Public Domain: For Youth

Develop your passion for the performing arts through workshops and programs that will introduce you to different aspects of theatre including acting, playwriting, movement, ensemble creation, and more. For over twenty years, Soulpepper has offered industry leading youth programs to inspire the next generation of creative thinkers and arts enthusiasts.

City Youth Academy

Every summer, ten selected young artists ages 16-19 participate in a six-week theatre and performance intensive that inspires their creativity and supports their artistic growth. City Youth Academy offers youth the opportunity to learn from Soulpepper artists and industry professionals, build confidence on stage, and make art as an ensemble! Not only is this program free to participate in, but the young artists also receive a weekly stipend for their participation, making this a unique theatre training opportunity in the city.

City Youth Academy - Overview

City Youth Academy - Jaelynn Brooks

City Youth Academy - Jacob Kay

City Youth Academy - Owais Lightwala

Summer MixTape

Through a mix of music, movement, playwriting, and acting, participants in this six-week program explore Black identity and culture while building a community of creative peers. Over the summer, youth are connected to Black professionals working in the theatre and performance industry, take field trips to sites of historical importance for Black Canadians in the city, and present a final showcase for their loved ones.

Summer Mixtape - Overview

Participants

Workshops

Curtain Up

Curtain Up is a series of classes offered during the spring and fall, which allows youth ages 14-18 to specialize in the fields of playwriting, acting, music, movement, and more. No previous experience is required – our skilled artist instructors lead hands-on workshops to help youth explore their creative potential!

March Break Program

Every year during March Break, Soulpepper offers a week-long intensive in which youth participants gain exposure and knowledge in storytelling and collective creation. The week culminates in a short performance and sharing with friends and family.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS (ell) PROGRAM

Soulpepper’s English Language Learners (ELL) program sends Artist Educators to schools across the GTA that have ESL (English as a Second Language) programs. ELL students enhance their learning through drama games and theatrical workshops, improving confidence in their English language communication. They also get a chance to attend Soulpepper performances and apply their conversation skills to discussing arts and culture events in the city.

School bookings

Soulpepper welcomes student groups to experience the magic of live theatre at our weekday school matinees with discounted tickets for select productions. To book your school group or learn more, email boxoffice@youngcentre.ca

Our Artist Educators

Soulpepper works with a wide range of artist educators to lead our programs for youth.

LENA MARIPUU

I loved meeting so many cool people and the instructors were awesome! I liked the different tasks and assignments we did, they really made me think and I could tell they were well thought out and not just mindless assignments school tends to give me all the time. I feel super lucky to have done the workshops too, the guest artists were really inspiring as was the mentor I had. (The welcome package was also a plus) Thank you!!

The program was something that was very out of the box, I found the fact that I was given so many opportunities to share my personal work made the program more engaging, because I was working hard to perfect and perform my work in the class, which helped improved my work as well.

I learned new things such as black figures, costume design, using technology in music performances and movies, and poetry/plays