Stageworthy

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby welcomes Amanda Lin and Julia Dickson, the co-leadership team behind the Paprika Theatre Festival, now celebrating its 24th season. Amanda and Julia share the story of Paprika’s evolution, recent strategic programming changes to prioritize artist and staff well-being, and the organization's commitment to supporting emerging artists. They dive into how the Paprika Festival fosters professional development, provides paid opportunities, and creates space for experimentation and growth — a vital contribution to the Canadian theatre community. Amanda and Julia also talk about their own journeys into arts administration, their long-standing collaboration, and what’s coming up at this year’s festival. This episode explores: How the Paprika Theatre Festival empowers emerging artists and administrators Why Paprika shifted its programming to prevent burnout and better support artists The importance of paid training opportunities in building a more inclusive theatre industry