ABOUT THE ACADEMY 

The Soulpepper Academy aims to develop highly skilled theatre artists who are equipped to make significant contributions in rehearsal halls and to the cultural landscape of Canada. We develop artistic leaders and believe that a supportive and immersive experience allows artists to move confidently into new territories. It is a key tenet of the Academy that members are not training to imitate what has been done or achieved. Rather the training aims to equip artists to innovate, and make theatre of the future. The Academy is not only a place of study, but also a site of research where they can pose the artistic questions relevant to their lives and realities. 

Successful candidates will be selected both for the promise shown around their individual artistic voice and practice, as well as for how that practice might contribute to collaborative creation. All Academy Members will attend training sessions together and proceed through the program as an ensemble. 

The 2024 Academy will focus on musical storytelling and performance. We are looking for performer-creators who are musically skilled to join this year’s cohort. ‘Performer-creator’ refers to artists who have a background and training as a performer, and are truly invested in collaborative theatre-making as a pillar of their practice. ‘Musically skilled’ refers to artists who have a background or training in music – as singers, instrumentalists, or ideally both. For six months, the ensemble will be working and learning alongside some of Canada’s leading artists, as well as creating original work together.  

The Academy will begin full-time in July 2024 and conclude in late December 2024/early January 2025 (timeline outlined further below). Academy participants each receive a stipend of $900/week for the 24 weeks of the program. The Academy training will take place in person at Soulpepper Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Ontario. 

WHY THE SOULPEPPER ACADEMY? 

• To accelerate the development of your artistic voice. 
• To develop an open, collaborative, and enriched approach to the process of making theatre. 
• To make a meaningful and necessary contribution to the national theatre ecology. 
• To make a meaningful contribution to the ongoing vitality of Soulpepper. 

WHO IS THIS FOR? 

We are looking for theatre artists who have interest and experience in creating work through a collaborative ensemble process with a willingness to learn, risk, experiment, and grow. With this year’s focus on musical storytelling and performance, applicants must have a background or experience in music.  
 
The 2024 Academy is intended for artists who: 

• Self-identify as emerging or are in the early stages of their career 
• Have completed a theatre degree/diploma program from a conservatory or university (or can demonstrate equivalent professional experience) 
• Have professional stage experience beyond post-secondary 
• Are musically skilled – as singers, instrumentalists, or ideally both 

WHAT IS THE TRAINING? 

• The Academy is designed to enrich the thinking and practice of the individual artist, and develop strong, responsive, and skilled collaborators within an ensemble setting.  
• Participants will rigorously examine and renew their approach to making theatre. 
• Artists will contribute to the process of workshopping and adapting new theatre through musical storytelling. 
• The Academy is embedded within Soulpepper Theatre Company. Academy members will engage with Soulpepper productions, artists, and producers through mentorship, studio classes, and public performances. 
• Classes, studios and workshops from some of Canada’s leading theatre makers, including Soulpepper Artistic Director Weyni Mengesha, creators from Bad Hats, as well as key artists such as d’bi.young anitafrika, Ins Choi, Frank Cox-O’Connell, and Gregory Prest. 
  

APPLICATION COMPONENTS

• Resume: Your resume must clearly demonstrate your performance training and relevant professional theatre experience, your musical training and experience, as well as any special skills or instruments you are proficient in 
• Headshot 
• Video: Please prepare a short (less than 2 minute) video that introduces us to you. We would like to see a small showcase of your musicality through any song or poem of your choosing. We want to get to know you as an artist through your musical storytelling; show off your voice, your instruments, and your personality! 

All applications will be reviewed by the Academy Selection Committee. A shortlist of applicants will be invited for in-person auditions at Soulpepper (Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane). 

TIMELINE AND PROCESS:  

• Application Submission Deadline – Thursday, April 11 at 11:59PM  
• Notice of Selection for an Audition – Thursday, April 18, 2024   
• Auditions – Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 
• Please note: selected Artists must be available for both dates and will be scheduled accordingly  
• If selected for a callback, Artists will be notified EOD on Saturday, April 27 
• Callbacks – Monday, April 29 
• Notice of Acceptance to the Academy – Mid-May (all artists will hear from us no later than May 15, 2024) 
• Academy Term: Approx. July 2,  2024 – Dec 29, 2024 (24 paid weeks) 
• Includes 2-3 unpaid hiatus weeks – TBC  
• With possible extension to Jan 5, 2025  

If you would like to inquire about access needs during the application process, or have any questions, please email: Academy@Soulpepper.ca 

Applicants must be fully available for all the above dates in-person. Artists from across Canada are welcome to apply for the Academy, however auditions will take place in person in Toronto only. Soulpepper will contribute towards a portion of travel/accommodation for candidates selected for an audition residing outside the GTA. 

We encourage applications from artists belonging to underrepresented and historically marginalized communities.

We thank everyone for their interest, and we will be in touch with all applicants to communicate the status of their application. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide feedback on applications at this time.