About RISER Regina

Through RISER Regina, On Cue Performance Hub annually supports the development and production of up to four new creative works by underserved performing artists who may be working in theatre, dance and/or other performing arts disciplines.  Participants receive significant in-kind supports (dramaturgical/developmental services, rehearsal and performance space, related technical and lighting design support, box office, website and other marketing services, accessibility accommodations support, videography and photography services), fundraising and producing mentorship and connections with a community network of partnering and collaborating organizations as appropriate to their work.

The heart of RISER Regina—whose participants are generous, flexible, curious and willing to share and work in new ways—is about building relationships to create an interdependent performing arts ecosystem where the success of one is the success of many and where the advancement of underserved artists is an investment in rebuilding a stronger, more inclusive and vibrant community.

The lineup for RISER Regina 2026 is as follows:

Checkpoint by Rania Alharthi  May 15-May 24 in the Shubox Theatre, University of Regina [links to relevant web pages on website only]

An End Is Another Beginning by I-Ying Wu  May 23 - May 24 at the MacKenzie Art Gallery

I Have No Idea by Nathan Coppens  May 28. -June 6  in the ShuBox Theatre, University of Regina

Artists who would like to be part of RISER Regina and/or Inside the Creative Mind (the developmental component of On Cue’s support for new work in progress) are encouraged to complete one of On Cue’s Open Call applications accessed at the bottom of On Cue’s website/homepage.

RISER Regina is supported by the Canada Council, SK Arts, the City of Regina, MITACS, the University of Regina, our rehearsal space sponsor Northgate Mall and our Accessibility Sponsor, Affinity Credit Union.  

In 2026 our Senior Partner and collaborating organizations include the MacKenzie Art Gallery, Globe Theatre, the University of Regina’s Theatre and Film Departments, Listen to Dis Community and Art Organization, Dance Saskatchewan, the Centre for the Study of Script Development, Independent Works Theatre Company and In the Headlights.

Origins and History of RISER

RISER was developed by Toronto’s Why Not Theatre in 2014 [still use the underscored title as a link to Why Not’s web page that relates to RISER (https://whynot.theatre/work/riser-toronto/)—not just the general Why Not website.] as a collaborative producing model to support performing artists and small companies in creating and presenting new work.  It was intended to address the challenges of producing independent theatre in Toronto, including the high cost of production, difficulty building audiences and inefficient use of resources and infrastructure.  By creating a collaborative network of senior partners from the Theatre community, organizations committed to sharing resources and risk, helping to build new audiences for underserved artists and making a commitment to innovation and the creation of new work, RISER Toronto was able to provide enough in-kind resources to help make the production of new work more financially manageable for these artists.  By providing a year-long mentorship process, RISER Toronto also gave artists the skills to continue producing their work beyond the RISER experience.
In February 2022 Why Not Theatre took RISER to a national level by partnering with Common Ground Arts Society to launch RISER Edmonton.  In 2023 On Cue Performance Hub joined this national network by launching RISER Regina. 

The development of RISER Toronto and its national network was originally supported by the Government of Canada, RBC Foundation and a community of senior partners.

RISER Regina 2026 Funders and Supporters