What is TACTICS?

  • We are Ottawa’s innovative theatre series for independent productions.

  • Mission

    We are a platform for local indie artists to develop works that transcend industry limitations.

  • Vision

    We believe in the value of sharing their stories how they need to be shared, overcoming a lack of resources.

  • Maybe you have a creative project to share with the world... so share let's collaborate! We want to help local artists thrive.

  • Are you ready to take your art to the next step?

Our History

Bronwyn Steinberg formed Theatre Artists’ Co-operative: the Independent Collective Series (TACTICS) in 2013. TACTICS commissions and programs works that make the most of the liveness of theatre and that place emphasis on how the audience experiences theatre. TACTICS aim is to embrace larger-scale works that exceed the production limitations of Fringe and other in-repetition festivals with the potential for larger casts and more sophisticated design elements. Moreover, TACTICS seeks to celebrate Ottawa as a city for artistic development, not simply a stage for national and international touring shows.

The first series ran from November 2014 to April 2015, followed by a second series running from November 2015 to April 2016. In these first two seasons, we presented 9 new independent Ottawa productions, 7 of which were premieres of new works by local creators. These productions and the associated artists were nominated for 14 Prix Rideau Awards, with 3 of those nominees going on to win in their categories.

In the spring of 2017, alongside our third Mainstage Series of full productions, we added the Workshop Series, supporting the development of five new works. And in 2017-18, the Workshop Series grew to add more significant financial and artistic support for four works in development, while we added the Green Room Series of monthly community-building events.

Post-pandemic, we were fortunate enough to be approached by GCTC to collaborate with them for our 2022 mainstage series and well as being awarded (for the first time) the Digital Now Grant. Both of these new ventures allowed us to expand our programming and introduce two new series. Firstly, our Virtual/Reality series, set to debut December 2022, is focused on integrating digital-centric elements into our modern theater conception, consumption and distribution. Secondly, we are excited to expand our Mainstage series for the first time for summer of 2023 to introduce Mainstage: Beyond where we enable and seek out indie theater projects that have atypical works that call for site-specific or exception production needs (i.e.: pop-up theater, aerial works, experimental, digital theatre, immersive, etc) or elevated production needs.

Code of Conduct

TACTICS is a proud signatory of the Canadian Code of Conduct for the Performing Arts & also participates in CAEA and PACT’s Not in Our Space campaign.

We pledge to create and support safer, more inclusive, respectful workplaces where artists and cultural workers can thrive, free from all forms of harassment, including sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying and violence.

To read more about this initiative or to sign on to the code, visit www.respectfulartsworkplaces.ca

Read or download a PDF of our Code of Conduct HERE

Not in OUR Space! is a national anti-harassment and respectful workplace program working with engagers across disciplines, developed by Equity. It seeks to ensure safe working conditions for all professionals working in live performance across the country.

Equity is committed to the pursuit of safe and respectful workspaces for all artists working under its contracts and will not tolerate nor condone unprofessional or inappropriate member behaviour, such as: abuse of power, bullying, discrimination, harassment or sexual harassment, reprisal or violence.

Want to Support Us?

TACTICS is not a charitable organization, yet. Contact us if you would like to donate without a tax receipt or discuss the possibility of a sponsorship.

“I want Ottawa to be a place where artists’ no longer feel like they need to move to MTL or Toronto to pursue their crafts”

- Bronwyn, Founder

Our Partners

For ten years, TACTICS has been made possible through the generous continued support of the

City of Ottawa, the Ontario Arts Council & the Canada Council for the Arts

With ongoing venue support at Arts Court Theatre from the Ottawa Fringe Festival

& collaborative partnerships with the Great Canadian Theater Company and A Company of Fools