Mentorship Program

After 2025/26’s successful Indie Producing Mentorship Cohort, SATP is thrilled to once again offer a cohort-style mentorship program. Introducing:

The Directing Cohort

Apply Now

Led by Regina’s Judy Wensel, the Directing Cohort is designed for Saskatchewan-based emerging theatre directors at any point in their career who are looking to deepen their process, strengthen their collaborative practice, and gain practical tools for moving from initial inspiration to rehearsal room leadership. It is ideal for directors who have some experience creating work and are ready to expand their approach to working with actors, designers, and creative teams. 

Under Judy’s leadership, the cohort will explore the director’s journey, from entering a text and developing a vision, to guiding collaborators through rehearsal, design, technical rehearsals, and performance. Through discussion, practical exercises, and hands-on scene work, participants will investigate how directors build worlds, communicate ideas, support actors, collaborate with creative teams, and create the conditions for discovery.

For this cohort, we will be accepting up to six (6) mentees, and each mentee will receive $400 to participate in the program.

PLEASE NOTE: We will NOT be offering the Build-Your-Own Individual Mentorship Stream this year. As SATP grows and changes as an organization, so do our programs!

Proposed Program Dates and Schedule

Phase One
Late September/ Early October 2026: One 2.5-day session in person in EITHER Saskatoon or Regina (TBD)

Phase Two
November & December 2026: Self-Directed work as assigned by mentor; one 30-minute individual meeting with mentor
Mid-December 2026: Two, 2.5-hr sessions on Zoom
Early January 2027: Two, 3-hr sessions on Zoom
Late January 2027: Two consecutive prep days

Phase Three
February 7-13, 2027 (TBC): In-person Scene Study
Late February 2027: One wrap-up video call with SATP staff to debrief

SATP encourages and welcomes applications from individuals who identify as part of an historically marginalized community, including but not limited to neurodivergent, D/deaf or disabled, LGBTQIA2S+, Indigenous, Black, or Persons of Colour.

This program is funded by Creative Saskatchewan.

Application Process:

PLEASE NOTE: If any step is missing, your application will be considered incomplete.

Deadline to apply: Wednesday, August 26 2026 at 11:59pm

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This cohort is designed for Saskatchewan-based emerging and early-career theatre directors who are looking to deepen their process, strengthen their collaborative practice, and gain practical tools for moving from initial inspiration to rehearsal room leadership.

    The Directing Cohort is intended for emerging directors at any point in their career with some experience directing. This may look like directing independent shows, assistant directing multiple shows, or directing fewer than two shows professionally.

    The Directing Cohort is NOT intended for emerging artists with little or no directing experience, or who have directed more than two professional productions.

    If you have a question about your eligibility, don’t hesitate to reach out!
    Email judiths@sasktheatreprofessionals.ca to start a conversation.

    SATP encourages and welcomes applications from individuals who identify as part of an historically marginalized community, including but not limited to neurodivergent, D/deaf or disabled, LGBTQIA2S+, Indigenous, Black, or Persons of Colour.

  • SATP encourages and welcomes applications from individuals who identify as part of an historically marginalized community, including but not limited to neurodivergent, D/deaf or disabled, LGBTQIA2S+, Indigenous, Black, or Persons of Colour.

    Application Process:

    • Deadline to apply: Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 11:59 pm

    • Step One:

    • Step Two:

    • Step Three:

    • PLEASE NOTE: If any step is missing, your application will be considered incomplete.

    Selection Process:

    • Eligible applications will be brought before SATP’s Selection Committee for consideration. The recommendations are then approved by SATP and the Directing Mentor.

    • Successful applicants will be notified by September 8, 2026

    • We will contact all applicants, regardless of the success of their application.

  • Program length: 6 months - September 2026-February 2027

    Participants are expected to be fully available for the 2.5 day session in Phase One (Late Sept.-Early Oct, Dates & Location TBC), and for the Scene Study February 7-13, 2027 in Phase Three (Location TBC).

    SATP & the Directing Mentor will do their best to schedule both the in-person gatherings in Phases One & Three as well as the video sessions in November-January on the availability of the participants, but some flexibility will be required.

    These dates will be scheduled by the middle of September 2026.

  • Participants will leave the Directing Cohort with the following:

    • A strong understanding of the whole directing process from start to finish.

    • Experience with self-directed work preparing for rehearsals, and doing script analysis and research.

    • Experience directing actors in a simulated rehearsal room.

    • Experience communicating and collaborating with designers in simulated design meetings.

    • An understanding of how to reflect and critique a director’s work after seeing a performance.

  • SATP & the Directing Mentor will decide on the location of the in-person portions of the program once applicants have been selected.

    The in-person portions will take place in either Regina or Saskatoon.

    Travel costs will be subsidized by SATP.

Apply Now

2025-2026 Mentees

2025-2026 Mentors

Explore Past Participant Testimonials

DILLON PERSON

“Working with an experienced professional helped me tackle the imposter syndrome that can happen when navigating the theatre world without such specific support. This mentorship has allowed me to level-up to professional artist status.”
(24/25 Mentee)

“It has been an honor and a privilege to support the development of a brand new Saskatchewan play. Sharing my process and my passion for playwriting is an absolute joy, and to participate in the upliftment and blooming of new work - chef’s kiss”
- Danielle Roy | 23/24 Mentor

Marley Duckett

“I would tell all Emerging Artists to grab hold of this opportunity - it’s a game changer.” (23/24 mentee)

“If I can share what I have learned over my career with up and coming artists who also believe in theatre, who will carry on the work of telling our stories on the stage, then I am fulfilled.”
- Yvette Nolan | she/her | Past Mentor

Cody Brayshaw

“This experience helped me build meaningful relationships with local professionals and opened new doors to creating and contributing to theatre across Canada.” (23/24 Mentee)

“This mentorship gave me an opportunity to use -- and test -- what I've learned about dramaturgy and my own theatrical values/priorities. I learned a few things myself during the process, particularly about the art of literary adaptation. The workshop process allowed me to meet and collaborate with a couple of other local artists, expanding my own network.”
- Mark Claxon | 25/26 Mentor

Rania alharthi

“This mentorship has profoundly strengthened my abilities as a playwright and exposed me to a diverse array of writing techniques that I now confidently incorporate into my work.” (24/25 Mentee)

mitchell larsen

“As a queer, Saskatchewan-based artist, the prospective of working with another queer, Saskatchewan-based artist with the sort of experience and knowledge that [they have], was and continues to be very exciting to me.” (past mentee)

Maceknzy vida

“Taking part in this program allowed me to have support throughout the process of working as a young designer. Having a mentor to chat with helped build my confidence as well as answer questions concerning process and expectations.”
(past Mentee)