Young People's Theatre facts for kids
| Address | 165 Front Street East |
|---|---|
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°39′00″N 79°22′08″W / 43.65000°N 79.36889°W |
| Type | Theatre |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1888 (stables) |
| Renovated | 1977 (theatre) |
Young People's Theatre (YPT) is a special theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It creates and shows plays for young people. YPT also offers arts education programs. About 150,000 people enjoy their shows every year.
Susan Douglas Rubeš started YPT in 1966. It first operated from the Colonnade Theatre. Since 1977, YPT has been in a beautiful old building in downtown Toronto. This building has two main performance areas. They are called the Ada Slaight Stage and the Nathan Cohen Studio. YPT usually puts on about eight plays each year. Herbie Barnes became the Artistic Director in the spring of 2021. Camilla Holland became the Executive Director in September 2024.
The Story of YPT
Susan Douglas Rubeš started the Museum Children's Theatre in her Toronto kitchen in 1963. She put on "Alice in Wonderland" at the Royal Ontario Museum. Her first YPT show was The Looking Glass Revue in 1966.
Before its current home, YPT performed in other places. These included the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, the Ontario Science Centre, and the Firehall Theatre. The theatre company also traveled to schools across Ontario. They even toured a play called Inook and the Sun in the United Kingdom.
In 1977, YPT put on its first show in its current building. It was an adaptation of The Lost Fairy Tale. YPT also started a drama school in 1969. This school teaches acting in Downtown Toronto and Etobicoke.
Many famous actors have performed at YPT. These include Martin Short, Megan Follows, and Gordon Pinsent. Well-known people like Drake and Kiefer Sutherland also attended YPT's Drama School.
In 2001, the theatre was briefly renamed. It became the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People after a generous donation. In 2011, it changed back to its original name.
The Slaight family made a large donation in 2015. This helped create the Ada Slaight Education Centre at YPT. In 2022, another gift from the Slaight Family led to the main stage being renamed the Ada Slaight Stage. In 2016, YPT offered free tickets to families new to Canada.
YPT started a big expansion project in 2020. They bought a new building called YPT 161 Studios. This building is across the street. The theatre also had major renovations. These were completed in September 2022.
YPT's Historic Home
YPT's building is a renovated heritage site from 1887. It is located in Toronto, Ontario. It was once a three-story stable for horses. These horses pulled Toronto Street Railways streetcars in the late 1800s.
The building also served as an electrical plant and a Toronto Transit Commission warehouse. It was empty for many years before YPT moved in. In 1977, Zeidler Partnership Architects renovated the building. They created a large main stage and a smaller studio.
The Toronto Historical Board gave YPT an award in 1979. This was for saving and improving the historic building. The expansion project started in 2020. The renovations were finished in 2022.
Who Has Led YPT?
Here are the Artistic Directors who have led YPT over the years:
- Susan Douglas Rubes (1966-1979)
- Richard Ouzounian (1979-1980)
- Peter Moss (1980-1991)
- Maja Ardal (1991-1998)
- Pierre Tetrault (1998-2002)
- Allen MacInnis (2002-2021)
- Herbie Barnes (2021–present)
Awards and Achievements
YPT has received many awards for its work, including:
- 76 Dora Mavor Moore Awards
- 13 Chalmers Children Awards for playwrighting
- Toronto Arts Foundation Arts for Youth Award, 2016
- Ontario's Lieutenant Governor's Award for the Arts, 1998
- Award of Merit, Heritage Toronto, 1979
