Performance Lab — Impulse Theatre

Applications for 2026 Performance Lab now open

A mentorship program for interdisciplinary, contemporary performance, dance, and/or non-traditional theatre artists.

Application Deadline: August 31

THE PROGRAM

We have 1 spot available as part of the 2026 Performance Lab program. The mentorship will prioritize interdisciplinary, cross cultural and intergenerational learning. This year, Leslie Ting will act as mentor.

Leslie has experience as a professional violinist, theatre artist, new media installation, creative accessibility research, and as a practicing optometrist. She loves thinking about relationship with audience.

The program is intended to support artists that are at the early stages of a creation. Leslie will support unpacking the catalyst for a new artistic work and approaches to moving into the next stage of the artist's artistic practice.

Artists will be provided one-on-one mentorship, honorarium, and access to Peek Fest workshops.

The program is only open to in-person artists based on Southern Vancouver Island.

Adjudication is based heavily on synergy with mentor, and how the mentorship will support the applicant's ongoing process. Projects will be selected by Peek Fest staff and the Mentor.

THE MENTOR

This year, performance lab artist(s) will receive one-on-one mentorship from Leslie Ting.

Leslie Ting is an interdisciplinary artist working across concert music, theatre, new media and installation. Her work has been described as “iconoclastic” (Take Effect), “vibrant” (Bandcamp), and “peaceful and refreshing” (Broadway World).

Leslie likes to think of listening as interactive and experiments with her relationship with the violin to have a deeper relationship with the audience. Exploring the dynamics between listening and seeing has resulted in an artistic research practice stemming from her professional experience as a former practicing optometrist and personal experience with a mother who had vision loss.

Her most recent production, What Brings You In, has been supported by numerous major arts organizations, most notably the National Arts Centre Creation Fund. She is humbled to have been invited to support artists and students at York University, Dalhousie's Fountain School for the Performing Arts and WhyNot Theatre's ThisGen Program.

Leslie is currently an Ontario Arts Council Chalmers Fellow.

Photo Credit: Olivia Nikkanen

Format | Schedule

The mentorship will include one-on-one sessions/meetings. The nature and scope of the mentorship is open to be negotiated/navigated by the artist(s) and program mentor.

Leslie's suggestions of how you might spend time together:

Virtual meetings in the fall prior to being in person in November;
In-person walking and talking; laying on the ground talking; doodling and talking - ie. not just sitting at a table facing each other talking;
Sitting and facing each other talking;
Sharing some element of art practice;
Experiencing something together (film, reading, show) and sharing reflections on it

We can decide on frequency of meeting together whether it's short and often or longer and spaced out.

The participants can expect approximately 10 hours of shared time with Leslie throughout the duration of the program. In-person activities will take place roughly between November 9th and 22nd.

Festival Artist Sharing - Saturday, November 22

Performance Lab participants are required to attend a meal and sharing with other festival participants on Saturday, November 22. A low-stakes way to share yourself with the local community.

Note: while studio space is not a component this year, the Impulse team is happy to discuss complimentary studio time outside of the scope of the Performance Lab program.