Calling all multilingual theatre artists across Canada! Polyphonic is BACK!
We are seeking proposals from multilingual theatre artists across Canada for rice & beans theatre’s third Polyphonic Multilingual Creation Program from March 10th-21st, 2026.
About the Residency:
In partnership with the Vancouver Public Library, Polyphonic prioritizes the translation and creation process of multilingual theatre makers. In it, rice & beans will welcome two multilingual projects in development, one from a local artist and one from out-of-town. Artists are hosted in Vancouver, British Columbia for 12 days, and are provided everything they need for focused, uninterrupted time on their work. Over the two weeks, they have access to writing space at the Vancouver Public Library, where they can workshop with collaborators, participate in a public VPL mid-process table read and feedback session, and then, as a culmination of the program, present a stage reading of an excerpt of their work complete with video design, in a theatre studio. Through the Polyphonic Multilingual Creation Program, artists have the space to reclaim their languages unapologetically through the art they create and foster a space where community members can see their languages legitimized onstage. The residency is an expansion of our existing DBLSPK Program in which the artist and audience members are able to engage in the nuances of language translation on the theatrical stage.
What Polyphonic offers:
2-week fee for Writer and Lead Collaborator Fee
Artist fees for Dramaturges, Performers and/or Consultants, as needed for the development
Writing and tablework space at the Vancouver Public Library
Public mid-program table read with actors at the Vancouver Public Library
3 days in the Progress Lab Studio to tech, rehearse and present a staged reading of a 20-30 minute excerpt of the multilingual work at the end of the program
Per Diem/Food and Transportation in Vancouver, BC for each writer and lead collaborator (or co-writing duo, if applicable)
Airfare and Accommodation for Out-of-Town Artists
Resources for the workshop and public presentation, including:
Equipment & Supplies
Consultation and Design by a Video & Surtitle Designer in preparation for the end-of-program staged reading
Marketing and Publicity package
Sign Language Interpretation
Proposals will be accepted until September 14th, 2025 at 11:59pm PDT.
To submit a proposal, please send the following to polyphonic@riceandbeanstheatre.com:
A completed version of this artistic statement form (either in PDF format, or up to 5 minutes of video/audio file)
A sample of your project (a maximum of 10 pages in PDF format or up to 5 minutes of video/audio file)
Artist CV (PDF or video/audio file)
Please direct any questions to Pedro Chamale at polyphonic@riceandbeanstheatre.com. We may also reach out with clarifying questions via email, if needed, during the adjudication process. All applicants will be notified of the result by October 31st, 2025.
We welcome all interested candidates to apply, but please note that priority will be given to IBPOC artists.
Thank you for taking the time to read this call, and we excitedly await your proposals!
