Odyssey has Canada’s only play development program that specializes in mask and movement-based theatre forms.  

Through our program, we have brought 12 original full-length plays and 13 full-length new translation-adaptations of international classics to full production on our Theatre Under the Stars stage. As well, we have created and produced 7 original one-act plays that have been presented at museums, galleries, festivals and theatres, and 5 audio dramas exploring myth in the contemporary world for The Other Path. Writers who have participated in our program include David Craig, Lib Spry, Kim Selody, Marty Chan, Emily Pohl-Weary and Jo Walton.

Odyssey’s Artistic Director, Laurie Steven, and veteran multi-faceted theatre artist, Janet Irwin, are co-directors of the program. Both are seasoned dramaturges, playwrights and directors with experience in collaborative creation, masked performance, puppetry, physical theatre, international forms of dance-theatre and audio drama.

If you have a play in development that might be right for Odyssey, you can apply to our Play Creation Program or to the OAC Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators.