Schools

Registering for the contest

To enter the contest, please complete and send us the registration form. A registration fee of $50 (plus tax) applies for each batch of 10 pieces of writing to be submitted to the jury. For groups who would also like to receive a preparatory conference led by a professional author, the fee is $150 (plus taxes) for a group of around 30 students, but the pairing of 2-3 groups is possible. Lastly, individual students whose class isn’t registered can sign-up on their own - free of charge. Upon receipt of the invoice, please make a credit card payment in the amount requested.

Meeting a writer

Upon receipt of the registration form, we will contact you to arrange a workshop (in person or videoconference) with a professional writer. They will offer the students an urban tale as an example, then share some tips and tricks when writing for the stage.

Writing

It’s time to put pen to paper - or get on those keyboards - and write your short stories and scripts. For each registration, with or without a conference, you can send us your 10 favourite ones. Note that we also accept works that your students may have already created for another assignment and in different forms (short story, short play, monologue, adventure or personal story, stand-up, slam, poetry, song, etc.)

Feedback

A few weeks after your initial conference (or preparation by the teacher or individual), we offer young writers feedback meetings (virtual only), where they can discuss their writing plans or first drafts with a professional writer. This exchange will give them a better idea of what to do next and how to finish their stories or scripts before submitting them to the jury.

Selecting the finalists

The stories and scripts received will be read by a committee of theatre professionals: playwrights, actors, and directors. Up to a dozen finalists will be selected per session, and these young writers will be invited to participate in an intensive rewriting workshop.

Rewriting workshop

An intensive rewriting workshop will be held at TfT’s Centre for Creation over two consecutive weekends. This workshop will allow students to work in close collaboration with professional actors and playwrights who will point out the strengths and potential of each story and guide the young writers through the rewriting process. As needed, the actors on-site will perform excerpts to help the young writers get a feel for their scripts' theatricality.

Professional reading

At the end of the intensive rewriting workshop on the second Sunday afternoon, the actors will perform the short plays for all the participants. All interested teachers, families and friends of the participants are invited to this professional staged reading.

Selecting the winners

After the two rewriting workshops, five short plays will be selected to be part of the fully staged production of Les Zinspiré.e.s. The winning writers will meet during the summer to begin the final stages of writing the show.

Creating the show

The final production of Les Zinspiré.e.s will be created by TfT the season following the competition. The winning scripts will be staged and performed by professional artists before a large audience.

Timeline

For additional information, please contact: Georges Som at 416.534.7303 ext. 32 or at gsom@theatrefrancais.com.