First Draft
Saturday November 1st 10am-2:30pm
Saturday December 6th 10am-2:30pm
Saturday January 3rd 10am-2:30pm
Saturday February 7th 10am-2:30pm
Saturday March 7th 10am-2:30pm
Showcase: Thursday April 2nd 7:30pm
Writing a first draft can suck.
For writers at any stage of their career, the process of starting and finishing the first draft of a new play is often frustrating, overwhelming, and emotionally taxing. It can be hard to get started, and even harder to finish them. In The Vault’s brand new initiative, FIRST DRAFT, emerging playwrights will have the opportunity to work with an established writer to clarify the process of translating an idea from the mind to the page with the goal of completing a first draft of a new play over the course of six months.Led by playwright Michael Ross Albert (The Bidding War, A Little Closer, The Huns), FIRST DRAFT will give emerging playwrights the opportunity to share their writing progress, receive constructive feedback, learn skills for overcoming challenges, and participate in co-regulated writing sessions in a supportive, process-oriented workshop setting. By reading new material as a group and receiving feedback focused on character development, plot structure, and dramatic dialogue, writers will learn to hone their skills and see their idea for a new play through to completion.Participants will meet on the first Saturday of the month between November 2025 - April 2026, with the goal of starting and finishing a new, text-based theatrical work within that timeframe. The program will culminate in a showcase of readings from the new works for an invited audience and supporters of The Vault in April 2026.
Participation in FIRST DRAFT is free. Emerging and early-career playwrights of any age and background are invited to apply with an idea for a new play in its earliest stages of writing. Regardless of experience or training background, an emerging writer should have some familiarity with the craft of playwriting and/or production, either in an educational, independent, or professional setting. Six playwrights will be invited to participate in FIRST DRAFT and will be asked to attend each scheduled monthly meeting and the final showcase. Writers will also be asked to work on their plays individually outside of sessions, so that updated material can be shared with the group each month.
To apply, please prepare the following material:
-A short bio (max. 250 words)
-An outline of your idea for a new play (max. 1-page), describing the proposed story, significant characters, and themes you’d like to explore.
-A writing sample (max. 10 pages) of either the proposed project (if you’ve started tinkering with your new idea) or a previously written play. Please note: since the aim of the program is to generate a new first draft, the proposed plays should be in the earliest stages of development, and should not be completed before the program begins.
Please send all application materials to: info@thevaultcreationlab.ca by deadline:
Friday, October 17th at midnight.
This course is made possible by the generous support of The Scott Griffin Foundation.
Writers Reading
Mondays, January 26 - March 2, 2026
Our in-house initiative hosted by Nick Green (Casey and Diana) and Andrea Scott (Controlled Damage) returns to The Vault for six weeks this winter, Mondays 5:30-8:30pm.
Professional playwrights meet weekly to share their pages and are encouraged to share positive and constructive feedback. Writers Reading was a part of The Vault’s inaugural test pilots (and Nick’s brainchild) and launched a sense of community and sharing that has quickly become a pillar of the lab. This session will run:
Monday January 26th 5:30-8:30
Monday February 2nd 5:30-8:30
Monday February 9th 5:30-8:30
Monday February 16th 5:30-8:30
Monday February 23rd 5:30-8:30
Monday March 2nd 5:30-8:30
To sign up please send a short bio to info@thevaultcreationlab.ca by Wednesday, January 7th at midnight. And if you have any questions of course email us and we’ll answer them!
Writers must be available to attend all six sessions. You’ll have the opportunity to share your work in 2 of the 6 sessions. Writers Reading is designed for professional writers with some professional playwriting experience. There are 9 spots available in each group. This is a PWYC group with a minimum request of $20 a week (total $120 for 6 sessions).
*The playwrights present and the identity, diversity, age and gender of the playwrights will be the voices in the room regardless of the script they are reading. Therefore we hope it’s understood that readers will be cast randomly. Upon acceptance into Writers Reading, Nick and The Vault team will reach out with questions regarding your script to start a conversation around casting.
The Vault
Code of Conduct
The Vault Creation Lab is a space dedicated to creation, exploration, and community building. We believe that a supportive environment is essential for artistic and personal growth. To foster this, we ask all participants to engage with respect, kindness, and an open heart. Treating everyone with dignity and consideration is fundamental to our community, and we encourage active listening, open-mindedness, and empathy in all interactions.
We invite everyone entering the space to do so with generosity and positivity, understanding that creativity flourishes in an atmosphere of encouragement and collaboration. Being mindful of our words and actions is essential, as harmful language, discrimination, or any form of harassment will not be tolerated. This is a shared space where care and responsibility shape the culture we build together. If you witness or experience something that doesn’t align with these values, we encourage you to seek support from our team or speak up if it feels safe to do so.
At The Vault Creation Lab, we embrace growth and process, recognizing that creativity is an evolving journey. Mistakes happen, and we commit to learning from them with patience, understanding, and a willingness to improve. By being part of this community, you agree to uphold these principles and contribute to a safe and inspiring environment for all.
If you have any concerns or need support, please reach out to a member of our team. Let’s create something meaningful—together.