A Barrie, Ontario–based theatre company is piloting a new national program to help older, racialized Canadians learn about acting. Talk is Free Theatre’s initiative, The Next Act, will pair mentees 55 and years of age and older with professional actors.
The Canada Council for the Arts is supporting this paid mentorship program. Talk Is Free Theatre has launched the pilot to address a shortage of older, racialized actors in Canada.
Mentees will each receive $500 for participating in the program. To be eligible, they must self-identify as racialized and be born before February 10, 1971. Furthermore, they must have an interest in acting but only have limited or no professional experience. Those who’ve been involved in community theatre are welcome. The deadline to apply is February 10, 2026.
“Selected mentees will be paired with a trained professional theatre artist in your city for a series of in-person meet-ups, including a visit to the theatre,” the mentee application form states. “You will also join a national cohort of mentees and mentors for five remote sessions between February and May, covering topics such as Breaking into the Industry, Finding Opportunities, Rehearsal Room Culture, and more.”
Meanwhile, mentors will receive $750. According to the mentor application form, candidates for these positions must have at least 10 years of professional theatre experience. Furthermore, they must have an interest in mentoring new racialized actors who are at least 55 years old.
Anyone with questions about the program is encouraged to reach out to Canadian playwright Zahida Rahemtulla at communityactors.pr@gmail.com.
Rahemtulla has herself written roles for older, racialized Canadians. One of her plays, The Frontliners, is about settlement workers finding homes for refugees. Another Rahemtulla play, The Wrong Bashir, portrayed Canada’s evolving Ismaili community.
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