How does Writes Of Passage work?
Writes Of Passage is a program designed to introduce students to the exciting world of playwriting and theatre creation. Over five sessions, our team of experienced Teaching Artists collaborate with students teaching them the skills of writing and creation, on the skills of writing a play, and empower them to write their own original short plays. By the 5th session, select student excerpts are brought “to life” by two professional actors who will read and perform the student’s work.
Created in 2015 by Governor General Award-winning playwright, Vern Thiessen, this program sparks students to discover their inner creative voice. Participants of the program have written plays that have been presented at high school one-act festivals, Nextfest, and the Edmonton Fringe Festival. Since its creation, thousands of students have participated in the program and experienced the power of playwriting! (Scroll down for testimonials)
This creative educational program can be taught at the Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High levels and responds directly to many Alberta Education Curriculum requirements related to English Language Arts, Social Studies, Career and Life Management, and Drama. Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre can bring this program to schools across Alberta in English, Arabic, and French and can also expand the program into a longer play development residency. At the end of the school year, we organize a final event featuring the work of participating schools.
Ermineskin teacher Meagan Dillabough talks about the impact of the #writesofpassage program on her students.
Ross Sheppard teacher, Kristen Forsyth on what makes #WritesOfPassage a fantastic experience for her students.
Tracy Carroll, Teaching Artist, shares why she finds #writesofpassage inspiring
WritesOfPassage sponsor, Arden Tse talks about supporting this landmark writing program for teenagers and tells us why he believes in it.
Teaching artist, Emanuel Dubbeldam, talks about the Writes of Passage program with WWPT partner L'UniThéâtre in Edmonton and the program’s positive impacts.
Amena Shehab, Teaching Artist, shares about why the program is important as a launch pad for becoming a writer and for self-expression, and talks about the process of the #writesofpassage series.
Writes of Passage alumni, Jinin Alyousef talks about the impact of the #writesofpassage program on her as a student.
Sponsor, Doug Mertz (Citadel Theatre, Edmonton) talks about the program and why he supports it as a sponsor and teaching artist.
A student participant of #writesofpassage shares about how cool #writesofpassage is, literally.