undercurrents

Call for Submissions

 

undercurrents is Ottawa’s festival of contemporary theatre taking place every February. We seek submissions from the following artists:

  • French, English or bilingual Ottawa based stage-ready productions
  • French, English or bilingual National stage-ready productions
  • French, English or bilingual works in progress suitable to staged readings or workshop presentations

The festival will consider applications from established and emerging artists who are working on new plays and performance pieces, as well as from those touring previously produced original work.

We encourage submissions from under-represented artists who identify with the organization’s Priority Groups: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of colour) Artists, Deaf Artists and Disabled+ Identified Artists, 2SLGBTQ+ Artists.

In addition to the online form, we ask all artists to submit:

  1. A proposal describing the project, its history, and the confirmed participating artists
  2. Biographies/CVs of lead artists or creators
  3. A completed script or script sample
  4. Additional support material (optional): tech specs*, reviews, photos, or letters of support

*If you have them, we ask for tech specs so we can make sure our theatre can accommodate your show. The more detail you can give us, the better, but ideally they would include: particulars of your set, information about lights and sound, video or projection components, etc… But don’t stress out about tech specs! We never rule out a show based on this information, and will reach out if we have questions. 

If the form is not accessible for you, we will also accept alternative formats. Alternative applications could be a video (English, French or ASL) or an audio file. Please limit videos or audio files to no more than 10 minutes long, and include all the information requested in the application form. You may then submit your application by email to director@ottawafringe.com.

Have questions before submitting? Want to learn more about undercurrents? Scroll down for more info!

Or schedule a call / book a meeting with Ottawa Fringe Executive and Artistic Director, Alain Richer (director@ottawafringe.com).

We’re opening submissions for both the 2026 and 2027 festivals. If your show is ready for the stage or currently touring, submit for 2026. If your show needs more development time but would benefit from early programming (perhaps helping you secure further funding), apply for 2027.

Deadline for 2026 consideration is April 18.

Apply Here

undercurrents Shows FAQs

The undercurrents festival is continually redefining categories for their shows which have been called Mainstage Shows, Workshop presentations and the Discovery Series. While the form will ask you to categorize your show, we recognize that the categories don’t necessarily apply to all projects. We’re interested in hearing about all shows regardless or lengths and production history. We hope this will help us program a festival that can easily accommodate shows of various genres, in both traditional / non-traditional theatre spaces and with production value that doesn’t necessarily fit a festival model.

1) Mainstage Shows

These shows typically run between 60-90 minutes (though exceptions can be made) and are usually performed in the Arts Court Theatre, a 130 proscenium theatre space or the ODD box, a 70 seat intimate proscenium theatre space. Typically, a mainstage show is scheduled for 3-4 performances during the run of the festival. That said, we are fans of theatre pieces that defy form, space and time so if your project doesn’t adhere to what we’ve mentioned above – apply anyways!

Each show will be paid a guaranteed presenting fee. The festival will also offer travel support and per diem (to cover accommodations) to national artists and free rehearsal space at Arts Court to local productions. In addition, the festival will provide marketing and promotion for the production; box office, venue, and venue services staff; as well as technical staff and support.

Note that all ticket revenue returns to the festival. Tickets are sold following a tiered “Pick Your Price” model.

2) Workshop Presentation

Workshop presentations are new shorter works-in-progress or live art/ installation pieces, typically running 30-60 minutes in length. They are performed in our Atelier Theatre, a 40-50 seat black box space or the Arts Court Studio, a 70-80 seat black box space. Each show is typically scheduled for 2-3 performances during the run of the festival.

Each show will be paid a guaranteed presenting fee and will have access to free rehearsal space at Arts Court. Travel support may be available to Workshop presentation shows on a case by case basis. In addition, the festival will provide marketing and promotion for the production; box office, venue, and venue services staff; as well as technical staff and support.

3) Staged Reading

Staged readings are new short works-in-progress, typically running 20-45 minutes in length. Think “scripts-in-hand” readings. They are performed in our Atelier Theatre, a 40-50 seat black box space or the Arts Court Studio, a 70-80 seat black box space. Often, these readings are presented as part of our New Play Tuesday event. Each show will be paid a guaranteed presenting fee and will have access to free rehearsal space at Arts Court.

 

Question wasn’t answered here?

No worries! Feel free to reach out to our Executive and Artistic Director Alain Richer: director@ottawafringe.com

under development is the Ottawa Fringe’s new play development program, inviting local artists/collectives to work on their new creation pieces in residence at Arts Court.

under development offers rehearsal/creation space and access to professional development opportunities, workshops, and Fringe resources. under development artists have access to administrative, dramaturgical, production and technical support from Fringe staff. When funding permits, under development artists will also be offered an honorarium to support the project.

Participants have the freedom to create based on their own process and timeline, with access to resources on an as needed/requested basis. under development participants meet regularly with Fringe staff and as a group for updates and to share their work.

This round of the under development residency program is generously supported by the Donner Canadian Foundation.

Application period for under development residency program is currently closed.