Residencies

Co-create a performance with your WHOLE SCHOOL and professional artists based on your choice of theme.

In this current season we are back in schools creating with students and teachers!  Due to COVID, we are unable to have live audiences so we are creating traditional theatre shows (with curtains, lights, sound, costumes, etc) and filming the performances for schools to share with their parent communities. As a back up plan if we are unable to physically be in schools, we have the capability of switching quickly to online, video-story based residencies where needed.  

For 2022-23, we expect to be back to our standard in-school theatre residency format with shows in the gym (either live or filmed and shared as the health situation demands).

We will be supporting schools applying to the AFA May 2 deadline for in-school theatre based residencies. Grants of up to $15,000 per school are possible. All applications will also include Plan B filming or virtual formats in the case that COVID is still a factor. 

What happens in a Theatre Residency?

We discover the show through a very simple group improv process. Our Trickster Artists begin by creating movement patterns with your students, the actors. Then we build the context around these patterns, developing the story and the dialogue.

Fundamental to the Trickster Process is our use of everyday items as props. Our actors improvise with plungers, bins, bamboo poles, pool noodles, scarves, and other everyday objects. On top of this, we bring the spectacle of our signature blacklight and shadow screen styles for theatre performances.

What's included?

Our Team…

  • Includes 2-10 professional artists
  • Works with up to 600 actors
  • Accommodates grades K-12

We’ll Provide…

Traditional residencies:

  • Professional lighting, sound, & curtains
  • Costumes for all students
  • Hundreds of multi-purpose props
  • 1-2 public performances

Online Residencies

In the case that we are unable to be in your school due to health issues, we are able to be in your school virtually to do Online Residencies.

  1. We will send you green screens and web cameras to work with.
  2. We will work with your students to co-create a video based story.
  3. We edit the story together so you can share with your parents and community.

The artists will not be physically in the school at all. Artists will work with students over Zoom. 

These residencies will typically have a longer time frame (2-4 weeks)

Trickster Artists are still responsible for all aspects of the residency.

What's included?

Our Team…

  • Includes 1-5 professional artists
  • Works with any size school
  • Accommodates grades K-12
  • Residency can happen over multiple weeks with different classes each week

We’ll Provide…

  • Artists to direct the performance or video via Google Meets or Zoom
  • Video equipment and green screens as needed will be delivered to the school

In ALL Residencies...

Every student will…

  • Learn about and explore the chosen theme
  • Learn to write better stories
  • Spend about 90 minutes every day working with a professional artist
  • Have full involvement in the process
  • Gain confidence in themselves and their talents
  • Perform in the show/video

Choose Your Theme

Focusing your residency on a specific theme makes it cohesive. Each class will create pieces of the performance that focus on topics within your greater theme. The theme can be anything you want, but here are a few common themes for your consideration.

Canada

Explore what it means to be Canadian. Students can present stories about the history of Canada, the landscape, the people, and the future of our country.

Diversity

Looking at at what it means to welcome others to be part of their local, national and international family.

Finding the Balance

Reconciliation is an important topic in Canada. Explore the strengths of different worldviews as we find the balance between
two worlds.

Health

Growth mindset, stress management, the effects of sugar on your body, or healthy sleep habits. Helping students connect with topics that will help them be happier and healthier

Global Issues

Act out global issues and learn more about the world. Extend your learning with the Kids Go Global website where we provide resources to run school projects & share student work.

Leadership

Drawing inspiration from The Leader in Me principles, explore the leadership values that inspire our youth, helping students determine the steps towards their own success.

Literary Genres

Each class will create a theatre piece based on a literary genre, including  Science Fiction, Fables, Documentary, Detective Novels, Poetry, Historical Fiction, and more.

Math

Create a performance about how Math is used in real world situations.  Included in the performances is a live-time projection outlining the Math that the students are using in their play!

Roots & Wings

Explore the history of your community, unearth stories about the past, celebrate your local heroes, and imagine what the future looks like in your community.

Science Alive

Explore the science curriculum by acting it out. We can create a physical understanding of any topic such as plant growth, flight, magnetism, and more.

Storytelling

Stories have been a part of all cultures since time began.  Classes will create and tell stories that will be performed for the audience at the end of the week. These stories will all celebrate the imagination of the students.

Explore Your Theme

We can create a show based on whatever you can imagine! Dare to dream – what ideas 
do you want to 
explore together.

Step One

Set up a meeting to discuss options.

Step Two

Choose a theme for your residency.

Step Three

We’ll help put together your grant application.

Available Dates

Residency Info Meeting

2021-22

Sep 13-17: OPEN 
Sep 20-24: OPEN 
Sep 27-Oct 1: OPEN 

 

Oct 4-8:OPEN 
Oct 12-15:OPEN – 4 day week
Oct 18-22:OPEN
Oct 25-29:OPEN

Nov 1-5

OPEN 

Nov 8-12

OPEN 

Nov 15-19

OPEN 

Nov 22-26

Chiila School, Tsuutinna

Nov 29-Dec 3

Chief Big Belly School, Tsuutina

Dec 6-10

Arrowwood Community School, Arrowwood

 

École Plamondon, Plamondon

Dec 13-17

Bentley School, Bentley

 

Amisk School, Amisk

Dec 20-Jan 3

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Jan 3-7

OPEN 

Jan 10-14

 

  
  
  

Jan 24-28

Taotha Community School, Nordegg

  

Jan 31-Feb 4

OPEN

 

OPEN – schools over 10 classes

Feb 7-11

Westmount Elementary, Strathmore

 

OPEN – schools over 10 classes

Feb 14-18

Carbon School, Carbon

 

 

St. Catherine School, Grande Prairie

Feb 22-25

 

St. Catherine School, Grande Prairie

Scott Robertson School, Edmonton

Feb 28-Mar 4

Kateri School, Trout Lake

  

Mar 7-11

Tomahawk School, Tomahawk

  

Mar 14-18

St. Stanislaus School, Edmonton

 

Botha School, Botha

Mar 21-25

Joseph Welsh School, Red Deer

 

Grasmere School, AB Beach

Glenora School, Edmonton

Mar 28-Apr 1

Vulcan Prairieview School, Vulcan

 

New Myrnam School, Myrnam

Apr 4-8

Windsor Park School, Edmonton

 

Collingwood School, Calgary

Apr 11-15

Chief Crowfoot School, Siksika

 

Collingwood School, Calgary

Apr 19-22

Thickwood Heights School, Fort McMurray; 

  

Apr 25-29

Manning Elementary, Manning

 

Athabasca Delta Community School, Fort Chipewyan

 

RJ Hawkey School, Airdrie

May 2-6

Janet Johnstone School, Calgary

 Cadotte Lake School, Cadotte Lake

May 9-13

Rosary Roman Separate School, Manning

 WD Pratt School, Calgary

May 16-20

Chief Jacob Bearspaw School, Eden Valley

 

Exshaw School, Exshaw

May 24-27

Elizabeth Quintal School, Peerless Lake

 

Clarence Jaycox School, Red Earth Creek

May 30-Jun 3

Eleanor Hall School, Clyde

 

Atikameg School, Atikameg

Jun 6-10

Elbow Valley School, Calgary

 

OPEN– schools under 10 classes

Jun 13-17

OPEN 

Jun 20-24

OPEN 

2022-23

Sep 19-23

Springbank Middle School, Springbank

 

Paddle Prairie School, Paddle Prairie

Sep 26-30

Eleanor Hall School, Clyde

 

Gift Lake School, Gift Lake

Oct 3-7

Coalhurst Elementary, Coalhurst

 

Worsley Central School, Worsley

Oct 11-14 – 4 day week

OPEN 

 

Menno Simmons School, Cleardale

Oct 17-21

Holy Spirit Academy, High River

 

Hines Creek Composite, Hines Creek

Oct 24-28

Meadowbrook School, Airdrie

 

Two Hills School, Two Hills

Oct 31-Nov 4

Westsprings School, Calgary

 

Kateri School, Trout Lake

Nov 7-10 – 4 day week

OPEN 

Nov 14-18

Sir John Franklin School, Calgary

 

Lilian Schick School, Bon Accord

Nov 21-25

Banff Trail School, Calgary

 

Assumption Roman Catholic School, Oyen

Nov 28-Dec 2

Willow Park School, Calgary

 

École les Cyprès, Medicine Hat

Dec 5-9

St. Benedict School, Edmonton

 

Berry Creek Community School, Cessford

Dec 12-16

St. Mary School, Beaverlodge

 

AB Daley Community School, Nanton

Dec 19-22

Kemeyosek School, Edmonton

 

Buchanan School, Calgary

Dec 24-Jan 6

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Dec 24-Jan 6

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Jan 9-13

St. Patrick School, Camrose

 

Anne Fitzgerald School, Edmonton

Jan 16-20

Grovenor School, Edmonton

Jan 23-27

Highwood School, Calgary

Jan 30-Feb 3

David Thomas King School, Edmonton

 

Elizabeth Quintal School, Peerless Lake

Feb 6-10

David Thomas King School, Edmonton

 

York School, Edmonton

Feb 13-17

Wheatland School, Strathmore

 

Talmud Torah, Edmonton

Feb 21-24 – 4 day week

OPEN 

 

Fort Assiniboine School, Fort Assiniboine

Feb 27-Mar 3

Bowcroft School, Calgary

 

Breton School, Breton

Mar 6-10

Meyonohk School, Edmonton

 

Champion School, Champion

Mar 13-17

Mannville School, Mannville

 

St. Gabriel School, Fort MacMurray

Mar 20-24

West Park School, Red Deer

 

Thickwood Heights School, Fort MacMurray

Mar 27-31

Horace Allen School, Crowsnest Pass

 

C. Ian McLaren School, Diamond Valley

Apr 3-6 – 4 day week

Hawkwood School, Calgary

 

OPEN 

Apr 11-14 – 4 day week

Hawkwood School, Calgary

 

OPEN 

Apr 17-21 

Vera Welsh School, Lac La Biche

 

Noble Central School, Nobleford

Apr 24-28

Duclos School, Bonnyville

 

Westbrook School, Cochrane

May 1-5

Caernarvon School, Edmonton

 

Fox Creek School, Fox Creek

May 8-12

St. Kateri School, Grande Prairie

 

Hillside Community School, Grande Prairie

May 15-19

St. Dominic School, Calgary

 

Chief Jacob Bearspaw School, Eden Valley

May 23-26 – 4 day week

OPEN 

May 29-Jun 2

EE Oliver School, Fairview

 

Atikameg School, Atikameg

Jun 5-9

Mary Bergeron School, Edson

 

Little Buffalo School, Cadotte Lake

Jun 12-16

St. Theresa School, Wabasca

Jun 19-23

OPEN 

Jun 26-30

OPEN 

If you want us to come to your school to do an in-person residency. Talk to us to discuss available dates, costs, AFA grants, possible themes and any other questions you might have. If you decide to book, we can start that process too.

GRANT DEADLINE: MAY 2, 2022

What works best for you?​

Funding

50% or 75% Funding possible

Up to $15,000

Grant Writing Support

Accessible Help Files

Artists & Education Grant

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) provides residency program funding assistance directly to Alberta schools. The annual application deadline is May 2, which may provide funding for projects in the following school year.

See it in Action

video library

What Teachers are Saying

The patience of the staff, enthusiasm, patience, flexibility make these performers, program and final performance exceptional. I can see everyone really puts their hearts into making it the best for children and staff. My kids left wanting MORE from Trickster!!!! 

- Michele Meijer, Waverly Elementary School, Edmonton 2019-20

Trickster helped our students come alive in physical theatre and showed them another way to learn. Students were enthusiastic, creative, took risks and looked invincible on stage. Students have created memories that will stay with them for many years to come.

- Barb Davis, Waverly Elementary School, Edmonton 2019-20

Trickster Theatre was a special experience for our staff, students and community. Our students were fully engaged and empowered to bring their ideas to life. Trickster was able to help create memories that will last a lifetime!

- Brian Pedersen, École Danserau Meadows, Beaumont 2019-20

From start to finish the trickster staff and artists made the residency process easy and enjoyable. The residency week was one of those peak moments in life that the students will always remember.

- Karina Miller, Mannville School, Mannville 2018-19

If you ever have the opportunity to have Trickster take over your school for a week do not turn it down! This non-stop, fun filled residency will have students learning in a whole new way. Some students that are struggling with personal trials were able to bond with their classmates and forget their troubles for a little while they were learning and that was the most beautiful thing to see.

- Jenn Thompson, St John Paul II Catholic School, Grande Prairie 2018-19

If you are looking to enhance your connection with your community, Tricksters is your key. What about staff collaboration and energizing students? Tricksters ties the performance philosophy into every day of the residency. Students learn about physical theatre, themselves, and their teacher. The teacher learns about how students can shine when offered a different learning approach. Teachers learn about their peers and develop a shared knowledge of the theme. It can be inspiring. Take the chance. Check out Tricksters!

- G.LaCoste A.B.Daley School, Nanton, AB 2018-19

Trickster Theater interacted with every student in our school. The week was a great experience for our students. The final show was outstanding; and the students were glowing with pride!

- Penny Messom - Greentree Elementary, Drumheller 2018-19

I like the fact that the Residency Tricksters allow the students to play a big role in creating this moment. It was about the students. They created the play and acted the play. It allowed the students to show their hidden talents.

- Yvette, Rainbow Lake School, Rainbow Lake 2018-19

Students thoroughly enjoyed the week. It was amazing to see what students could do with a simple idea. Students creativity and strengths came through in their performances and their confidence in their storytelling abilities grew over the week.

- Dara Taylor, St Catherine School, Grande Prairie 2018-19

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