2024 Players' Series
Now accepting proposals
“Be the players ready?” Hamlet 3.2.97
SOTS is pleased to announce that we will once more be presenting the Players’ Series for the 2024 season on the John Rayner Community Stage thanks to the support of the City of Saskatoon and SaskLotteries. We are currently accepting proposals for six short pieces of work that are Shakespeare-inspired.
When you think of William Shakespeare, what do you think about? Do you think about the Elizabethan era? Do you think about a specific play that may hold special significance for you? Do you think about Shakespeare as a literary champion or as a problematic figure?
Regardless of what you may think about when it comes to the Bard of Avon, SOTS wants you to foster that thought and create a piece of work that responds to, critiques, comments on, extends, or is inspired by William Shakespeare. This can take the form of a scene, a song, a dance, stand-up, or another kind of visual art so long as it is responding to Shakespeare.
What is it?
The Players’ Series is an innovative, wild, and unpredictably fun facet of our summer festival where SOTS presents imaginative short works made by local artists on our John Rayner Community Stage, a separate stage from our main amphitheatre but still located in our beautiful riverside site. The Players’ Series is a unique free stage that gives the public access to arts and cultural programming during our summer festival regardless of whether they hold a ticket or not. In fact, our Community Stage has been a part of our summer festivals for over two decades, and, while operating under different names over the years, has emulated the overarching principle of creativity and excitement for all that continues to drive our passion under the Players’ Series title.
For their creative labour, each project will receive a production fee of $1,000 that will cover creation/production costs of creating their piece of work and presenting their piece twice during the scheduled two-night event.
Image of the Community Stage in 2022 (photo by Dillon Rain)
What is it?
This project supports the development and maintenance of culture programs and activities by providing artists with the ability to explore and experiment with their art under the guidance of our staff and Artistic Director. This guidance from experienced artists and staff, as well as our commitment to competitively compensate these artists financially for their artistic labour, ensure the maintenance and development of art and culture in our community. Such maintenance and development can be seen in how, oftentimes, the art that begins on the Community Stage continues to flourish even after it is over as we have seen in past performances. Many people have not felt welcome in the theatre and that is even more palpable in classical theatre such as Shakespeare. Marginalized people have not historically been seen or heard in these works, and with this series we hope to invite those voices in perspective – whatever that perspective may be. We invite it all, and this platform is a brilliant conduit for discussion and exposure to new ideas.
As in previous years, SOTS is committed to holding one of our slots to a student(s) through the University of Saskatchewan to help foster interest and learning to emerging artists.
What will the 2024 season look like?
SOTS is excited to announce that we have made the decision to change the Players’ Series from a Festival-long pre- and post-main stage show event to a two-night mini-festival event. Under the leadership and guidance of our Artistic Director, Kayvon Khoshkam, six short form projects will be selected by submission for our 2024 Players’ Series. These short works are not limited by medium (ie theatre, music, dance, etc), but they must adhere to our venue specifications and be in response to or in some relationship with William Shakespeare’s life or works. During the months leading up to the two-night performance event taking place at the end of July, these artists will receive dramaturgical support and feedback to the original piece they are devising.
How can you get involved?
APPLY NoW!
Interested applicants should send the following information as one file to [email protected] with the subject line “Players’ Series 2024”:
- A brief description of the idea and any all samples available.
- The medium that will be explored in this idea (ie, theatre, dance, music, etc)
- A list of the team, including resumes and applicable supporting materials.
- Any technical needs (keeping in mind that we will not provide lighting).
We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. We encourage submissions from BIPOC, racialized and gender-diverse artists, as we continue to improve how we serve all voices. With a mandate to celebrate Saskatchewan artists we are particularly interested in hearing from artists living in or with deep roots in Saskatchewan.
Applications will be accepted up until May 1st, 2024. All applications must be submitted by 4:30pm.
Attend the Players’ Series!
Further information regarding the two-night mini-Festival will be released closer to the Festival season. Please consider coming out and supporting the new creative and unique work of Saskatoon’s local artistic community.
Support SOTS!
If you think that the Players’ Series sounds like a fantastic initiative but don’t have any ideas to submit, please consider donating to SOTS instead. As a non-for-profit, we rely on donations to not only produce Shakespeare theatre annually, but also to provide more accessible opportunities like the Players’ Series to our community. Visit shakespearesask.com/donate-now/ to find out more!
Further questions? Get in touch!
Questions and concerns can be directed to Alyson Cook, Community Relations Marketing Associate at SOTS, at [email protected] or by calling our office at (306) 653-2300 (ext.226).
