Madgen theatre festival 2026

PROGRAM history

Beginning as the “Emerging Producers Festival” in 2024, the festival’s name transitioned to “MADGEN: Emerging Producers Festival” in 2025, eventually arriving at MADGEN Theatre Festival in 2026. What hasn’t changed is the paid opportunity provided to emerging producers who want to try their hand at producing community-centred, socially-engaged theatre in a mentored and supportive learning environment.

This unique program is made up of two parts:

1. The Emerging Producers Fellowship (EPF): a cohort of 4 producers is selected each year, assigned a Toronto-based producing mentor, provided training with guest facilitators, and then given a budget to produce a staged reading of a new Canadian play.

2. The MADGEN Theatre Festival: runs from Thursday to Saturday, August 20-22, 2026, in Toronto’s East Danforth neighbourhood. The festival showcases Theatre of the Beat’s unique community-centred producing methodology, incorporating community dramaturgs, and immersive environments that provide food and music connected to the themes of each production.

EMERGING PRODUCERS FELLOWSHIP: Producers participate in an intensive residency program that provides hands-on training and learning in regards to TOTB’s unique approach to producing community-centred, socially engaged theatre. This training period includes in-person learning sessions with TOTB staff as well as guest facilitators, covering a wide-range of practical administrative skills, as well as sharing insights on the intricacies of production. Producers will also receive one-on-one mentorship from an established theatre Producer, (2026 mentors are Kevin Matthew Wong from WhyNot Theatre, Sheree Spencer from The Lincoln Center, Laura McCallum from Outside the March, and Daniel Chapman-Smith from Project: Humanity.) These individuals will offer support throughout the program, making themselves available to answer questions, and meet for regular check-ins. 

MADGEN THEATRE FESTIVAL: Producers will then apply their learnings as they work collaboratively to produce their individual productions, as well as coordinate other connected components of the three-day Festival. Each producer must select a new, one-act play from the MADGEN’s 2026 Playwright Call to be produced as a staged reading, hiring creative teams, conducting marketing events, and overseeing their budget (provided by TOTB). They will also plan and implement immersive components of the festival, hiring live music, food vendors, and artisans connected to the themes of their show. All of which will benefit most from people like you joining us at the festival and in the audience. Hope to see you there!