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.
We are excited to share our Summer 2022 Youth Programs!
DATE: July 25-29 with a showcase at 3pm on July 29th
HOURS: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (1 hour lunch)
LOCATION: Chester Area Middle School
AGES: 7-9
COST: $225 per participant
Registration is open to 15 students.
Whether it be designing cardboard puppets and masks or creating memorable characters through play- the Upcycle workshop strives to offer an ample balance of hands-on activities and imaginative collaboration. Over the course of the week, participants will dive into found-object puppetry, physical theatre, and improvisation as they work towards creating, rehearsing, and performing a short show by the end of the week!
Logan Robins, Artistic Director of The Unnatural Disaster Theatre Company, is thrilled to offer this 5-day camp in theatre with an environmental conscience. Crafted specifically for young artists ages 7-9, this workshop will allow participants to collaborate on creating a short play using the theatrical technique of devising while learning about how to make environmentally sustainable art!
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Logan Robins (he/they) is an environmental theatre-maker, improviser, puppeteer, educator, musician, writer, designer, and creator of exhaustive lists- based in the Sipekne’katik region of Mi’kma’ki (colonially known as Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia). Logan is the co-founder and Artistic Director of The Unnatural Disaster Theatre Company, with whom they recently wrote/directed/produced the musical Hippoposthumousas a part of the 2021 Halifax Fringe Festival! Currently you can catch Logan performing as an actor/improviser in Outside the March’s production of The Ministry of Mundane Mysteries- an adventurous theatrical experience that takes place over the phone and working as a creative collaborator on Eastern Front Theatre’s immersive theatrical production Macro Originals: Connections! When not in the theatre you are most likely to find Logan on the front porch with a banjolele (it’s a glorious banjo + ukulele hybrid) or belly-down, wearing a headlamp, exploring a cave!
Sign up today for Upcycle and make a show from what you find around you!
DATE: August 1-5 with a showcase at 3pm on August 5th
HOURS: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (1 hour lunch)
LOCATION: Chester Area Middle School
AGES: 10-12
COST: $225 per participant
Registration is open to 15 students.
Do you love to sing, dance, and act? Want to tell a story all your own? Join us for a fun and exciting five-day camp, as we work together to create a song-filled show in: Let’s Make a Musical!
Heather McGuigan is a veteran musical theatre performer with 20 years of experience in over 50 professional productions across North America. Under Heathers instruction, campers will be writing and creating their own theatrical piece using their unique skills and talents. Daily movement music and acting exercises will foster the process and encourage each camper to reveal the artist within. Get ready for a week of creative, inventive, and explorative fun!
Heather will take her deep love for the theatre and create an experience that kids will never forget.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Heather McGuigan (she/her) is a professional actor based in Stratford, Ontario. Nova Scotia audiences may recognize her from Neptune Theatre’s productions of The Last Five Years (Cathy), Shrek The Musical (Fiona), and Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins). Other credits include Morality in April Fools (Segal Centre), Demeter in Mythic (Segal Centre), Christine Colgate in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (National Tour), Annette in Saturday Night Fever (National Tour), Swing/us Fantine in Les Miserables (Mirvish), Wanderlust (Stratford), The Women, My Fair Lady, The Admirable Crichton (Shaw Festival), and four seasons at The Charlottetown Festival as Josie Pye. Heather also launched Heather’s Garden Variety, an outdoor concert series in June of 2020 with over 100 concerts performed to date!
It’s time to ignite that creative spirit! Sign up today for Let’s Make a Musical!
DATE: July 18-22 with a showcase at 3pm on July 22nd
HOURS: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (1 hour lunch)
LOCATION: Chester Area Middle School
AGES: 13-18
COST: $225 per participant
Registration is open to 20 students.
Want to learn to think on your feet? Create jokes and stories on the fly? Work with others while building your confidence and solving challenges? If you’d like to have fun while learning these new skills, join us this July for Improv Camp by the Sea!
Improvisational Theatre (Improv) is fun, engaging and also builds confidence, and super useful life skills like thinking on your feet! This five-day camp for teens (13-18) will explore foundation theatre activities, team building, basic and advanced improvisational skills, different forms of long-form and short-form improvisation, and will culminate in an hour-long Improv show featuring the participants and the audience’s suggestions. (It may also involve a few audience members too!) Weather permitting some Street Theatre activities may also be explored during this workshop. Participants should come with an open mind and be willing to work with and collaborate with others.
Sign up today for Improv Camp by the Sea! No experience necessary!
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Improv Camp by the Sea! will be led by David Zinck. David Zinck (he/him) is a Dartmouth based Arts Educator who has been involved in Youth Theatre for the past 25 years. He has directed and produced several musicals and productions and coaches 5 High School Improv ensembles in Halifax during the school year. He has been involved in Improvisational Theatre since he was introduced to it at the Nova Scotia High School Drama Festival as a student. He has been coaching and teaching improv ever since!
Sign up today for Improv Camp by the Sea! and discover the power of simply saying “yes”.
Do you love live performance? Are you a “techie”? Want to learn how what makes a professional performance happen? We want to help you learn!
The Chester Playhouse invites applications from individuals (16 years+) with an interest in technical theatre (performance sound and lighting) to apply for our Tech Intern team!
Working alongside our Technical Director, a Tech Intern will be assisting with pre-performance set up, assisting with load-in/load-out and installation of equipment for all Playhouse presentations, as well as hands-on learning during performances and presentations.
In exchange, the individual will gain valuable experience and develop professional skills in the following areas:
Previous knowledge and experience in these areas are an asset, but are not a requirement. Most important is an interest in developing these skills!
For more information and how to register click the button below!
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) 275-3393 or youth@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.