Nightswimming
Mandate
Nightswimming is a dramaturgical company that commissions new Canadian plays, performance works and dance, but does not produce them itself. Nightswimming develops and workshops these projects and seeks out established theatre companies as partners in an extended developmental process leading to premiere productions by our partner companies. Nightswimming is devoted, through the creation of these new works, to advancing the field of dramaturgy – the exploration of theatrical stories and how they are told – and play development in Canada.
We commit to long-term relationships with our artists and provide them with the tools they need: substantial commissions; readings and workshops; high calibre casts; research; colleagues from the areas of design, choreography and music; ongoing dramaturgical support; and a developmental process that is uniquely suited to each project. We believe this approach has and will continue to inspire these artists to create some of their best work.
History
Established in 1994 by director / dramaturg Brian Quirt and Producer Naomi Campbell, Nightswimming is based in Toronto’s Distillery District. Nightswimming’s staff are Brian Quirt (Artistic Director), Naomi Campbell (Producer) and Rupal Shah (Associate Producer).
Nightswimming operates behind the scenes – back stage, as it were – commissioning playwrights, working with choreographers, inspiring stories and creating award-winning new plays. Although our activities are largely invisible to the general public, our works have been produced by Canada’s leading theatre companies and festivals including Magnetic North Theatre Festival (Edmonton), Canada Dance Festival (Ottawa), Rhubarb! Festival (Toronto), Alberta Theatre Projects’ playRites Festival (Calgary) and Ottawa’s On the Verge.
Since 1994, Nightswimming has commissioned and developed 24 projects with premieres and touring productions at the Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, the National Arts Centre, Cahoots Theatre Projects, Harbourfront Centre, Theatre & Company (Kitchener) and the Great Canadian Theatre Company. Our plays have been nominated for three Governor General’s Awards and seventeen Dora Mavor Moore Awards, received seven Dora Awards and the Elliott Hayes Award for Outstanding Dramaturgy in North America.
Nightswimming is dedicated to innovation in dramaturgy. We are particularly interested in the relationship between theatre and dance, and in the process of adaptation from existing works of literature and nonfiction. Through Pure Research, we encourage Canadian artists to explore their craft and later share their discoveries with the performing arts community through our website.
We are committed to training emerging artists through partnerships with major educational institutions, and by inviting students and interns into our play creation process. Pure Research is hosted by the University of Toronto and our plays have been developed in association with the University of Alberta, National Theatre School, Humber College Performance Training Program and George Brown College Theatre School.
