings. It is a wonderful chance to relaunch, reset, rest and… write. Nothing else is needed. A rare opportunity and a real treasure! Thank you, Caitie, for your delicate and thoughtful mentoring, and love! Huge thanks to Jeremy for the ongoing support of artists and their ideas!”

“This change of scene is so helpful. I’m physically standing in a different place, so my perspective changes – of course it does. Showing up somewhere where you have no history, specifically in that place to do the thing, that’s really helped me. Walking down the street and seeing things that have wormed the way into my narrative in ways that are now, like, how could that not have been part of it – how could I not be grateful for that. Those are gifts. It’s also just really calm and beautiful here. People are making food for you, it’s luxurious, it’s quiet, it’s beautiful. I feel like a lucky bastard.”

“Like other retreats, Gillespie House offered the chance to go inward—but what I’ll remember most is the rare and generous companionship: evenings around the dining table with fellow playwrights, Caitie, Jeremy, and his family. With her warm, loving, yet exacting dramaturgical eye, Caitie asked the questions that sharpened the work and made it braver. I left Gillespie House feeling restored, and already a little homesick for my time there.”

“Everyday during my residency at Gillespie House, the warm hospitality cultivated a feeling of support and joy. Our days were full of quiet focus and our evenings full of inspiring conversation. Having on-site dramaturgical support deepened my understanding of my project and gave me a lot to digest moving forward. A truly special week in a beautiful setting.”

“The Gillespie House Playwrights Retreat is an opportunity to feel valued as a creative in a way that I haven’t experienced for a long time. The retreat’s focus on generosity and warmth reminds you that there is intrinsic value to dreaming and creating – something that is easy to forget in an increasingly pressure-filled industry.”

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