Application Form

The 10-Minute Play Competition is a fast-paced, exciting theatre competition at the Grand River Arts Festival taking place on the historic Coach House Stage at Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant, on the banks of the Grand River in Brantford, Ontario

Competitors present a stage-ready theatre production in front of a live audience, and are scored by a panel of adjudicators. The best performances win awards and cash prizes.

Selected submissions will be invited to produce their play at the competition.

The competition draws productions from emerging voices to established companies, from familiar comedies to experimental performances, so we encourage all theatre creators—regardless of experience, genre, or artistic style—to submit their production for consideration.

Application Deadline: Monday, April 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM
Results: Play selections will be announced by Monday, April 27, 2026

Competition Date: Saturday, Sept 19, 2026
Tech Days: Sept 15–17, 2026

Location: The Coach House Stage at Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant, 20 Ava Road, Brantford

Prizes & Awards

🥇GOLD $1,000
🥈SILVER $500
🥉BRONZE $250

✍️ Martin Smith Award in Original Playwriting $250

⭐️ Special Adjudication Awards are granted at the adjudicators discretion for outstanding acting and production elements

Rules of Engagement

1. Competitors must bring a fully produced play that is ready to be staged.
2. The runtime must be 10 minutes or less, no exceptions. Competitors will be given a 30-second grace period to complete their performance, but exceeding the strict 10 minute time limit will result in a 2-point deduction.
3. Each preduction team may have a maximum of four (4) actors and two (2) stage hands.
4. Plays can be original works or works for which the rights have been secured (proof of rights must be provided).
5. Competitors will be provided with four (4) black drama boxes on an empty stage.
6. Each production will have 2 minutes before and after their performance for setup and strike. Exceeding this time will result in a 1-point deduction.
7. All costumes, props, and equipment must be carried on and off during your allotted setup and strike time. Storage will not be provided.
8. Lighting will be pre-set to full white during the performance or adjusted to a single colour-wash of the competitor's choosing. A stage hand may operate the lighting board; otherwise, default lighting will be managed by the in-house tech staff. The lights will blackout at the conclusion of the performance.
9. A stage hand may operate the sound board; otherwise, sound tech is not provided by the in-house tech staff.
10. Competitors must set and communicate their starting cue to the tech team before their performance during tech week (e.g., a lighting, sound, or dialogue cue). If using the default lighting setup, "lights up" will serve as the timing cue to start the competition timer.
11. Competitors are responsible for providing their own cast and crew and must arrange replacements if any team member is unable to perform.
12. The stage must be cleared and reset at the end of each performance.

Selection Criteria

The selection committee is looking for plays that will appeal to the widest audience. The following criteria will be used to determine which play submissions will be selected to compete:

Originality: the use of unique and innovative storytelling concepts and clarity of themes.

Characterization: the development of the characters, their motivations, and their interactions with each other.

Plot: the structure and pacing of the play, as well as the resolution of the story.

Dialogue: engaging dialogue that advances the story and reveals character.

Locality: plays that feature topics and themes about Brant region or the Grand River watershed will receive special consideration.

Feasibility: whether the play can abide by the Rules of Engagement.

Submission & Registration

There is no cost to submit theatre productions for consideration.

Selected productions will be asked to complete a Registration Form by June 22, 2026, which includes a final version of their script, a cast list, social media material, including a square format show poster, to confirm their intent to compete.

Ready to play?

Directors or producers interested in competing must complete this form to submit their theatre production for consideration.

Multiple plays are permitted to be submitted for consideration. However, as space is limited, not all submissions are guaranteed to be selected.

We strive to be as accessible as possible. If you have any issues accessing or completing this form, please contact us so that we can help.