Since Driftwood’s inception over 25 years ago, we’ve held fiercely to our belief that theatre should be accessible to everyone, no matter where you live or how much money you have in your pocket. But the world has changed a lot since 1995, especially so in the three years since we’ve last toured. The reality is that touring free or Pay What You Can professional theatre productions is just not feasible in 2022.
Today, there are also health and safety considerations that our communities, our artists and our staff rely on us to make in order to keep them informed and minimize contact. The old ‘pass the pink bag of joy’ version of admissions collection is no longer safe.
And so, for the health of our organization and the health of our communities, Driftwood Theatre is introducing a new ticketing model, a bridge between Driftwood’s original mandate and the realities of an increased need for health and safety measures as well as greater fiscal responsibility.
Pay What You Can AFFORD
We still feel very strongly that a single set ticket price just isn’t for us. So here’s the plan:
Inspired by the groundbreaking work of industry peers Why Not Theatre (check them out, they’re awesome), in 2022 Driftwood will introduce Pay What You Can AFFORD, a ticketing system for all future productions whereby audiences can select from one of four set admission prices: $5, $35, $50, $75.
Audience members are encouraged to select and pay the price which suits their budget. Whether you’re a bustling family with little to spend on those extracurriculars or a bachelor/ette with cash burning a hole in your pocket, there’s a ticket price within that range for you.
However, we realize that for some even $5 presents a significant barrier to participation, and so we’re looking to the kindness of our communities to help keep Driftwood truly accessible for everyone.
Theatre for Everyone: Community Tix
They say “it takes a village” and we couldn’t agree more. Making sure that theatre is accessible to those who need it most is a community effort. Working with partnered organizations in communities across our touring area, Driftwood is creating a Community Tix program to offer free theatre where it’s really needed.
Every PWYCA ticket purchased at the $75 level unlocks two free tickets. These community tickets flow into one of two pools: at the point of sale the purchaser can decide if the tickets will go towards a partnered organization in their own community, or be distributed at Driftwood’s discretion to a larger pool of organizations province-wide. By purchasing your ticket at the $75 level you will have a direct hand in helping two other people see the show.
Get Your Tickets Early
We’re strongly encouraging guests to buy their tickets in advance. Advance ticket sales serve as an important source of revenue to help keep the ‘wheels on the bus’ and they’re also an important tool in keeping communities safe and informed. We’ll be able to keep better track of, and communicate with, audience members in the case of potential gathering limitations, cancellations, emergencies or for contact tracing where needed.
We can’t wait to gather with you again this summer and look forward to coming together as a community to share affordable, accessible theatre with everyone in Ontario.
See you on the road,
Jeremy Smith, Artistic Director
March Break Virtual Workshops
/in NewsThis March, Driftwood is offering a number of exciting virtual theatre workshops for young storytellers and performers around Ontario!
We’ll be offering three storytelling workshops in partnership with public libraries, one workshop about character-creation and movement with Ontario Power Generation’s Virtual Power Kids program, and last but not least we’ll be joining Visual Arts Mississauga at Riverwood as a special guest at the end of their week-long March break half-day camp.
Get ready to spark your imagination, get your body moving, and tell some stories!
Oshawa Public Library | March 15 at 11am
Click here to register.
King Township Public Library | March 16 at 10am
Click here to register.
Richmond Hill Public Library | March 17 at 2pm
Click here to register.
Visual Arts Centre Mississauga | Week-long, half-day camp
Click here to register (registration closes March 6)
Ontario Power Generation | March 24th, 10am
Click here to register.
Call for Submissions: Beyond the Bard Playwrights Unit
/in Job PostingsPLEASE NOTE: Driftwood Theatre has extended the deadline for submissions to the Beyond the Bard Playwrights Unit to Friday, March 11, 2022.
What we’re doing:
Driftwood Theatre Group is now accepting submissions for our 2022 Beyond the Bard Playwrights Unit! This year, we are looking for early career playwrights who are interested in creating NEW short plays to be presented as part of our summer tour. Commissioned playwrights will be supported by our company dramaturg throughout the development process, and will participate in bi-monthly group meetings geared toward fellowship and professional development. Interested in the opportunity to have your work toured across Ontario this summer? Then get your application in!
What we’re offering:
artists working toward a common goal via different paths and perspectives. At these meetings, playwrights will be invited to propose discussion topics, or recommend reading material, about anything they feel is important to their artwork and/or the professional development of the group.
We’re looking for applicants who are…
The Beyond the Bard Playwrights Unit welcomes applicants from all backgrounds who reflect the many communities that make up the province of Ontario. In particular, we will prioritize applications from artists who identify as BIPOC and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Driftwood is also committed to providing an accessible and barrier-free environment for its staff and artists. If you have questions or concerns about the accessibility of this application process, or the Unit itself, please feel free to reach out to Caitie at dramaturg@driftwoodtheatre.com for accommodations.
Given that Driftwood recently moved our office from Toronto to Picton, we are also particularly interested in submissions from Ontario artists who are based in (or have a deep connection to) communities outside of Toronto.
What to submit:
Please click here to complete our submission form. On it, you will be asked to provide the following:
***Please include your full name in the title of ALL attached files.
All applicants will be contacted upon receipt of their submission, and again by early April regarding the status of their application.
Successful applicants will be invited to a short, virtual, interview with our Artistic Director and Company Dramaturg before official selections are made.
EXTENDED DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: Friday March 11th, 2022 @ 11:59pm
For any questions and/or requests for accessibility accommodation, please reach Caitie at dramaturg@driftwoodtheatre.com
Click HERE to submit your application.
Audition Notice: King Henry Five
/in Job PostingsDriftwood Theatre Group invites submissions from performers for King Henry Five by William Shakespeare.
The Bard’s Bus Tour is an annual summer Ontario tradition, touring to outdoor venues across the province for over 25 years.
Rehearsals for King Henry Five will begin in June 2022 in Picton, Ontario, with public performances planned between July 19 – August 14, 2022 (with a possible extension to August 21). During the tour, Toronto will serve as the point of origin. The Bard’s Bus Tour contracts equity artists under the ITA as a ‘G’ House.
Driftwood Theatre welcomes applicants from all backgrounds who reflect the many communities that make up the province of Ontario. In particular, we will prioritize and consider first applications from artists who identify as BIPOC and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Driftwood is also committed to providing an accessible and barrier-free environment for its staff and artists. If you have questions or concerns about the accessibility of this application process, or the production itself, please feel free to reach out to Producer, Ella Kohlmann at ekohlmann@driftwoodtheatre.com for accommodations.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: Three (3) Actors
King Henry Five. Driftwood approaches Shakespeare’s history plays for the first time as we adapt three of Shakespeare’s scripts (Henry IV pts 1 & 2, Henry V) into a single narrative using only five actors to tell the story of King Henry Five. Set in a contemporary Canadian patio bar, King Henry Five focuses on prince Hal’s questionable friendship with Falstaff as it comes up against Hal’s priorities as a leader and future king. This is a powerful story about community, the families we inherit and those we choose, and the legacies we leave behind.
How to submit:
Please click here to submit your application using Google Forms. You will be asked to provide the following as a single PDF (File name format: FULL_NAME_HENRY_AUDITONS.pdf):
Candidates selected for an audition will be expected to prepare two contrasting Shakespeare monologues and a song of their choice. All auditions will take place using the ZOOM virtual-meetings platform.
Both CAEA members and non-CAEA members will be considered. All performers cast will be engaged under an Equity form of contract. Electronic submissions only. All applicants will be contacted upon receipt of their submission, and again by early April regarding the status of their application.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, February 25, 2022 at 5pm.
Ticketing: Our New Vision for Accessible Theatre
/in NewsSince Driftwood’s inception over 25 years ago, we’ve held fiercely to our belief that theatre should be accessible to everyone, no matter where you live or how much money you have in your pocket. But the world has changed a lot since 1995, especially so in the three years since we’ve last toured. The reality is that touring free or Pay What You Can professional theatre productions is just not feasible in 2022.
Today, there are also health and safety considerations that our communities, our artists and our staff rely on us to make in order to keep them informed and minimize contact. The old ‘pass the pink bag of joy’ version of admissions collection is no longer safe.
And so, for the health of our organization and the health of our communities, Driftwood Theatre is introducing a new ticketing model, a bridge between Driftwood’s original mandate and the realities of an increased need for health and safety measures as well as greater fiscal responsibility.
Pay What You Can AFFORD
We still feel very strongly that a single set ticket price just isn’t for us. So here’s the plan:
Inspired by the groundbreaking work of industry peers Why Not Theatre (check them out, they’re awesome), in 2022 Driftwood will introduce Pay What You Can AFFORD, a ticketing system for all future productions whereby audiences can select from one of four set admission prices: $5, $35, $50, $75.
Audience members are encouraged to select and pay the price which suits their budget. Whether you’re a bustling family with little to spend on those extracurriculars or a bachelor/ette with cash burning a hole in your pocket, there’s a ticket price within that range for you.
However, we realize that for some even $5 presents a significant barrier to participation, and so we’re looking to the kindness of our communities to help keep Driftwood truly accessible for everyone.
Theatre for Everyone: Community Tix
They say “it takes a village” and we couldn’t agree more. Making sure that theatre is accessible to those who need it most is a community effort. Working with partnered organizations in communities across our touring area, Driftwood is creating a Community Tix program to offer free theatre where it’s really needed.
Every PWYCA ticket purchased at the $75 level unlocks two free tickets. These community tickets flow into one of two pools: at the point of sale the purchaser can decide if the tickets will go towards a partnered organization in their own community, or be distributed at Driftwood’s discretion to a larger pool of organizations province-wide. By purchasing your ticket at the $75 level you will have a direct hand in helping two other people see the show.
Get Your Tickets Early
We’re strongly encouraging guests to buy their tickets in advance. Advance ticket sales serve as an important source of revenue to help keep the ‘wheels on the bus’ and they’re also an important tool in keeping communities safe and informed. We’ll be able to keep better track of, and communicate with, audience members in the case of potential gathering limitations, cancellations, emergencies or for contact tracing where needed.
We can’t wait to gather with you again this summer and look forward to coming together as a community to share affordable, accessible theatre with everyone in Ontario.
See you on the road,
Jeremy Smith, Artistic Director