This free mentorship program brings together young IBPOC students ages 14-18 with IBPOC artists working professionally to meet and learn together from November to May.
Participants meet once a month, alternating between group workshops one month and one-on-one mentorship the next. Monthly sessions take place on weeknights over Zoom. The program opens and closes with retreat days with the culminating event taking place at the Stratford Festival to see one of the 2024 productions.
"RISE UP is creating a space for the long-term intergenerational work needed to see the social changes we want in the theatre ecology."
- Makram Ayache, Program Coordinator
Mentors are from many areas of theatre including acting, directing, design and production. The 2023-24 mentors are: Heidi Chan, Anahita Dehbonehie, Philip Geller, Sébastien Heins, Jeff Ho, Marcia Johnson, désiree leverenz, Jay Northcott, Keshia Palm and Bahareh Yaraghi.
Participants are paid a fee of $250 each upon completion of the program. They are also provided free education and mentorship in addition to all expenses (e.g. travel, lunch and ticket costs) for the two retreat days.
Participants for the 2023-24 program have been selected.
2024-25 applications open in September.
To learn more, contact: educate@stratfordfestival.ca
Support for RISE UP: An IBPOC Youth Mentorship Ensemble is generously provided by the Azrieli Foundation.