About SKAMpede

Theatre SKAM’s annual performance festival, SKAMpede (now in its 19th year), presents 10-minute multidisciplinary works for an audience that travels along a paved multi-use regional trail. Audiences pre-book tickets for one of two tours. In groups of fifteen, audiences view four shows on a single tour. They might see an opera, a comedy and a spoken word piece, or perhaps a performance artist, a drama, and a marionette. 

Application Process

Important Dates

• July 30, 2026: Applications Open

• Thursday, August 27, 2026 @ 9:00 AM PDT: Application Deadline

• Week of September 28, 2026: Theatre SKAM begins notifying applicants

  • We will inform all applicants of their results, even if they are not offered a spot at the festival.

Who To Contact

• Artistic & Managing Director Logan Swain (He/Him),
  (logan@skam.ca, 250-386-7526)

  • Accessibility/accommodations or any other assistance.

  • General questions about the application and festival, or to request an extension.

  • To schedule an interview-based application.

  • Artistic questions related to your performance.

The Jury Process

Theatre SKAM uses a jury selection process to generate a ranked order of all applications. We use that list as the basis for programming the festival starting from the top, in conjunction with other factors (such as artist location, number of shows we can program, if groups decline, etc.).  Please note, we also program a few shows directly. The jury reviewing applications for 2027 will include established arts professionals from outside Theatre SKAM.

Round 1: The 4-person jury selection process is anonymous (identifying information will be redacted) for the first round. Jury members give each application a score out of 20, with Artistic Merit being the primary consideration. Well-received applications clearly show why this group of artists is doing the show and why it needs to happen at SKAMpede. Other elements under consideration include: Range of artists involved, how the show will sit on the land and in the site-responsive nature of the festival, and the connection or engagement with the audience.

The content you submit is the basis for jury assessment. A show idea with strong artistic merit, a good sense of the type of location your piece fits (i.e. near a tree, under a bridge, beside a building), and a clear work plan is favoured. We seek applications for shows of all sizes. (More on fees below.)

Round 2: The 4-person jury is given access to full applications. They have an opportunity to adjust their scores based on whom the applicants are, what makes their show unique, and any support material submitted. In our experience, jury scores rarely change much between rounds one and two.

We want high-quality, artistically exciting original work from a mix of emerging and established artists. If you have recorded examples of your previous work or can demonstrate a track record of excellence in the performing arts through other means, this will likely help your submission in the jury process.

Accessibility

Commitment Statement

SKAM is committed to creating a more accessible environment for artists and for our audiences. Most communication leading up to the festival is via email, with any meetings occurring in person, over the phone or on zoom. If there is a specific communication method that works best for you, please let us know!

Access Needs

Allergies - If you have an allergy, please tell us, as it is beneficial for us to know about any food or skin allergies.

Physical Access - Please let us know if you have physical/mobility access needs, i.e. wheelchair access, close to parking, etc.

Sun sensitivity - Please let us know if you are prone to heat exhaustion (We will make sure not to place your show in a spot without shade)

ASL

American Sign Language interpreted performances are offered on one SKAMpede tour each year of the Festival. The interpreter will stand on the seating level to the audience’s right side of the stage.

Image Descriptions

Image descriptions are a gesture of care and an essential part of accessibility. Without them, content would be completely unavailable to Blind/Low-vision folks. By writing image descriptions, we show support for the disabled community.

Scripts

Artists are required to submit a copy of their script three weeks in advance of the festival for use by the ASL Interpreter to prepare for the show. For movement-based pieces, we require a comprehensive show description.

We also offer an online script library for audience members who benefit from reading scripts before seeing a show. Many audience members benefit from reading a script in advance, including d/Deaf and hard of hearing people, ESL patrons, and people who like to know a show’s content in advance. Including your script in the script library is optional. Patron access to the library is by request only.

Show Locations

Theatre SKAM strives to make all of our show locations as accessible as possible. When envisioning your show, be mindful of how it would be orientated in its ideal site-specific location. Shows cannot block pathways or be located in inaccessible locations (i.e. across a soft patch of grass, up a steep side trail, or at the top of many stairs).

Trigger Warnings/Content Notes

Trigger Warnings and Content Notes will be displayed on the Theatre

SKAM website for patrons to access before the performance and available

at check-in. Trigger Warnings and Content Notes are important for

patrons because they allow us to take care of our audiences and make sure

they can make a properly informed decision.

"Warnings are about giving an audience the appropriate information

needed to make a choice about what they want to be exposed to."

- Responsible Theatremaking

Trigger Warnings (TW): Trigger Warnings are designed to inform the patron of certain distressing subject-matter (for example, sexual violence) for the benefit of people who may have a strong emotional response.

These warnings are also used for audience members who have medical conditions where a lighting or sound effect may cause a physical reaction.

Content Notes (CN): Content Notes inform the viewer of potentially distressing material, e.g., blood or nudity.

Washrooms

We have a singular gender-neutral, non-accessible portable washroom at the start of each tour. If you require an accessible washroom, please let us know (we also need to know if you need a washroom beside your venue, as not all venues are close to a washroom).

Artist Fees

Do I get paid?

Successful applicants are paid a professional fee to be part of the festival.  Successful applicants from outside Victoria may also be provided with small travel stipends, contingent upon funding. If an applicant already has access to their own accommodation, they should inform us in their application. Our goal is to assist artists in applying for grant funding to provide for travel and accommodation. We request that any out-of-town artists apply for funding through applicable arts councils and other funding bodies. If you are applying for funding, reach out to Logan to get a letter of support for your application.

How much do I get paid?

We set fees according to the number of participants in each show. We pay each company $650 per company member, so a company of 3 artists (regardless of how many roles each artist has in production) would be paid a total of $1950.  (We cannot hire a full production team to make a ten-minute show, please consider the scope of the festival when deciding on production team numbers. It is usual in the festival for team members to wear multiple hats.)

How did SKAM set the fee?

We recognize that creating a show is a lot of work. As a presenter, Theatre SKAM pays SKAMpede artists for performing at the festival, not the creation of the piece. We base the $650 artist fee on paying around $25/hour for two half days (Thursday & Friday) and two full days (Saturday & Sunday). 

How do I get paid?

Artists are paid in two installments. E-transfers and cheques will be sent to the primary contact, with distribution to individual group members the responsibility of the artists. 

Payment 1: $300 via e-transfer in June, upon receiving the signed contract and Respectful Workplace Policy, completion of show information Google Form and promo image submission, and submission of show script for ASL interpretation. Due dates for these documents will be communicated in writing when the documents are sent to you for signature.

Payment 2: The remainder of the Artist Fee the week of the festival, via cheque.

Festival Schedule

Out-of-town companies should be prepared to spend up to four nights in Victoria (Arrive Thursday morning and depart Monday morning).

Below is a preliminary festival schedule for 2027.  There is a dress rehearsal for fellow SKAMpede artists and an invited audience on Thursday evening, with each tour having one dress rehearsal and watching the other tour's dress rehearsal; a Friday preview event where artists perform up to 5 times; the main festival on Saturday and Sunday where each company can expect to perform up to 12 times each day, from Noon to 6 PM with two breaks.

Preliminary Schedule (subject to change)

• Thursday

  • 5:00 to 6:30 PM: Tech Dress (Central Tour)

  • 6:30 to 7:00 PM: Break

  • 7:00 to 8:30 PM: Tech Dress (Selkirk Tour)

• Friday (Preview)
  Artists should be prepared to perform up to 5 times with no breaks, according to the schedule below:

  • 4:30 PM: Artist call-time

  • 5:00 PM: Audience tour 1 departs

  • 5:20 PM: Audience tour 2 departs

  • 5:40 PM: Audience tour 3 departs

  • 6:00 PM: Audience tour 4 departs

  • 6:20 PM: Audience tour 5 departs

  • 7:20 PM: Final audience tour finishes

• Saturday & Sunday

Artists should be prepared to perform up to 12 times in a day with two breaks, according to the schedule below:

• 12:00 PM: Audience tour 1 departs

• 12:20 PM: Audience tour 2 departs

• 12:40 PM: Audience tour 3 departs

• 1:00 PM: Audience tour 4 departs

• ARTIST BREAK

• 2:10 PM: Audience tour 5 departs

• 2:30 PM: Audience tour 6 departs

• 2:50 PM: Audience tour 7 departs

• 3:10 PM: Audience tour 8 departs

• ARTIST BREAK

• 4:00 PM: Audience tour 9 departs

• 4:20 PM: Audience tour 10 departs

• 4:40 PM: Audience tour 11 departs

• 5:00 PM: Audience tour 12 departs

• 6:00 PM: Final audience tour finishes

What does the artist provide?

All Technical and Design Elements

Artists are responsible for supplying all technical and design elements required for their show. Please note, there is no power available at show venues. Upon request, Theatre SKAM can provide advance advice/consultation on technical items (speakers, projectors, etc.).

Food, etc., during the festival

Artists are responsible for providing their own meals during the festival; the breaks are not long enough to go and grab a meal off-site, so Theatre SKAM recommends packing your own lunch (We encourage you to keep everything nut-free).  The meal break is long enough to get to the nearest washroom and back to your site.

Marketing material

The artist provides: Show name and description, the theatre company/artist name and a company/artist description/bio, a list of people involved and either images of the show or a poster (dimensions should be at least 1080 px by 1080 px, larger is okay) and their company/artist's social media handles (Instagram and Facebook).

Grants

We request that any out-of-town artists apply for funding through applicable arts councils and other funding bodies to support their travel and accommodation while in Victoria. We encourage all artists to apply for grants to support their projects. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like a letter of support for your grant application.

What does SKAM provide?

Advice

We want your show to be the best it can be and are happy to help. Using technology in your show? What are SKAMpede audiences like? Travelling from afar? What works or doesn’t at the festival? We’ve done this plenty of times before and can answer any questions you may have. As the festival approaches, we become less available in this regard. Please reach out to us early and often.

Grant Support

We can provide a Letter of Confirmation as support material and are happy to review your grant application and provide feedback.

Marketing

Theatre SKAM markets the festival through a variety of traditional and new media outlets. We will post about the festival on social media. Artists are asked not to publicize or post about their acceptance into the festival until after we have announced the festival lineup. 

Safety/Emergency Protocols

Each tour launch point is equipped with a first aid kit, a naloxone kit, and a designated First Aid person. Theatre SKAM will have nut-free granola bars and juice on site in case of an emergency. 

Show Locations

We want your show at its best. We try to choose a location that matches the work. Sites range from wooded and picturesque to industrial and abandoned.

We ask applicants to describe the type of location where they feel their show would work best (examples of past show locations are helpful if you can provide them). We try to place folks in requested spots if possible, but ultimately, we need to have the final say in where your show occurs for accessibility purposes.

Site Managers/Front of House

Theatre SKAM hires a Site Manager for each show location. Site Managers communicate with SKAM staff, handle front of house duties for audience members and public passers-by, and are the designated persons in charge of each show location.

The show must go on?

Not necessarily. We have protocols in place for extreme weather, illness and more. That said, SKAMpede is an outdoor festival, and the festival does proceed rain or shine. Artists should be prepared to perform in the elements. We will send our policies and protocols to artists participating in the festival. Please read and sign them.

Water Access

Theatre SKAM will provide access to water for artist consumption.