Welcome to your Theatre School
For over 20 years, the Chester Playhouse has provided opportunities for young people to explore the world of acting, music, and performing with helping hands from professionals. While learning the art of acting and the craft of theatre, students can experience working both solo and as a part of a team. First time performers and returning students are welcome.
No Financial Barriers
The Chester Playhouse believes strongly in creating the opportunity for youth to participate in the creative arts, therefore, no child gets turned away because of financial barriers. Should you require financial assistance please contact Chester Playhouse at (902) 275-3933 or info@chesterplayhouse.ca.
Our No Financial Barriers funding is provided by the Alexander Fleming Pattillo Memorial Foundation, now housed in the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Theatre Foundation. It honours Alex’s love for theatre, The Chester Playhouse, and ProKids.
2026 summer youth Programs
Rock Band Camp
Are you ready to ROCK?
Throughout the week students will learn and rehearse a short set of songs to be performed at the end of the week. With the help of their instructor, students will improve their skills on their instruments, as well as learn how to play and jam with other musicians. At the end of the week, they will take the stage to perform a short concert for parents and invited guests.
Note: Vocalists and players of all instruments are welcome. Players are encouraged to bring their own instruments. If impossible, an instrument may be sourced for them. Please contact the Chester Playhouse to discuss your needs.
Friends and family are welcome to join us for a showcase concert on the Friday, July 17 at 3pm.
Instructor: Liam Britten
Date: July 13-17, 2026
9am-4pm (Drop off available after 8:30am, and pick up by 4:30pm).
Ages: 10-16
Registration Fee: $275* ($50 Non-refundable Deposit due upon registration. Balance due by June 22, 2026)
*HST is applicable for registrants over the age of 14.
Maximum registration is 10 participants, so don’t delay – click the button below and register today!
This class will be held on the Chester Playhouse stage. The Chester Playhouse is accessible by lift.
The Reluctant Dragon Theatre Camp
There’s nothing more fearsome than being who you are!
Participants will rehearse and perform a comedic adaptation of The Reluctant Dragon, the charming 1898 classic by Kenneth Grahame (the celebrated author of The Wind in the Willows).
Throughout the week, campers will explore physical comedy, character acting, and creative movement while working together to bring this “monstrous” tale to life, culminating in a performance on the final day of camp.
The Reluctant Dragon introduces us to a most unusual beast: a dragon who would much rather write poetry and enjoy a nice afternoon tea than breathe fire or hoard gold! When the local villagers discover him and call for the famous knight St. George to do battle, it’s up to a clever, book-loving child to help the “enemies” hatch a hilarious plan to keep the peace.
Together, we’ll learn that you should never judge a book by its cover, and that friendship and diplomacy can win the day without a single sword being drawn. Join us for this witty and heartwarming adventure—a perfect celebration of imagination and finding friends in the most unlikely places!
Friends and family are welcome to join us for a showcase concert on the Friday, July 24 at 3pm.
Instructor: Liam Britten
Date: July 20-24, 2026
9am-4pm (Drop off available after 8:30am, and pick up by 4:30pm).
Ages: 9-13
Registration Fee: $275 ($50 Non-refundable Deposit due upon registration. Balance due by June 29, 2026)
Maximum registration is 14 participants, so don’t delay – click the button below and register today!
This class will be held on the Chester Playhouse stage. The Chester Playhouse is accessible by lift.
broadway camp (july)
Do you love to sing, dance and act? Well, this is the camp for you!
We’ll learn songs, scenes and dances, play theatre games and learn and rehearse a show to be presented for family and friends on the final day. Laughing is encouraged! Come to have a blast and you just might discover some talent you didn’t know you had.
Our instructor, Andrew Morrisey, is an actor, singer and teacher based in New York City and originally from Truro, NS! Andrew enrolled in Sheridan College’s Music Theatre Performance program, largely considered Canada’s most prestigious conservatory. Upon graduating with honors, he attended the International Cabaret Conference at Yale University, Circle in the Square Theatre School and the Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop at Boston Conservatory. It was through these experiences that he solidified both his acting and singing techniques and sparked a love of teaching.
As a teacher, Andrew’s students have performed on and off Broadway, in national tours, regional productions and more. Many of his students have been accepted into acclaimed performing arts schools including Professional Performing Arts Middle School (PPAS) and LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts. He has created and led a summer theatre camp in Truro for the past 16 years. Andrew looks forward to working with the talented people in Chester!
Friends and family are welcome to join us for a showcase concert on the Friday, July 31 at 3pm.
Instructor: Andrew Morrisey
Date: July 27-31, 2026
9am-4pm (Drop off available after 8:30am, and pick up by 4:30pm).
Ages: 8-16
Registration Fee: $275* ($50 Non-refundable Deposit due upon registration. Balance due by July 6, 2026)
*HST is applicable for registrants over the age of 14.
Maximum registration is 20 participants, so don’t delay – click the button below and register today!
This class will be held on the Chester Playhouse stage. The Chester Playhouse is accessible by lift.
puss in boots theatre camp
Get ready for a week of feline fun!
Participants will rehearse and perform a high-energy adaptation of Puss in Boots, the classic French fairy tale by Charles Perrault. Throughout the week, campers will dive into the world of physical comedy, expressive character work, and stagecraft techniques as they bring this whiskers-to-riches story to life, culminating in a performance on the final day of camp.
Puss in Boots follows a clever and charismatic cat who—armed with nothing but a pair of fancy boots and a sharp wit—sets out to turn his humble master into a great Marquis! Along the way, we’ll meet a cast of colorful characters, including a confused King, a powerful Ogre, and a group of hardworking villagers. As Puss outsmarts every obstacle in his path, we discover that confidence, creativity, and a little bit of “cattiness” can lead to the grandest adventures of all.
Join us for this fast-paced, funny, and whiskers-twitching tale that proves even the smallest hero can leave big footprints!
Friends and family are welcome to join us for a showcase concert on the Friday, Aug 7 at 3pm.
Instructor: Liam Britten
Date: August 4-7, 2026 (Note: no class on Monday, Aug 3rd)
9am-4pm (Drop off available after 8:30am, and pick up by 4:30pm).
Ages: 6-8
Registration Fee: $225 ($50 Non-refundable Deposit due upon registration. Balance due by July 13, 2026)
Maximum registration is 14 participants, so don’t delay – click the button below and register today!
This class will be held on the Chester Playhouse stage. The Chester Playhouse is accessible by lift.
Making Movie Magic!
Lights! Camera! Fun!
In this one-week intensive, participants will learn to work on both sides of the camera.
Students will get hands-on experience working together to devise, write, produce, and perform in their very own collaborative short film.
Participants will work on their film from conception, learn about film genres, and will get to create their own chase scene.Throughout the week students will also receive workshops focused on the art department, sound design, and acting for the camera.
The short, original film will premiere on Sunday evening for families and friends to enjoy, on the Chester Playhouse big screen.
All participants and their families will receive a digital copy of their original film upon completion, to help them remember the skills they learned and fun they had!
Friends and family are welcome to join us for a special screening Sunday Aug 16, 7pm on the big screen in the Chester Playhouse Theatre!
Instructor: Liam Britten
Date: August 10-14, 2026
9am-4pm (Drop off available after 8:30am, and pick up by 4:30pm).
Ages: 10-16
Registration Fee: $275* ($50 Non-refundable Deposit due upon registration. Balance due by July 20, 2026)
*HST is applicable for registrants over the age of 14.
Maximum registration is 15 participants, so don’t delay – click the button below and register today!
This class will be held on the Chester Playhouse stage. The Chester Playhouse is accessible by lift.
broadway camp (august)
Do you love to sing, dance and act? Well, this is the camp for you!
We’ll learn songs, scenes and dances, play theatre games and learn and rehearse a show to be presented for family and friends on the final day. Laughing is encouraged! Come to have a blast and you just might discover some talent you didn’t know you had.
Our instructor, Andrew Morrisey, is an actor, singer and teacher based in New York City and originally from Truro, NS! Andrew enrolled in Sheridan College’s Music Theatre Performance program, largely considered Canada’s most prestigious conservatory. Upon graduating with honors, he attended the International Cabaret Conference at Yale University, Circle in the Square Theatre School and the Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop at Boston Conservatory. It was through these experiences that he solidified both his acting and singing techniques and sparked a love of teaching.
As a teacher, Andrew’s students have performed on and off Broadway, in national tours, regional productions and more. Many of his students have been accepted into acclaimed performing arts schools including Professional Performing Arts Middle School (PPAS) and LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts. He has created and led a summer theatre camp in Truro for the past 16 years. Andrew looks forward to working with the talented people in Chester!
Friends and family are welcome to join us for a showcase concert on the Friday, Aug 21 at 3pm.
Instructor: Andrew Morrisey
Date: August 17-21, 2026
9am-4pm (Drop off available after 8:30am, and pick up by 4:30pm).
Ages: 8-16
Registration Fee: $275* ($50 Non-refundable Deposit due upon registration. Balance due by July 27, 2026)
*HST is applicable for registrants over the age of 14.
Maximum registration is 20 participants, so don’t delay – click the button below and register today!
This class will be held on the Chester Playhouse stage. The Chester Playhouse is accessible by lift.
Meet Your instructiors
Liam Britten is a multi-instrumentalist based in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, where he runs his own music teaching studio. He works in various musical roles, including session musician, film composer, and music director. Passionate about arts education, Liam is committed to sharing his skills and love of the arts with the community through teaching.
He holds a diploma in Music Arts from Nova Scotia Community College. In addition to running his business, Liam also works as a youth educator with organizations such as the Chester Playhouse, South Shore Players, and the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival.Most recently Liam served as music director, arranger, and co-composer for the folk opera, A Song for Hephaestus, which premiered at the Chester Playhouse in the summer of 2024.
Andrew Morrissey is an actor, singer and teacher based in New York City and originally from Truro, NS! Andrew enrolled in Sheridan College’s Music Theatre Performance program, largely considered Canada’s most prestigious conservatory. Upon graduating with honors, he attended the International Cabaret Conference at Yale University, Circle in the Square Theatre School and the Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop at Boston Conservatory. It was through these experiences that he solidified both his acting and singing techniques and sparked a love of teaching.
Andrew has performed in plays, musicals and cabarets across North America. Recent performances include Peter in The Daerie Queen (winner of Best Play Manhattan Repertory Theatre), as well as a featured role in the Off-Broadway premiere of Dead Serious starring Thomas John (Lifetime’s Seatbelt Psychic), directed by Emmy Award winner Michelle Wendt. He starred as the genderqueer rock n’ roller Hedwig Robinson in the Canadian tour of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which earned him significant critical acclaim and an award for Best Musical at the BroadwayWorld awards in Toronto. An experienced cabaret artist, Andrew was recently directed by Tony Award winner Faith Prince. Currently, Andrew is performing a cabaret residency at 53 Above in Manhattan’s Theatre District.
As a teacher, Andrew’s students have performed on and off Broadway, in national tours, regional productions and more. Many of his students have been accepted into acclaimed performing arts schools including Professional Performing Arts Middle School (PPAS) and LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts. He has created and led a summer theatre camp in Truro for the past 16 years. Andrew looks forward to working with the talented people in Chester!
Donate to the theatre school
Our Youth Programs are an important part of the Chester Playhouse and, like everything we do, it depends on community support. Should you wish to make a designated donation to our Youth Programs, contact us at info@chesterplayhouse.ca. Donations can be made by credit card, debit, or cheque. A tax receipt will be provided for your donation.
Charitable Registration Number: 127727444RR0001