Call for Applications: Centre Stage Acting Program

Centre Stage is an intensive, 10-week workshop series that provides young Black creatives with an engaging, in-depth exploration of theatre and acting. Centring storytelling and improvisation, and facilitated by Rais Clarke-Mendes, this program offers an empowering and dynamic space for young creatives to learn how to express their unique perspectives, narratives, emotions into theatrical performances.

Centre Stage will conclude in a group performance that will be showcased at the Nia Centre through a community production. 

Through this program, Black young creatives will:

• Develop both their acting and theatre skills
  • Using the skills developed to artistically express and communicate their stories and experiences
  • Learning how read a script and bring it to life
• Understand the role and impact Black actors have had in transforming the landscape of the art industry 
• Build their sense of confidence and cultural awareness
• Learn how to work in a collaborative environment

Applications close Nov. 3.

Auditions will be held from Nov. 17-30.

Program starts Jan. 19.

Rais Clarke-Mendes

Rais Clarke-Mendes (she/her) is a Trinidad-Barbadian theatre artist based in Toronto, and a graduate of the Acting Program at the National Theatre School of Canada. She made her directorial debut with 𝘟 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘢 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 by Donovan Hayden at Theatre Passe Muraille, in association with b current performing arts. Rais also served as Assistant Director for Fat Ham at Canadian Stage and Red Velvet at Crow’s Theatre.

Her performing credits include: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘵, and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘋𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵 (Shaw Festival). Outside of her work on stage, Rais is dedicated to arts education and community programming, partnering with organizations like the Nia Centre for the Arts to mentor and share her expertise with emerging artists.