The Quick n' Dirty Residency is Gwaandak Theatre's fully digital training opportunity for drag, burlesque, and cabaret performers located in Northern, Rural, and Remote communities. Each mentorship plan is uniquely developed for individual artists through collaboration with their assigned Mentor.

Mentees will develop their skills, character, and artistic voice through one-on-one and group sessions, and ultimately create a brand-new video to showcase at the final Digital Cabaret as part of the 2024 Awaken Festival. (The fifth annual Awaken Festival will be taking place April 8th-28th in Whitehorse, YT with the Cabaret being streamed online.) This residency is specifically for performers and aspiring performers based out of Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, Nunavik, or rural and remote northern areas of the provinces who want to develop their skills through digital one-on-one mentorship, are interested in creating a performance for a digital cabaret, identify as part of 2SLGBTQIA+, Queer, Indigi-queer, or Indigenous communities*, and want to build bridges within Indigenous and Queer communities.

*We recognize that not all terms always work for all people, and that many people belong to marginalized communities while rejecting colonial, restrictive, and specific language around identity politics - as such we welcome applications from all people. However Gwaandak Theatre will ensure that our goal of representing, uplifting, and celebrating Indigenous & 2SLGBTQIA+ people is fulfilled.

This year at Awaken, we will also celebrate past residencies by having a Quick n’ Dirty Throwback Tuesday Digital Cabaret on Tuesday April 23rd! Throwback Tuesday featured performances from some of the past 2020-2023 Quick n’ Dirty Residency Mentees & Mentors including Beau Ryder, Burning Palette, Jolene Queen Sloan, Mixence Gold, Mx. Wolverine, Oliver Twirl, & Roz Rouge!