Toronto's Young People's Theatre (YPT) announces Historic New Beginnings

Image courtesy of Young People’s Theatre website

After listening to today’s news that Ontario will release its plan to fully re- open for business come March 2022, I for one am waiting to see the changes at Young People’s Theatre in the new year.

Young People’s Theatre (YPT) is North America’s oldest – and Canada’s largest – professional producer and presenter of theatre for young audiences. Over the past 56 years, YPT has staged many of the most important plays that form the canon of work for youth in our country. YPT continues to develop new work and create partnerships with theatre companies across the country and around the world.

Several months ago, I interviewed YPT’S incoming new Artistic Director, Herbie Barnes, who begins this month in the first phase of the theatre’s Room for Imagination expansion project. Barnes stated in the release I received:

“To become AD in this time – not only as we move through the pandemic, but also through a time of great evolution with BIPOC, #MeToo and other powerful societal change – is extremely exciting. We are finally hearing voices from communities who have been silenced. As Artistic Director, I cannot sit back in a ‘business as usual’ position or relax with the notion that ‘this is how it’s always been done’.

With change comes discomfort, and for the next few years, there must be discomfort – in the world, in the theatre, and for me. This is how we begin.”

As announced last spring, The Room for Imagination expansion $13/5 million project will create Canada’s largest state of-the-art theatre complex for young people. Currently underway, the interior renovations of YPT’s 123- year-old theatre building will transform YPT’s public and artistic spaces, including:

• increased accessibility features, • lobby areas doubled in size, • redesigned box office and concessions areas, • more spacious props, set building/scenic painting workshops, and • upgraded theatrical equipment that will vastly reduce YPT’s environmental footprint.

The second phase of the expansion will see new educational spaces and production facilities created across the road at 161 Frederick Street – YPT’s newly purchased building. An additional 12,000 square feet will feature purpose-built spaces for YPT’s ever-expanding education initiatives, community programs and Drama School, as well as a new costume shop, a full-size rehearsal hall, and administrative offices. YPT looks forward to welcoming its audiences back into beautiful new spaces in 2022

ON THE VIRTUAL STAGE

rihannaboi95 (Online Nov. 22 – Dec. 18) ON SALE NOW!

Written by Jordan Tannahill and Directed by Tawiah M'Carthy

Recommended for Ages 13-18 | Grades 8-12 Audiences Division.

SensoryBox TYA (Streamed Live Nov. 29 – Dec. 30) ON SALE OCTOBER 26

Co-written by Eric Rose and Christopher Duthie

Directed by Eric Rose

Designer: Emily Promise Allison Developed in association with Ghost River Theatre Recommended for Ages 6-12 | Grades 1-6

Additionally, there are many classes and workshops offered through YPT this fall.  Of special attention and note is the Indigenous Artists in schools.

For further information and to learn more about all of YPT’s fall programming, please visit www.youngpeoplestheatre.org