Who: 

The Young Ruffian Apprenticeship Program is for theatre artists aged 14 – 20 who are interested in developing existing skills and learning new and exciting tools geared toward devised theatre and collective creation. We invite artists who self-identify as actors, directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, and creators and who are keen on working with an ensemble to apply. This year we will be looking for creators to apply to one of 3 streams: a) Performance b) Directing/Dramaturgy, and c) Production. Everyone will work together for all sessions, and all participants can perform as little or as much as they decide to, this will just help us identify what kind of roles you might be interested in working on and to better understand your breadth of interests as an artist!

When:

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10a.m. – 2:30p.m.

Beginning July 16th and culminating in performance(s) to take place on select evenings as a pre-show to the mainstage Shakespeare in the Ruff show. 

(Performance dates are August 23rd and 24th.)

The schedule of the final week is also TBD to accommodate the Tech of the mainstage show.

Where: 

Withrow Park (Near Danforth Avenue and Logan Avenue in Toronto’s east-end)

What:

The Young Ruffians will be tasked with responding to Shakespeare in the Ruff’s mainstage show The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers with the goal of creating an ensemble-based piece(s). Directed by Kwaku Okyere, The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers combines Shakespeare’s original text with new writing by Makram Ayache, and explores the events leading up to “The Tempest” as we know it. “A Witch in Algiers” explores the history and relationships between Prospero, Ariel, Caliban, and his mother Sycorax (spoken of but unseen in Shakespeare’s play), and grapples with themes of colonization, appropriation, family, and sacrifice. 

The creation(s) coming out of this program will be performed as a pre-show presentation for The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers on performance dates August 23rd and 24th.

Throughout the program, the Young Ruffians will also participate in weekly mentorship sessions with members of the company. Potential areas of mentorship include but are not limited to stage management, producing, education,  directing, lighting and  design, costuming, and dramaturgy.

How:

Participants will meet twice per week for 6 weeks. Each week, guest instructors from the Toronto theatre community as well as the Young Ruffians facilitator will guide the ensemble through new approaches, techniques, and exercises that can be used in collective creation. Participants will then experiment with these tools and use them as a jumping off point to create a piece of theatre as an ensemble.

Sessions will develop ensemble-driven skills such as:

• Using objects, sounds, and images as prompts for creation.
• Using physical theatre techniques to explore collective creation.
• Working with ‘group mind’ to find and develop impulses particular to the ensemble.
• Using sound/song to create soundscapes that allow for deeper investigations into the collective interests.
• Exploring approaches to creating non-narrative text as a way of investigating and supporting the group interests.

How To Apply:

1. Please answer the following question in 500 words or less: What is currently of interest to you as an artist?* (*You answer can be in one of the following formats: written document, video, voice note)
2. Please answer ONE of the following prompts in a creative way of your choosing (song, dance, poem etc.):
   1. Who is a  figure from literature or any source of media that is portrayed as an ‘outsider’ who you identify with. In what ways do you identify with them.
   2. What makes an ‘outsider’?
   3. What is something you have done or experienced that was meaningful to your life but for which you did not earn money and which did not benefit your career or academics. 
   4. What empowers you as a performer?

Please send your submission to:

yrap@shakespeareintheruff.com by Wednesday, May 29th 2024 (THIS IS THE NEW EXTENDED DEADLINE). In the subject line please identify whether you are applying to the PERFORMER, DIRECTOR/DRAMATURG, or PRODUCTION stream. Important: All successful applicants will be working together in a collaborative process – these streams will be used to identify areas of interest and clarify roles. Applicants who come in via the directing/dramaturgy or production streams will not be required to perform if they are not interested in that element but all participants are invited to perform as much or as little as they decide. 

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview with Education Coordinator Nicole Wilson and  RUFF Collective leadership member Jeff Yeung.

Priority Groups:

This program is for everyone, but we are specifically prioritizing applications from artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ2+, and persons with Disabilities.

Accessibility:

• We are committed to making this program fully accessible for participants. Feel free to include your access needs in your initial application. If you are asked to participate in an interview we will make a point of asking for your access needs in advance of the interview. 
• In order to remove barriers to access this is a PAID program. All participants will receive an honorarium of $500