PACT International Relations - Office Hours

OVERVIEW

PACT aims to enhance the representation of Canada’s diverse theatre sector on the global stage by fostering new opportunities for collaboration, exchange, cultural export, sharing, and learning.

The International Relations Committee (IR Committee) invites member companies and internationally focused theatre professionals to participate in International relations office hours, a knowledge sharing initiative designed to foster meaningful one-to-one connections and provide answers to specific questions around international relations and touring.

This peer-led offering welcomes PACT Members and Colleagues interested or currently engaged in international collaborations, productions and presentations to bring any and all questions to a single 1-on-1 session with volunteer "experts" from the PACT International Relations Committee. Questions may include topics such as touring packages and pitching, immigration and visas, shipping and carnets, arts markets, co-commissions, residencies or any other queries.

Participants will submit internationally-focused questions and receive practical, experience-based responses from fellow internationally-focused colleagues during a 1-on-1 digital mentoring session.

All experience levels are welcome, especially higher-level questions about international work. Collectively our "expert" panel brings over 60+ years of experience in international producing and collaborations.

Whether you are looking to get guidance, gain new perspectives, or expand your global network, the PACT International Relations Office Hours provides a unique opportunity for connection and professional growth.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Submit personalized question(s) about international work (touring, co-productions, partnerships, commissions, residencies, anything at all!) and receive thoughtful and customized answers and real-time engagement from a peer working in the field.
This is not a legal advice session — it’s a peer-to-peer sharing space, created by and for PACT Members and Colleagues to tackle day-to-day questions about working internationally.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Step 1: Ask your question(s) by completing the form linked below and be sure to include contact information for who will be speaking with an IR Committee "volunteer expert".

Step 2: Please request ideal times to meet with the committee member(s) between August 1 – September 30, 2026 and hold this time in your calendar.

Step 3: Submissions will be reviewed by members of PACT International Relations Committee. Selected participants will be thoughtfully matched based on areas of interest, expertise needed and learning goals to encourage valuable and impactful exchanges.

Step 4: PACT will make the connection with your “volunteer expert”, and it will be up to the two of you to confirm and finalize the time and date of their meeting.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Please fill out the form using the button below by Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Apply now

NOTIFICATIONS

PACT is aiming to notify all selected participants the week of July 31, 2026.

Questions about the International Relations Office Hours? Contact Program Manager Patricia at patriciac@pact.ca.

We look forward to seeing you at IR Office Hours!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PANEL OF EXPERTS

Kevin Matthew Wong (Why Not Theatre) - International Producing and Touring; Co-Productions;Problem-Solving with Touring Logistics

Kevin Wong is an internationally focused Hakka-Chinese theatre creator, dramaturg, video artist, and producer. He is the Executive Producer and Artistic Associate at Why Not Theatre and the Artistic Director of Broadleaf Creative.

At Why Not Theatre Kevin leads a diverse portfolio of large-scale and touring projects including the world premieres of Mahabharata and What You Won’t Do For Love. Kevin’s projects have been presented in countries such as the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, Spain and beyond. Kevin is also the Chair of Professional Association of Canadian Theatres’ International Relations Committee.

Learn more about Kevin Matthew Wong.

Brian Quirt (Nightswimming) - International Partnerships, Residencies and Artistic Exchange

Brian Quirt is the founder and Artistic Director of Nightswimming, a dramaturgical company based in Toronto, and a former Director of the Banff Centre Playwrights Lab. With Nightswimming he has commissioned and developed 35 new works, created eight of his own plays, and directed the premieres and national tours of many Nightswimming projects including new works by Carmen Aguirre, Anosh Irani and Anita Majumdar.

Nightswimming’s initiatives include Pure Research, dedicated to innovative performance research, and 5x25, a national commissioning project for artists born in 1995, the year of Nightswimming’s first production. He’s held senior positions at the Great Canadian Theatre Company, Factory Theatre, The Theatre Centre and Canadian Stage Company. His work as dramaturg, director and playwright has been seen at theatres across Canada. Brian was a Board Chair and a past-President of the Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA).

Through Nightswimming, LMDA, the Banff Centre and other organizations, he has established and sustained relationships and collaborations with artists and organizations in many parts of the world, including recent collaborations with artists in Hong Kong, Denmark, the UK, Finland, Mexico and Norway.

Lynanne Sparrow (Canadian Stage) - Presenting International Artists / International Co-Pros

Lynanne is an experienced arts leader with over 20 years in the live performing arts industry. Skilled in Programming, Curation and Producing in Dance, Circus and Theatre. Lynanne merges venue-based leadership with festival experience and has strong artistic leadership and is experienced in planning seasons, artist development, negotiation, contracting, tour planning, and developing partnerships.

She has experience working nationally and internationally on theatre, dance, circus, film projects, and documentaries. Lynanne built a strong arts professional career after she graduated from training at Toronto Metropolitan University and the National Theatre School of Canada.

Arkady Spivak (Talk is Free Theatre) - International Touring, International Partnerships

Arkady Spivak was recently cited as a 2020 Canadian Arts Hero by the Globe and Mail. Arkady founded Talk Is Free Theatre (TIFT) in Barrie in 2003 and is the company’s Artistic Producer, in charge of both artistic and administrative visions. Since TIFT's founding, Spivak has produced 170 works in Barrie and has toured nationally and internationally (most recently to New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and Suriname).

In 2018, he produced one of the most ambitious theatre experiences in the world, entitled The Curious Voyage. It was a 3-day journey, during which each patron became the protagonist of their own story, and was transported, quite literally, from Barrie, Canada, to London, UK. TIFT is a recipient of Canada’s prestigious Dora Awards for its productions of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Assassins.