Great Big Theatre Company Summer Camps Lets Kids Shine Bright!

Let your kids explore their creative potential with week-long theatre summer camps at Great Big Theatre Company (GBTC), with locations all across the Greater Toronto Area! Throughout July and August, the participants have fun performing plays and exploring the many aspects of theatre, including mime, improvisation, theatre games, musical theatre, plus sets and costumes. But since it’s summer, naturally the kids also get outdoors every day to do physical activities along with games and sports. Then finally on Friday afternoons, the hard work comes together at the end of the week for a public performance with an audience of parents, friends and relatives.

At GBTC summer camps, aspiring artists all over Southern Ontario can join other kids from their neighbourhood to learn improvisation, theatre games, stagecraft and performance. With the daily and weekly content and performances changing each session, families can sign up for one or multiple weeks. The kids never get bored and can make new friends each week! As an added bonus, the camper-to-staff ratio is low so no one feels left behind. Each child gets their moments to shine, both within their age group and also in the combined camp setting.

Even if your child isn’t planning on going into the performing arts as a career, there are many reasons to take part in drama training. It helps develop kids’ imagination, teaches empathy, cooperation and communication skills, helps them feel emotionally stable, and they certainly have tons of fun! Naturally, these camps are also a perfect choice for creative kids who love to sing, dance and pretend, and want to participate in all kinds of art.

Great Big Theatre Company — Theatre Day Camps (Ages 6-14)

At Great Big Theatre Company, all young people are welcome to join summer camps in this open, cooperative, supportive and non-competitive environment. Every child participates fully and equally in these day camps, and at the end of the day, everyone leaves smiling!

Because of the joy of participation and the sense of belonging and accomplishment, every child at theatre summer camp is free to fully express their ideas and emotions. The creative environment allows participants to let go and see how far their imaginations can take them.

With programs that encourage respect, kindness and compassion, GBTC’s enthusiastic staff members create a warm and supportive environment where campers feel at home. The campers develop their self-confidence and explore their vocal, physical and emotional potential, all while engaging in fun games and artistic exercises.

Creative activities include:

Theatre games
Improvisation
Musical theatre
Puppetry
Mime
Visual arts
Storytelling and creative role-play
Sets and costumes
Fun movement games and activities
Outdoor activities, games and sports
Organized lunch and snack periods
End-of-week public theatrical performance!

GBTC Summer Camps — Weekly Activities

Throughout the summer, the Great Big Theatre Company hosts summer camps which introduce new content each week, including new plays and musical numbers. This way campers looking to attend camp for more than one week can enjoy new and exciting challenges every time.

Campers collaborate with their peers in a group setting, both with kids their own age and across age levels for a new experience. Coaches make sure to encourage equal participation by all campers, and each age group contributes to the end-of-week show. Furthermore, the kids get to help with every facet of the performance, from selecting costumes to creating sets, which are provided by GBTC. Each age group works with age-appropriate materials and content while still continuing to develop each student’s skill levels and learning styles.

Through the process of preparing the weekly show, the participants practise teamwork and continue their personal growth. Slowly but surely, the various elements of the final performance are created, polished and put into place. Finally, the culmination of the week’s activities includes plays and at least one musical number, including simple group vocals and choreography.

GBTC Summer Camp — Schedule Info

Throughout July and August, GBTC runs one-week programs, with a full-day program from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Camps run Monday-Friday, except during the weeks of long weekends (Canada Day and August Long Weekend) where the camps take place on Tuesday-Friday.

Prices:

Five-day (Monday-Friday) Programs: $345.00/week
Four-day (Tuesday-Friday) Programs: $276.00/week (July 2-5, Aug 6-9 only)
Extended hours are available for all programs at an additional cost of $8.00 per hour, per camper, per day
Note: A GBTC camp T-shirt (in a choice of sizes) is included with each registration

Available Discounts:

Early registration discount (registrations received by March 31, 2024): $252.00/week
Multiple-week registration discount (selected weeks/locations): 20% off
Low-income families may be eligible to register at the discounted rate of 50% off (supporting documentation will be required)

Registration is open here!