Young People's Theatre
A Toronto-based professional theatre company producing performances and arts education programs for young audiences.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Young People's Theatre (YPT) is a professional theatre company in Toronto, Ontario, dedicated to creating and presenting performance and arts-education experiences for children, families, students, teachers and young people. Founded in 1966 by Susan Douglas Rubes, the organization grew from Rubes's earlier Museum Children's Theatre initiative, which she developed in her Toronto kitchen before presenting Alice in Wonderland at the Royal Ontario Museum in 1963. YPT's first production under its current name was The Looking Glass Revue, staged at Toronto's Colonnade Theatre in 1966. The company combines a mainstage season with studio work, school and community programming, and drama education. It stages an average of approximately eight productions annually and has historically reached about 150,000 patrons each year through performances, touring and related activities. Its work is intended not only to entertain but also to introduce young audiences to live theatre, encourage imagination and discussion, and make participation in the arts accessible to children and families. The company has toured productions to schools across Ontario and has also undertaken international touring, including a United Kingdom tour of Inook and the Sun. YPT has occupied several Toronto venues during its history, including the St. Lawrence Centre, the Ontario Science Centre and Toronto's Firehall Theatre. Since the 1977–78 season, it has been based in a converted heritage building at 165 Front Street East in downtown Toronto. The structure was originally built in 1887 as a stable for horses used by Toronto Street Railways and later served industrial and transit-related purposes. Zeidler Partnership Architects adapted the building for theatre use in 1977, creating a large mainstage and a smaller studio. The sensitive conversion received an Award of Merit from the Toronto Historical Board in 1979. The company briefly adopted the name Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People in 2001 after a $1.5 million gift from Kevin Kimsa in memory of his mother. In March 2011 it returned to the Young People's Theatre name. Philanthropy has continued to shape the organization: a $3 million contribution from the Slaight family in 2015 supported the Ada Slaight Education Centre, and a later Slaight family gift led to the mainstage being renamed the Ada Slaight Stage in 2022. YPT's other performance space is the Nathan Cohen Studio. In 2020, YPT began a $13.5 million expansion and renewal initiative. The project included the acquisition of a nearby multi-use building, YPT 161 Studios, and extensive improvements to the existing theatre complex. Renovated facilities were unveiled in September 2022, expanding the company's capacity for education, administration, rehearsal and community activity while preserving its downtown base. YPT has also functioned as an important training and professional development institution. Its Drama School was established in 1969 and operates in downtown Toronto and Etobicoke. Alumni and participants have included performers who later became prominent in Canadian and international entertainment, while the mainstage has featured actors such as Martin Short, Megan Follows, Brent Carver, Cynthia Dale, Fiona Reid, Gordon Pinsent, R. H. Thomson, Sheila McCarthy and Eric Peterson. YPT's broader public role has been recognized through numerous awards, including Dora Mavor Moore Awards, Chalmers Children's Awards for playwriting, the 2016 Toronto Arts Foundation Arts for Youth Award, the 1998 Lieutenant Governor's Award for the Arts and Heritage Toronto's 1979 Award of Merit. Herbie Barnes became artistic director in spring 2021, succeeding Allen MacInnis, and Camilla Holland became executive director in September 2024. The company remains an active Toronto cultural organization focused on theatre made with and for young audiences.
History
Young People's Theatre traces its origins to Susan Douglas Rubes's efforts to create professional theatre for children in Toronto. Before establishing YPT, Rubes developed the Museum Children's Theatre in her home and presented Alice in Wonderland at the Royal Ontario Museum in 1963. She formally founded Young People's Theatre in 1966, opening with The Looking Glass Revue at the Colonnade Theatre on Bloor Street. During its early years, the company performed in several Toronto venues, including the St. Lawrence Centre, the Ontario Science Centre and Toronto's Firehall Theatre. It also developed a touring practice, bringing productions to schools throughout Ontario and taking Inook and the Sun to the United Kingdom. A drama school was added in 1969, extending the organization's role beyond production into training and arts education. YPT established its long-term home during the 1977–78 season when it moved into a renovated 1887 heritage building at 165 Front Street East. The building had originally been a stable for Toronto Street Railways horse cars and later had industrial and transit uses. Zeidler Partnership Architects converted it into a theatre with a large mainstage and a smaller studio. The adaptation was recognized by the Toronto Historical Board in 1979 with an Award of Merit for preserving and imaginatively reusing a significant landmark. The artistic leadership changed several times as YPT developed: Rubes served from 1966 to 1979, followed by Richard Ouzounian, Peter Moss, Maja Ardal, Pierre Tetrault and Allen MacInnis. Herbie Barnes became artistic director in spring 2021. The company has hosted many notable Canadian performers, and its Drama School has attracted participants who later became prominent in film, television and theatre. In 2001, a $1.5 million donation from Kevin Kimsa, made in honour of his mother Lorraine, led to the temporary name Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People. YPT restored its original name in 2011. Another major philanthropic milestone came in 2015, when the Slaight family gave $3 million to establish the Ada Slaight Education Centre. A later Slaight family gift supported the renaming of the main performance venue as the Ada Slaight Stage in 2022. The company began a major facilities expansion in 2020. The $13.5 million initiative included acquiring a multi-use property across Front Street, known as YPT 161 Studios, and renovating the existing theatre. The renewed complex was unveiled in September 2022 and provided additional capacity for education, rehearsal, administration and community activity. YPT continues to operate the Ada Slaight Stage and Nathan Cohen Studio while presenting a season of professional theatre and maintaining its education and outreach work.
- 2024
Camilla Holland appointed executive director
[1]Holland became executive director in September 2024.
- 2022
Renewed facilities unveiled
[1]The renovated theatre complex was unveiled, and the mainstage was renamed the Ada Slaight Stage.
- 2021
Herbie Barnes becomes artistic director
[1]Barnes succeeded Allen MacInnis as artistic director.
- 2020
Expansion project launched
[1]YPT started a $13.5 million project involving a new nearby property and renovations to its theatre complex.
- 2015
Ada Slaight Education Centre created
[1]A $3 million Slaight family gift supported the creation of a dedicated education centre.
- 2011
Original name restored
[1]The company announced that it would again operate under the Young People's Theatre name.
- 2001
Temporary Lorraine Kimsa naming
[1]A $1.5 million donation prompted the organization to adopt the name Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People.
- 1979
Heritage Toronto recognition
[1]The Toronto Historical Board gave YPT an Award of Merit for the adaptive reuse of its heritage building.
- 1977
Move to Front Street heritage building
[1]YPT began presenting work at its renovated downtown Toronto home with an adaptation of The Lost Fairy Tale.
- 1969
Drama School established
[1]YPT expanded into formal theatre education by creating its Drama School.
Products and positioning
A leading Canadian theatre institution focused on professional, accessible and artistically ambitious work for children and young audiences, supported by education, touring and community programs.
Mainstage theatre · 1977
Ada Slaight Stage productions
YPT's principal performance program presents professionally produced theatre for children, young people, schools and families. The venue supports full-scale productions within the company's annual season and is the successor to the theatre's original mainstage.
Studio theatre · 1977
Nathan Cohen Studio productions
The Nathan Cohen Studio is YPT's smaller performance space, enabling more intimate, experimental or flexible productions alongside the mainstage season.
Arts education · 1969
YPT Drama School
Established in 1969, the Drama School provides theatre education and participation opportunities for young people. It operates in downtown Toronto and Etobicoke and forms a continuing part of YPT's education mission.
Outreach and education
School and community programs
YPT supplements performances with arts education, school presentations, touring and community-oriented activities designed to broaden access to live theatre and connect productions with young audiences and educators.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Free theatre access for newly arrived Syrian refugees
Toronto · Canada
YPT participated in a group of theatres offering free tickets to newly arrived Syrian refugees.
Outcome. The initiative provided subsidized cultural access to newly arrived refugees; the available reference does not specify attendance figures.
- 2015Ada Slaight Education Centre campaign
Toronto · Canada
The Slaight family's $3 million contribution supported the creation of the Ada Slaight Education Centre and strengthened YPT's education infrastructure.
Outcome. The centre was established and became part of YPT's expanded education offering.
Brand decisions
2022
Rename the mainstage as the Ada Slaight StageOtherBackground
A further gift from the Slaight family supported recognition of Ada Slaight within the theatre complex.
Action taken
YPT renamed its principal performance space the Ada Slaight Stage.
Aftermath
The venue continues to serve as the company's principal stage.
2020
Expand and renew the theatre campusStrategyBackground
YPT sought additional space and modernization while maintaining its Front Street location.
Action taken
The company began a $13.5 million project that included acquiring YPT 161 Studios across the street and renovating the existing building.
Aftermath
The renewed facilities were unveiled in September 2022, increasing capacity for performance, education, rehearsal and administration.
Expansion project budget. $13.5 million (2020)
2011
Restore the Young People's Theatre nameStrategyBackground
After a decade using the Lorraine Kimsa naming, the company chose to return to its original identity.
Action taken
The theatre announced the restoration of the Young People's Theatre name.
Aftermath
The original name has remained the organization's public identity.
2001
Adopt the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People nameOtherBackground
A donation from Kevin Kimsa in honour of his mother, Lorraine, supported a naming change.
Action taken
YPT used the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People name beginning in 2001.
Aftermath
The organization returned to its original Young People's Theatre name in 2011.
Donation. $1.5 million (2001)
Sources2 sources
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