Trafalgar 24 playwrights and inaugural Beyond the Bard Playwrights Unit announced

Driftwood Theatre launches headlong into 2020 with the return of Trafalgar 24 and the announcement of a new play-development program

Opening its next chapter of play development, Driftwood Theatre could not be more excited to announce the participating 2020 TRAFALGAR 24 playwrights while also revealing the beginning of an entirely new play-development program, the BEYOND THE BARD PLAYWRIGHTS UNIT.

Returning for its 16^th season as the most unique site-specific theatre event around, TRAFALGAR 24 is Driftwood’s signature 24-hour play-creation event. Over the course of one day, 24 theatre artists from across Ontario descend upon Trafalgar Castle to write, rehearse and perform six new plays set within the rooms, halls, nooks and crannies of Whitby’s very own 19^th century castle.

The six emerging playwrights who will find themselves locked together overnight in the castle on March 5 are Ellen Denny (Pleasureville, Neptune Theatre), Matthew Gorman (Western, a play with music, Next Stage), Rebecca Lashmar (Slice of Life, University of Windsor), Rabiya Mansoor (What the Elf?!,Second City), Gloria Mok (fearless, fu-GEN) and Ciarán Myers (TOUCH, GreenLight Arts).

As Driftwood’s signature gala event of the season, TRAFALGAR 24 raises $20,000 annually in support of theatre for everyone in Ontario. It is a sumptuous affair where audience members experience each of the six original stories being told throughout the castle while enjoying wine & cheese and dessert buffets, and a silent auction featuring theatre, event and travel packages and a cornucopia of fabulous items. Tickets for the event are now on sale.

Also launching in 2020 is Driftwood Theatre’s inaugural BEYOND THE BARD PLAYWRIGHTS UNIT. Up to five playwrights annually will participate in a series of group and one-on-one meetings to support the development of short plays first created at Trafalgar 24.

At the table for Driftwood’s 2020 BEYOND THE BARD PLAYWRIGHTS UNIT are four returning playwrights from Driftwood’s 2019 Trafalgar 24 festival: Wallis Caldoza, Rebecca Ostroff, Polly Phokeev and Melissa Taylor.

Further extending the impact to playwrights participating in Trafalgar 24, the Playwrights Unit will culminate with public readings of work as opening acts at select performances of The Bard’s Bus Tour, Driftwood’s long-running summer season of accessible, outdoor theatre across Ontario.

Driftwood Theatre Group presents TRAFALGAR 24 | Friday, March 6, 2020

Trafalgar Castle, 401 Reynolds Street, Whitby, ON

Doors/Silent Auction start: 6:30pm | Performances begin: 7:30pm

Tickets: $65 (General Admission), $25 (for guests 25 and under).

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