Carousel Theatre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Carousel Theatre

Carousel Theatre's administrative offices on Granville Island, Vancouver
Formation	1974
Type	Theatre group
Purpose	Children's theatre Theatre for young audiences
Location	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Artistic director(s)	Not available
Website	http://www.carouseltheatre.ca

Carousel Theatre is a special theatre company in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It creates plays just for young people, families, and teachers. You can see their shows at the Waterfront Theatre and Performance Works on Granville Island. They also travel to elementary schools all over British Columbia and Canada.

Carousel Theatre was the first Canadian theatre company to offer signing during its shows. This helps people who are hearing impaired enjoy the plays. Carousel Theatre is part of PACT, which stands for the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres.

Discovering Carousel Theatre's History

Carousel Theatre started in 1974. It was founded by Elizabeth Ball. She was the Artistic Director until 2001. After her, Chris McGregor and then Carole Higgins led the company. Currently, the theatre is going through some new leadership changes.

Early Plays and New Ideas

In its early years, Carousel Theatre became known for its unique plays. They would adapt Shakespeare's famous stories. But they would dress the characters in modern clothes! Later, they started focusing on classic stories. They also put on new plays by Canadian writers.

Carousel Theatre first performed in other Vancouver theatres. These included the Arts Club Theatre and the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Around 1993, they moved to Granville Island. Here, they have their offices and rehearsal rooms. Their space is right across from the Waterfront Theatre. Carousel Theatre even helped build the Waterfront Theatre. Many of their shows are still performed there.

When Carole Higgins became Artistic Director, the company changed its name. It became "Carousel Theatre for Young People." This showed their strong focus on plays for children and teens.

Exciting Productions and Premieres

Each year, Carousel Theatre usually puts on four or five main shows. They have public performances on weekends. During the week, they often have special shows for schools.

Many new Canadian plays have started at Carousel Theatre. These include:

• A Christmas Carol - The Musical by Mavor Moore (in 1998)
• Dying to be Thin by Linda A. Carson (in 1992)
• Basically Good Kids by Mark Leiren-Young (in 1993)

Carousel Theatre also created a play based on Pierre Berton's story, The Secret World of Og. This play was adapted by Governor General's Award-winning writer Kevin Kerr. Other popular shows have included Seussical and The Hobbit. Many Canadian theatre artists have worked with Carousel Theatre over the years. This includes people like Roy Surette and Anna Cummer.

In July 2020, there were some changes in leadership at Carousel Theatre. The company and its longtime Artistic Director, Carole Higgins, went separate ways.

More Fun at Carousel Theatre

Besides putting on plays, Carousel Theatre also runs a theatre school. Young people from ages 3 to 17 can learn about acting here.

Teen Shakespeare Program

They also have a "Teen Shakespeare Program." This is for young people aged 13 to 17. It takes place in July and August. At the end of the program, the teen actors put on their own Shakespeare play!

Awards and Recognition

Carousel Theatre and its artists have won many awards.

Jessie Awards for Excellence

Carousel Theatre has received many Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards. These awards celebrate great theatre in Vancouver. Here are some of their wins:

• 2011
  • Outstanding Design for Young Audiences - Heidi Wilkinson, for Bird Brain
  • Outstanding Artistic Creation for Young Audiences – Carole Higgins, for Bird Brain
  • Outstanding Production for Young Audiences, for Bird Brain
  • Significant Artistic Achievement for Young Audiences, Design Team, for Pharaoh Serket & The Lost Stone of Fire
• 2010
  • Outstanding Production for Young Audiences, for A Year with Frog & Toad
  • Outstanding Performance for Young Audiences, for A Year with Frog & Toad
  • Outstanding Design for Young Audiences - Heidi Wilkinson
  • Outstanding Artistic Creation for Young Audiences - Gordon Roberts (Musical Direction) for A Year with Frog & Toad
• 2008
  • Outstanding Production for Young Audiences, for Seussical (This also won the Canada Council Prize for Outstanding Production)
  • Outstanding Artistic Creation for Young Audiences - Steven Greenfield, Musical Direction, for Seussical
  • Outstanding Performance for Young Audiences - Allan Zinyk, for Seussical
• 2007
  • Outstanding Production for Young Audiences, for The Odyssey (This also won the Canada Council Prize for Outstanding Production)
• 2006
  • Carole Higgins, Outstanding Artistic Creation (direction), for The Big League
  • Alexa Dubreuil, Josh Dickson, Nathan Schwartz, Chris Van Hyfte, Significant Artistic Achievement (acting ensemble), for The Big League