Third Annual Multi-Platform Playwrights
Aug 29, 2023
Crow’s Theatre’s announces Makram Ayache, Rose Napoli, and Norman Yeung as this year’s Multi-Platform Participants
Presenting Sponsor – TD Ready Commitment
We are thrilled to announce the third annual Multi-Platform playwrights: Makram Ayache, Rose Napoli, and Norman Yeung.
These three exceptional artists are unified by their desire to confront the established systems and offer fresh and thought-provoking insights into the contemporary human experience. Their dedication to pushing boundaries and embracing new genres is matched only by their commitment to innovation and artistic growth.
Makram Ayache is a multiple award-winning playwright, performer, director, educator, and soon, graphic novelist. His playwriting explores representations of queer Arab voices and their political and personal struggles. Makram’s 2023 world premiere of The Hooves Belonged to the Deer (at Tarragon Theatre with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre) was described as "the most excitingly theatrical piece of new writing to premiere in Toronto" by The Globe and Mail and garnered a critics' pick. Most recently, Makram worked alongside Mitchell Cushman, as Associate Director, for Outside the March and Factory Theatre's production of Gillian Clark's Trojan Girls.
"The Multi-Platform program gives me an incredible opportunity to work with some of the best writers and theatre-makers in Toronto. With dramaturgical support from Paolo Santalucia and creative support of our cohort, I'm able to take on a daring project which I couldn't do alone. So much gratitude to Crows and the entire team for this opportunity." Makram Ayache
Rose Napoli is a Dora-nominated playwright, actor, and screenwriter. This season, she will appear in Wildwoman at Soulpepper Theatre and in Nightwood Theatre's premiere of her seventh play, Mad Madge, at the Theatre Centre. As well as writing a play for the Multi-Platform program, Rose is also developing a new musical with composer Suzy Wilde and a comedic television series with Izad Etemadi.
"Crow's was the home of Lo (or Dear Mr. Wells), an early work of mine produced with Nightwood Theatre. It means a lot to be back here again and to be given the opportunity to expand my theatrical voice, this time through the world of dystopian science fiction." Rose Napoli
Norman Yeung is a writer, actor, and visual artist whose work is devoted to creating opportunities for under-represented people. Norman’s award-winning play Theory, about the limitations of free speech, premiered at the Tarragon Theatre, won the Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition, and has been published by Playwrights Canada Press. His first full-length play Pu-Erh, about how language unites and divides an immigrant family, premiered at Theatre Passe Muraille, and was nominated for four Dora Mavor Moore Awards. Norman was born in Guangzhou, raised in his beloved East Vancouver, and is based in Toronto, which he also loves.
“We artists are perpetually knocking on doors looking for someone to help move our work forward, and that can feel futile. For Crow’s to publicly, actively seek out artists to support and projects to nurture, from inception, feels like respect.” Norman Yeung
“We are honoured to support these talented playwrights and look forward to developing the captivating stories they bring to life.” Paolo Santalucia, Associate Artistic Director, Crow’s Theatre
The Multi-Platform program is a way to open doors to theatre artists who wish their work to be considered for development or future production at Crow’s Theatre.
The call for the fourth annual Multi-Platform, open to playwrights, storytellers, creators, devisers, and more, will be coming soon.