Collider festival

The Citadel Theatre presents its annual Collider festival, a three-day event dedicated to bringing new stories and scripts to life for larger stages. Showcasing a mix of local artists and creators from across the country, the festival offers the public a unique behind-the-scenes look at the play development process. From musical theatre heists to reimagined classics, Collider is a hub for innovation and artistic discussion in Edmonton’s theatre community.

The 2026 festival features a series of free public readings and specialized workshops led by industry professionals. Whether you are an aspiring playwright, a theatre enthusiast or simply curious about how a script evolves from the page to the stage, Collider provides an engaging atmosphere to explore the future of Canadian theatre.

Public readings and mixers

Friday, June 5: The festival kicks off at 7 p.m. with first-act readings of The Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist and Come Hell or High Water.
Saturday, June 6: Join the playwrights mixer at 6 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. reading of Col Cseke’s An Agatha Christie Mystery A Comedy.
Sunday, June 7: A 2 p.m. reading of Chula by Alexandra Lainfiesta, with a final mixer at 6 p.m. and a 7 p.m. reading of Belinda Cornish’s Darcy & Wickham.

Professional workshops

Musical theatre bookwriting: On Saturday morning, instructor Nick Green leads a session on the transition from dialogue to song in musical theatre.
The Fornes workshop: On Sunday morning, Mariló Núñez hosts a specialized playwriting session in the David D. Bentley Salon.

When: Friday, June 5 – Sunday, June 7, 2026
Location: The Citadel Theatre (9828 101A Ave NW)
Cost: Readings and mixers are free; workshops are $50 plus GST