Lunchbox Theatre

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Lunchbox Theatre is happy to invite submissions for our Brown Bag Residency, our new indie company in residence program.

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY

This unpaid residency with Lunchbox Theatre offers in-kind support to Calgary-based independent artist collectives with a work currently in progress. Like a brown paper lunch bag, the residency is a light and flexible container in which to develop new works.

Within the theatre community, Lunchbox Theatre has long been recognized as a springboard. We are proud to be a company that frequently works with emerging artists and provides them with opportunities to showcase themselves to the greater community and larger companies. For the 2025-26 season, we are happy to formalize the various supports we often offer to emerging and indie artists with our new Brown Bag Residency.

We will select two Calgary-based artist collectives who have a work in progress during the 2025-26 season. 

SUPPORT OFFERED

• Use of our rehearsal hall – must be scheduled within the following dates:

• October 14-24, 2025

• Jan 19-Feb 13, 2026

• March 17-May 1, 2026

• Mentorship conversations with our core team, who are happy to chat with you about:

• Bronwyn - directing, playwriting/devising, dramaturgy, acting, and grant-writing

• Patti - stage management and administration

• Skylar - design, production management, and technical direction

• Invitation to the dress rehearsal for each of our season productions 

• Beyond the Sea  - October 11

• Ridge - November 4

• Patty and Joanne - November 22

• RIBSTONE - January 20

• Thank You for Your Order - March 14

• Letters of support for grant applications 

• A profile on our website and features on our social media channels

• Access to our set and props resources to borrow items (when not in use for our shows, and you would arrange for transport and pickup/return at mutually agreed times)

• Outside eye dramaturgy and feedback when requested 

• An open line of communication to determine any other support that we may be able to offer in-kind.

ELIGIBILITY

• Calgary locals only

• All collaborating artists must be at least 18 years old and not currently a student enrolled in post-secondary education

• Theatre-makers creating work for public performance 

Lunchbox Theatre’s focus is on celebrating human stories—creating engaging theatre that is accessible, inclusive, affordable and sustainable. We are committed to representing diverse voices and encourage artists of all backgrounds to submit. We acknowledge that Lunchbox has a history of programming a majority of white playwrights, and we are committed to continuing to build a more inclusive future. We are eager to hear from IBPOC artists, the DisArts Community, 2SLGBTQIA+ and female/gender-diverse led theatre collectives.

Note: it is NOT an eligibility requirement that the work be a potential “Lunchbox show,” i.e. we are flexible in terms of run-time, cast size, and vibes. 

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Please submit using this form: https://forms.gle/KVgAUCg6bmDc3Ka96

Shortlisted artists will be sent an invitation for an interview the week of August 25-29, 2025. Please be prepared to introduce yourselves as artists, and chat about your work and your goals with the residency. 

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: August 21, 2025 

NOTIFICATION: We will notify all applicants by September 3, 2025

OTHER NOTES:

If you have questions regarding the application process, please send Bronwyn an email to ad@... [ad AT lunchboxtheatre DOT com].

Access and inclusion are important to us. If you have barriers to access to any part of our process, please don't hesitate to reach out to us and we will work with you to find the best way for us to get to know you and your work.

Representation matters—to our artists as well as our audiences and the larger community. We are inclusive in the stories that we tell and the people we represent on our stage, so that we can continually engage with new artists, audiences and communities, who are eager to see themselves reflected onstage. Lunchbox Theatre is committed to providing an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, can contribute fully, and have equal opportunities.

Thank you for your interest in our work at Lunchbox Theatre! Each season at Lunchbox, we produce a season of four or five one-act plays. Please first take a look at our vision, mission and values here https://www.lunchboxtheatre.com/our-story (note the emphasis on meaningful and uplifting entertainment), and familiarize yourself with our latest programming before submitting any scripts for our consideration.

Eligibility

• One-act plays must be 45-60 minutes in length.

• Small cast (4 or fewer performers, including musicians for musicals).

• We prioritize stories by playwrights living in Canada, but we occasionally produce non-Canadians if the material feels relevant to Calgarian audiences.

• Note that certain complex technical requirements and excessive use of foul language or nudity may limit a project’s viability at Lunchbox.

Many of our productions are developed through our Stage One Festival of New Canadian Work. If you have a script in development that you would like to propose for Stage One, please look out for our call for submissions in the fall.

Submission Guidelines

If after familiarizing yourself with our work, you feel your script is a perfect fit and ready for production at Lunchbox now, then please email Artistic Director Bronwyn Steinberg at ad@lunchboxtheatre.com with the subject as "SCRIPT SUBMISSION - play title", and include the following in your message:

• A short synopsis

• Cast breakdown

• Development or production history

• Why you think this piece is a great fit for Lunchbox

• Please note if you live in Calgary or have a connection that enables you to work here as a local

After we receive your submission, we will send you an email letting you know that we got it. If your proposal sounds like what we're looking for, then you'll be invited to send along the script and your CV. 

Please understand that we are a tiny staff with very limited reading time, so...

• We do not know how soon we will be able to read your script after submission.

• Playwrights will only be contacted again if we are interested in moving forward with your script.

• We do not provide dramaturgical feedback unless the script is accepted for further development or production. 

• We thank you for your understanding and patience!

Lunchbox Theatre is committed to being a caregiver conscious working environment. We are proud to be a Balancing Act Partner.

We are eager to engage in open conversations surrounding caregiver needs; we strive to create a flexible working environment whenever possible, to acknowledge the costs and other considerations required by caregivers working in theatre, and to always remember the vital importance of asking artists what we at Lunchbox can do to support them in doing their best work.