Young People's Theatre, Children's theatre in downtown Toronto, Canada
The Young People's Theatre occupies a renovated 1887 heritage building at 165 Front Street East, once a three-storey stable for Toronto Street Railways horse cars and later an electrical plant and TTC warehouse. It holds the Ada Slaight Stage and the smaller Nathan Cohen Studio, staging about eight productions a year and running a drama school in Downtown Toronto and Etobicoke.
Susan Douglas Rubeš founded the company in 1966 and staged its first show, The Looking Glass Revue, at the Colonnade Theatre on Bloor Street. From 1977 it performed in its present home, an 1887 three-storey stable for Toronto Street Railways horse cars that later served as an electrical plant and a TTC warehouse. Zeidler Partnership Architects renovated it in 1977, and Heritage Toronto gave the theatre an Award of Merit in 1979.
The theatre presents stories that speak to children from many different backgrounds and communities. Its shows invite young audiences to connect with narratives that explore their own world and experiences.
The theatre stands at 165 Front Street East in downtown Toronto, in a converted 1887 building. The complex holds two spaces, the Ada Slaight Stage and the Nathan Cohen Studio, plus the YPT 161 Studios building across the street, added in the 2020–2022 expansion. Productions run in a season rather than daily, so check the programme before travelling.
Several famous Canadian performers began their careers at this theatre. The venue has shaped multiple generations of actors and remains a launching point for young talent in the country.
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