The next 3-Week National Devised Theatre Intensive takes place in June 2026.
Sign up to receive updates by emailing rgray@ghostrivertheatre.com.
course Description
A transformative 3-week advanced program, the National Devised Theatre Intensive, led by Ghost River Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Rose, offers a deep dive into the art of devising theatre. Designed for both established and emerging artists and educators from across the country, this comprehensive experience is open to adventurous creators from all disciplines—whether you're a designer, dramaturg, performer, writer, dancer, visual artist, musician, or digital artist.
Over the course of three intensive weeks, participants will engage in a hands-on exploration of the complete devised production process, from initial concept to public performance. This is an opportunity to develop your creative toolkit, expand your collaborative network, and ignite your artistic practice in an inspiring environment.
What You’ll Explore:
The Dramaturgy of Devised Work: Practical approaches to shaping a story from scratch
Audience Engagement: Theory and methods for connecting with your audience in innovative ways
Collaboration & Decision-Making: Long-term strategies for effective teamwork
Marketing and Grant Writing: Workshops that address the specific challenges of promoting and funding new work
Building a National Network: Forge connections with fellow artists invested in a shared creative process and future collaboration
Visual Storytelling: Employing visual approaches to narrative
Non-Traditional Text Generation: Creative methods for developing dialogue and structure
Healthy Creation Practices: Key principles for sustaining an artistic practice over the long term
Testimonials:
"The devised intensive equipped me with a massive toolbox of techniques, strategies, and ideas to take back into the world and advance my artistic practice. I feel revitalized as an artist and ready for more wild and wonderful collaborations." – Anna Shepard
"The Intensive quickly becomes a beautiful, engaging, and challenging artistic community. You'll leave with an expanded perception of 'process' and the tools to thrive in creative discomfort." – Dominik Buconjic
DATES AND TIMES
June 1 - 20, 2026
June 1 - 16: Monday - Friday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (with an hour break at ~1:00 pm)
June 17 - 18: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm (10 out of 12 hour day with an evening performance on the 20th)
June 19: 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm (evening performance and closing night party)
June 20: Debrief and Strike. Times TDB.
Venue
West Village Theatre: 2007 10th Ave SW, Calgary, AB, T3C 0K4.
PRICING
$1850 plus GST.
This intensive is limited to a maximum of 16 participants. For more information about the program and to stay up to date as we reveal more details, please contact rgray@ghostrivertheatre.com.
A $300 deposit is due two weeks after acceptance. Full payment is due April 1, 2026. You can request to set up a payment plan by contacting Christy at ed@ghostrivertheatre.com if needed.
Billets may be available. Early application is encouraged to enable Ghost River to support participants’ funding applications.
About the instructor
Eric Rose is an award winning multi-disciplinary director and creator of live performance and the Artistic Director of Calgary’s acclaimed Ghost River Theatre. His passion for the creative process has inspired the diversity of his multidisciplinary experience spanning: large scale contemporary and classical theatre, site- specific performance, devising theatre, new play development, physical performance and dance. Eric’s work embraces a hybrid of high tech visual spectacle with low-fi theatrical magic and is developed through a significant investment in imaginative research and development.
Recent GRT credits include: directing/writing STRUCK (Betty Mitchell Awards for Outstanding Lighting Design and Outstanding Video or Projection Design); directing/co-writing GIANT (Betty Mitchell Award Outstanding Ensemble), The Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst (Betty Mitchell Award Outstanding Production, New Play & Direction), directing/co-writing The Highest Step in the World (Betty Award Outstanding Production, CITT Award for Technical Achievement) concept/direction The Intuition Project, SCENT BAR, TOUCH, TASTE and Tomorrow’s Child for a blindfolded audience as part of GRT’s Six Senses Series.
He is honoured to have been the Playwright in Residence at Alberta Theatre Projects, to have received the Canstage Award for Direction (ONE, SummerWorks 2011) be named to Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 class of 2012 and to be the recipient of the 2012 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award for his body of work as a live-performance innovator.
As an educator, Eric has taught for: 2023 and 2019 Prague Quadrennials, Pat the Dog Theatre Creation, Undercurrents Festival, CanAsian Dance Festival, University of Toronto, Theatre Calgary, Globe Theatre, Charlottetown Festival, Tarragon Theatre, NextFest, Mount Royal University, Red Deer and Sheridan College, University of Calgary, Theatre Ontario, Artstrek and many others.