The annual On the Verge festival of new play readings from across Canada is only one part of the National Arts Centre (NAC) English Theatre's commitment to developing new work. We commission, develop and produce new plays from across Canada.

We are thrilled to feature two world premieres of new Canadian plays in our 2005-06 season:

• After the Orchard by Jason Sherman
• Recovery by Greg MacArthur

At the heart of our play development activities is our commissioning and workshop programme, funded with support from the Laidlaw Foundation. We commission or seed writers to craft new plays and translations for either of our Studio or Mainstage spaces. Currently in development at the NAC are:

• An adaptation of The Relapse by Julian Doucet
• The Story of Bobby O’Malley by Joan Sullivan; adapted from the novel by Wayne Johnston
• 5 Little Stones by Michael O’Brien
• Chimera by Wendy Lill
• Copper Thunderbird by Marie Clements
• The Wrong Sun by Allen Cole

We have also helped to develop the following pieces with the support of Interdepartmental Partnership with Official-Language Communities (IPOLC) funding:

• La Guerre, Yes Sir by Roch Carrier, adapted by Micheline Chevrier
• Elephants by Jaspreet Singh (co-commissioned by Infinitheatre in Montreal)
• A new play by Bruce M. Smith (co-commissioned by Infinitheatre in Montreal)
• Speak Easy by Sabooge Theatre
• Everybody’s Welles by Patrice Dubois, translated by Maureen Labonte
• Hubris by Sarah Stanley and Nick Carpenter