Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (PARC) membership includes established playwrights, new and emerging playwrights, dramaturges, translators, academics, regional Artistic Directors, theatre companies, students, lovers of theatre and theatre writing.

The premise of a play and playwright development centre is that we exist to serve the playwrights.

This is reflected in the programs, services and activities that we offer, but the primary attribute of this kind of organization is that the playwrights’ needs are our first priority.

We believe that the creation of the script comes first.

Our commitment is to support that creation and the playwrights who do that work – by offering them support for their creative process before the demands and compromises of production come into play.

We provide the creative freedom playwrights need to explore and imagine without limitations.

We then support our members’ efforts to promote that work by helping connect our membership to producers.

PARC Programs and Services  

PLAY DEVELOPMENT   

• Home Delivery long distance dramaturgy, organized through the PARC office provides playwrights and dramaturges an opportunity to work together on the development of a new script, from their own homes.
• Kitchen Table Readings allow a playwright to bring readers together in an informal atmosphere to read aloud for the first time a brand new work.
• The Biennial Playwrights Colony is a ten-day long playwrights’ retreat held in alternating years.  Working with a team of professional dramaturges and actors, five to eight playwrights from across the region have an opportunity to develop a new script.
• Translations of Acadian French plays into English and Atlantic Anglophone plays to Acadian are organized through the PARC office. Translations from other languages can also be facilitated by PARC.
• Script Development Workshops provide playwrights with a focused three day workshop of a new script with a company of actors and an experienced dramaturge

PLAYWRIGHT DEVELOPMENT

• Playwrights Exchanges give our playwrights the opportunity to work with dramaturges and actors from other regions and to showcase their work.
• Guideline for Atlantic Playwrights is a handbook that provides information valuable to both the beginning and the established playwright. 
• Playwriting Workshops are offered through PARC in areas ranging from basic introduction to playwriting to the business of being a playwright in Canada.

PLAY AND PLAYWRIGHT PROMOTION

• Catalogue of Atlantic Plays provides a synopses of scripts of Atlantic Canadian Playwrights, both published and unpublished. The Catalogue is also available on PARC’s website at www.playwrightsatlantic.ca
• Guideline for Atlantic Playwrights

SHOWCASING OPPORTUNITIES:

• Annual Playwrights Reading/Performances and Fundraising Events are held yearly in various locations throughout the region - the best opportunities for our widespread membership to meet, make contacts and share their current work with each other.
• New Play Readings Series (Partnering with producing theatres) A series of readings of new plays, co-sponsored by PARC and several partner professional theatre companies, including Festival Antigonish, Ship’s Company, Live Bait and Eastern Front.
• The MOVEABLE FEAST Showcase Festival Of New Plays is a Biennial Festival of readings showcasing the works of Atlantic Canadian playwrights. 

SERVICES AND BENEFITS

• Resource, Information, Networking and Referrals
• Weekly E-Bulletins feature information on upcoming productions, script calls, competitions, job postings,  members’ activities, PARC activities and other news. 
• Toll Free Number is available to members and potential producers, making it possible to contact the office for information and support at any time – for free
• Library/Reading Rooms in tandem with partner organizations in four Provinces and at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB phone 506-364-2614 e-mail-parclibrary@mta.ca
• Discounts at many Regional Theatres and for Professional Development Workshops