Submissions for the 1000 Monkeys Project are NOW OPEN!
Deadline: July 15th
The 2026 1000 Monkeys Project is an open competition for Calgary and area playwrights to submit a new 10-minute play.
Scripts will be accepted between July 1st and July 15th, 2026. The submissions will be read by a jury of professionals, with 5 plays selected for a public staged reading at the Calgary Fringe on August 3rd.
Info and application details HERE!
2026 APC winner Announced!
APN is thrilled to announce the winner of the 2026 Alberta Playwriting Competition is Pieces by Jezec Sanders! In the words of this year’s jury, this play was “carefully constructed, surprising, it makes you FEEL.”
Now in its 61st year, the APC recognizes the most outstanding un-produced Alberta play with The Sharon Pollock Award ($5000 Cash Prize). This competition is open to all playwrights who reside in Alberta, whether they are members of the Alberta Playwrights' Network or not. The winner was announced on June 5, 2026 as part of the Alberta Literary Awards Gala.
This year’s jury included celebrated playwrights Trevor Schmidt, Jesse Stong and Annette Loiselle.
Jezec Sanders is an actor and playwright who has been producing work with the Edmonton based collective, ReadyGo, for the past decade. His writing credits with ReadyGo include Hacking and Slashing and Where Foxes Lie, both of which he also starred in. His other writing credits include The Cabin on Bald Dune (Dogheart Theatre). Other acting credits include The Conversion (Kill Your Television) and You are Happy (Dogheart Theatre). Huge thank you to his frequent collaborators at ReadyGo, Erik and Ryan, his partner Arabelle, and his family for always pushing and supporting him.
Also nominated for the 2026 Alberta Playwriting Competition:
Cyrano De Bergerac by Jessy Ardern
The jurors found it “structurally well-crafted, articulate, and emotionally fulfilling”Willows by Elena Belyea
The jurors called it “a quiet beauty, slick juggling of plotlines, coming of age mystery”
Everyone Is Doing Fine by James Odin Wade
The jurors called it “current, clever, emotionally and morally murky”
Work by Calla Wright
The jurors called it “fascinating, in your face, a wild ride with strong structure”
The Alberta Playwriting Competition is co-presented with Theatre Alberta.
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