The MT Space

On World Theatre Day 2026, we are thinking of the artists and audiences around the world that are not able to safely create and witness theatre due to war and other forms of oppression. Suppressing art and culture is a tool of erasure. In Canada, there is a long history of banning Indigenous culture and languages as a means of colonialism and genocide. As theatre artists, we stand in solidarity with theatre artists in Palestine, where cultural production is under direct attack. In Jenin, in the West Bank, members of The Freedom Theatre’s artistic leadership were violently arrested without charge in 2023. The Freedom Theatre was forced to close its doors in early 2025, when the refugee camp where it is located was attacked and occupied by the Israeli army. In November 2025, the El-Hakawati Theater in Jerusalem was raided during a performance of "Dreams Under the Olive Tree." We know that groups that are directly complicit in Israel’s occupation and genocide in Palestine are funding theatre in Canada. These relationships contribute to the art-washing of Israel's genocide, the censorship of Palestinian artists and those in solidarity with them, and most egregiously - the dehumanization of Palestinian people. In conversation with Canadian theatre artists in 2026, Rawand Arqawi, Artistic Producer of Fragments Theatre in Jenin, said, "Palestinian artists do not create from outside the reality we depict; we live under occupation ourselves. We face the suppression of our freedom of expression, including arrest, harassment, and intimidation, as well as severe restrictions on movement and travel. And yet, we persist in our cultural work as an act of resilience and resistance." From Turtle Island to Palestine, Sudan to the Congo, Iran to Ukraine, and beyond, we stand together to protect the human right to create and enjoy theatre. This World Theatre Day, we ask you to: Share and repost this message Follow and support Palestinian artists and theatres (below) Learn more about and help advocate for the Palestinian Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) @shathaya_fragmentstheatre_ @thefreedomtheatre @elhakawatitheatre @artistsonthefrontline @ashtartheatre

We can't say THANK YOU enough to our generous sponsors and partners for supporting MT Space and IMPACT 25. We truly couldn't do it without you! Thanks to our sponsors and partners, MT Space and IMPACT are able to develop and bring critical arts and cultural programming to Waterloo Region. Join us in showing some love and acknowledging their generous support! Canada Council for the Arts @canada.council Government of Canada Ontario Arts Council @ontarioartscouncil Government of Ontario Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund @ocaf_lefonds Business for the Arts /Artsvest Program @businessftarts Region of Waterloo City of Kitchener @cityofkitchener City of Waterloo @citywaterloo Waterloo Region Community Foundation @wrcommfdn - Youth in Recreation Fund - Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund The Waterloo Region Record – Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Kids to Camp Fund The Motz Family Endowment YMCA of Three Rivers @ymcaofthreerivers Arabesque Restaurant @arabesquecafekw Ammar's Halal Butcher Shop & Specialty Grocery Store @ammarsmarket Princess Cinemas @princesscinemas Amita HR The UPS Store #404 @theupsstore404 First United Church firstwaterloo Wilmot Technologies Inc. @wilmottechnologies Studio Locale @studiolocale Authentika Consulting @authentikaconsulting Full Circle Foods @fullcirclefoods Cafe Pyrus @cafepyrus Tamasha Bar + Indian Kitchen @tamasha_kwc Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo @crowneplazakitchenerwaterloo 💗💗💗💗 #IMPACT25 #thankyou

We’re just taking a moment to announce our list for 2026 Recommender Grant recipients for OAC funding. Thank you to everyone who submitted! Applications open again later this year, so keep your eyes out for the next deadline. Congratulations to the following recipients of this round: Katya Arifin - Thunder Bay @kat_arifin Trevor Copp - Hamilton @copptrevor Keira Forde - London @keira___marie Priscila Gonzalez - Toronto @priscila_101_gonz Rainbow Kester - Temagami rainbowkester Lubna Khalaf - Kitchener Kaylie Kreatrix - Ottawa @kayliekreatix Nam Nguyen - Mississauga @vietnampimpin Dalbir Singh - Guelph Clayton Windatt - Sturgeon Falls @windattclayton We’re looking forward to seeing all the interesting and exciting projects that are in the works. @ontarioartscouncil

After an exhilarating World Theatre Day, we’re back for another edition of TELL! Join us for a chill relaxing evening as we gather for a community potluck. This is also the space to share with the wider community just about anything you feel like sharing. Bring your talents, recipes, stories and calls to action to the community. Regardless of whether it's a finished work or a work-in-progress, this is your space to experiment and play. We love to see it. *Please include an ingredients list if you decide to bring any dishes for the potluck Monday May 25, 2026 | Event: 7:00 – 9:00 PM First United Church | 16 William St S, Waterloo, ON Register now, link in bio.

Come work with MT Space as we get ready to promote our latest upcoming theatre season! MT Space is hiring youth aged 15-30 for summer positions in administrative work, inventory management, digital marketing and public relations. Visit the link in our bio to see full job postings and information on how to apply. DEADLINE TO APPLY: May 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM Start Date: July 6, 2026

“The Opposite” (بالعكس) An immersive theatrical experience that will turn your world upside down. A show that will challenge your mind and stay with you forever. Imagine if your country suddenly became a war zone. Where would you go for safety? Where would you seek refuge? Would another country accept you? Would your education, experience, and achievements still matter? The Opposite is not just a performance , it is a powerful, life-changing experience Written & directed by : @sleman.dib Produced by : @kawalease.act & @swallowabicycle Performed at : @themtspace & @stand.festival In collaboration with : @madatheatre @nadahumsi Video by : @studio_spectrumassociates Edit by : @antoon_jamal #theatre #actor #arabic #refuges #yyc

This week marks National Volunteer Week and 25 years since the first International Volunteer Year. A lot of the work we do at MT Space just wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for our community of fantastic volunteers. We want to give a big shout out to everyone that has lent their time and effort, both past and present. Your help makes this all possible. Thank you! If you’re interested in volunteering with MT Space, get in touch with us. As summer approaches, there’s a lot of festivals we will be setting up our booth at. Our next presenting season is being finalized, and we will need your help to get the word out! Fill out our volunteer form. Link in bio. @youthvolunteerwr #NVW2026

ONE WEEK LEFT! Don’t forget to apply for @regionofwaterloo Arts Funding. Get your applications in now! DEADLINE: April 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM Applications are welcomed and encouraged from individual artists and arts organizations of all forms and disciplines that are based in Cambridge, Kitchener, North Dumfries, Waterloo, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. Artistic projects must occur within 12 months and can request a maximum amount of $10,000 in funding. The application form and FAQ can be found at: regionofwaterloo.ca/ROWArtsFunding. Need help? Interested in being part of the jury? Email Anjali at [email protected]

The MT Space team heads up north for a week of conferences and connecting with other Canadian theatre organizations. Our General Manager @hiyammahrat and Company Manager @bobardos are excited to attend this year’s PACTcon as representatives of MT Space. If you’re in Whitehorse, come say hello!

This is a reminder to everyone interested in applying for @regionofwaterloo 2026 Arts Funding. You have until the end of the month to get your applications in! DEADLINE: April 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM Applications are welcomed and encouraged from individual artists and arts organizations of all forms and disciplines that are based in @cityofcbridge , @cityofkitchener , @north_dumfries , @citywaterloo , @wellesleytownship , Wilmot and @woolwichtownship . Artistic projects must occur within 12 months and can request a maximum amount of $10,000 in funding. The application form and FAQ can be found at: regionofwaterloo.ca/ROWArtsFunding. Need help? Interested in being part of the jury? Email Anjali at [email protected]

Thank you to everyone for joining us on #WorldTheatreDay! It was a day full of reflections and important dialogue. We hope you continue the conversation on what theatre means to you and your communities. It was also so nice to see new and familiar faces hang out and share their talents with us during TELL that evening! We’d also like to give special thanks to all our guest panellists and speakers (@fareguy , @samamsv , @nadahumsi , @isabelcisternacanada , @samvarteniuk ) for being part of our talks that day. Thank you to the @registrytheatre for having us and all the work they do. We can’t wait to have you all join us again for our upcoming season. More details to come later this year. For now, check out our some of our staff reflections on what theatre means to us and our work. Links in bio.

We’re committed to making the process of applying to @regionofwaterloo Arts Funding as straightforward and as clear as possible. That’s why we’ve put together a FAQ and recorded a video of the info session walking through the application. And don’t forget to check your spam folders after the submission deadline has passed. Some of our emails have ended up in there during the previous round. We’d like to reiterate that we will be contacting all applicants with results. Of course, we can’t account for every question and scenario, so please feel free to contact us by emailing Anjali at [email protected]