Civilians R&D Group Annual Residency
Annual investigative theatre residency for artists developing research-driven work through collaborative development and community inquiry.
The Civilians R&D Group is an annual residency program dedicated to supporting theatre artists interested in exploring strategies for making theatre through creative investigations. The program is designed for artists working in investigative theatre, which blends artistic performance with documentary inquiry using methods like interviews, field research, and community collaborations.
The residency runs from October through June each year. Six project proposals are selected annually, and selected artists research their chosen topics and create new pieces of theatre during this period. The program provides monthly workshops where participants develop and present their work-in-progress projects within the group setting.
Participants work alongside experienced dramaturgs and theatre professionals including the R&D Coordinator and Director. The program culminates in a public works-in-progress reading series called "Findings," where all projects are presented to audiences.
The Civilians is a New York City-based investigative theatre company that produces original plays and musicals derived from extensive research into real-world subjects. Past R&D projects have explored diverse topics including Detroit history, environmental issues in Guatemala, Canadian oil sands labor, Gaza solidarity activism, and more.
The program is ideal for playwrights, documentarians, educators, and theatre artists interested in developing non-fiction theatre work. Members benefit from collaborative feedback, professional development, access to research resources, and presentation opportunities. The residency facilitates exploration of how to negotiate between fact and interpretation while maintaining emotional truth and community engagement in theatrical work.