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The Trusted Source for Families since 1998
Camps in your neighbourhood and online too ! Founded in 1994. Our experienced, caring staff will introduce your kids to stage performance & guide them toward self-expression. Plays, monologues, mime, improvisation, theatre games, musical theatre, stagecraft. Weekly performances! Fun for all -- a great confidence-and-skill-building experience! One-week sessions, 30 locations
GBTC has over 30 years experience providing drama programs for kids. We focus on acting and drama as a way to develop, not only creativity, but also social and personal skills. We aim to create an environment that is supportive and non-competitive, in which every child has a rewarding and enriching experience. Creating theatre is a cooperative enterprise, to which everyone can contribute, and through which everyone can grow. Our end-of-week performances are different each week, and provide the opportunity to share the camp experience with family and friends !
Great Big Theatre Company currently has 5 programs available; 6 TBD.
Filter by activities .
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Ages: 6 - 14
Day Camp
(Coed)
Theatre Arts
$236 to $360 Choose location above to view sessions and fees. |
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Ages: 6 - 8
Class/league/program
(Coed)
Theatre Arts
$185 to $225 Choose location above to view sessions and fees. |
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Ages: 9 - 14
Class/league/program
(Coed)
Theatre Arts
$280 to $340 Choose location above to view sessions and fees. |
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Ages: 6 - 8
Class/league/program
(Coed)
Theatre Arts
$185 to $225 Choose location above to view sessions and fees. |
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Ages: 9 - 14
Class/league/program
(Coed)
Theatre Arts
$280 to $340 Choose location above to view sessions and fees. |
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Ages: 6 - 14
Day Camp
(Coed)
Theatre Arts
$195 to $260 Choose location above to view sessions and fees. |
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Ages: 6 - 8
Class/league/program
(Coed)
Theatre Arts
$185 to $225 Choose location above to view sessions and fees. |
|
Ages: 9 - 14
Class/league/program
(Coed)
Theatre Arts
$280 to $340 Choose location above to view sessions and fees. |
|
Ages: 9 - 14
Class/league/program
(Coed)
Theatre Arts
$280 to $340 Choose location above to view sessions and fees. |
|
Ages: 6 - 8
Class/league/program
(Coed)
Theatre Arts
$185 to $225 Choose location above to view sessions and fees. |
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Choose location above to view sessions and fees. |
The best way to register is online on our Web site, at www.gbtc.com, where you can find detailed information on schedules and locations. Registraton is easy and secure through our online process; you can pay with credit card and receive your receipt immediately. We are always available to answer questions; the quickest way to reach us is at 1 866 864 4282 (toll-free), or at 905 628 9747. Summer registration opens in November of the preceding year; early registration discounts are available March 31, and our largest discounts are in effect until Dec 31. There are also multiple-week discounts of 20 % for second and additional weeks, for the same camper. You can find answers to many more questions at https://gbtc.com/gbtc-q-and-a.php
Payment Options:
| Deposit required with acceptance | Yes |
| Credit card payment | Yes |
| Maximum installments available | 1 |
Discounts
| Discount if paid early | $60 |
Scholarships & awards:
Total annual scholarship fund: $6,000 CAD
Low-Income
| Amount: $125 | Deadline: August 19, 2023 annually |
Get a range of perspectives to understand the day-to-day experience, the program quality, and the skills and personal growth kids gain. Star ratings are calculated from verified written reviews only.
Transcript of our interview with Lily, Great Big Theatre Company: Director Interview
We've been around almost 30 years. This is our 29th year as a non-profit charity. Our programs and camps are catered to children ages 6 to 14 years old and run as full-day programs.
Each week is packed with creative activities like playwriting, acting, singing, dancing, choreography, theatre games, improv, poetry, rhythm, and arts and crafts. There’s always something new to try, and kids have a lot of fun while building confidence and meeting new friends.
The camp atmosphere is relaxed and supportive. Every Friday, we invite families to a casual performance where kids share what they've worked.
Every child is successful. Our philosophy is that every child has potential, and it’s our job to nurture it. We keep our camper-to-counselor ratio low so each child gets plenty of attention and support. Whether they’re brand new to theatre arts or already experienced, we meet them where they are and help them express themselves.
Kids are given clear frameworks and gentle structure to guide their creativity while still allowing for improvisation and freedom. Many campers return year after year because they feel seen, supported, and empowered to express who they are.
We do follow a general agenda, but within that, our teachers and counselors have room to adapt. Every group of kids is different, and each camp session takes on its own dynamic.
We always provide strong frameworks for activities, giving kids the structure they need to feel confident while still allowing for creativity. Within that framework, the kids build dramatic scenes of their own.
The same approach applies to movement. We often call it "movement choreography" instead of dance, because some kids might feel intimidated by the word “dance.” But every child can move in some way, and we design choreography that’s collaborative and accessible to all.
Working together with the staff, the kids co-create performances and scenes that are meaningful, expressive, and fun, within supportive boundaries that help them thrive.
Children between the ages of 6 are all shaped by their experiences, upbringing, and personalities. We train the teachers in certain behavior patterns and prepare them to respond to it with empathy and compassion above all.
Usually when a child acts up, it's because they need attention of some sort. Our goal is to give them the right kind of attention, whether that means addressing a physical discomfort, emotional upset, or even a creative conflict within a group activity. We prepare our staff with scenario-based training to help them respond effectively and supportively.
We also ask parents, at the time of registration, to let us know if there are any specific needs or challenges their child might have. This helps us determine whether we can provide the right environment and level of support. In most cases, we’ll spend the first day and a half observing and getting to know the child. By Tuesday morning, we’ll usually have a clear sense of whether it’s a good fit. If not, we speak with the parents and explore options, which can include having them sit in with their child if needed.
Every situation is different, but we always aim to respond with kindness, understanding, and honesty within the limits of our training and resources.
We welcome a wide range of campers, each with their own background, personality, and goals. Some arrive with big dreams of becoming professional actors and others are incredibly shy and just starting to explore the idea of creative expression. Our role is to meet them where they are and help them grow from there.
For many kids, friendship is a top priority. We work hard to create an environment where making friends feels natural and easy. In our improvisation sessions, for example, we regularly rotate groupings so that campers get a chance to collaborate with different peers throughout the day. This not only helps them make new friends but also teaches them to adapt to a variety of personalities and group dynamics.
We know that each child, and each family, has different reasons for choosing our camp. We know that every child—and every family—has different reasons for choosing our camp. Some parents want their child introduced to the arts. Others just want a week of engaging, creative fun in a supportive environment. Whatever the reason, we do our best to adapt and make the experience rewarding for every camper.
Welcome. We're all starting in the news position - meeting new people, making new friends, and stepping into something unfamiliar. But you won’t be alone.
Our camp is built on safety and kindness. The most important thing is clear communication—between you and your counselors, your fellow campers, and among the staff. We believe that honesty and openness help build strong friendships and make sure everyone feels heard and supported.
It's our 27th year ! We look forward to welcoming back campers to our in-person camp programs all across Toronto, the GTA and southwest Ontario. Our goal is to build skills and confidence, create special camp memories, and ensure that each of our campers has an inspiring and enriching camp week. We will also be continuing our popular and well-received online virtual camps ... we promise an involving and engaging camp experience, and kids can join into it from anywhere !
See you in the summer !
We take great pride in our enthusiastic, professional and inspirational camp counsellors. Our staff is almost entirely college or university level, or recent graduates; we look for backgrounds in arts, drama and education and experience working with children, as well as qualities of leadership and organization. All are reference-checked and police-checked, and have also been trained to work with our agenda, materials and resources.
Is Great Big Theatre Company technology free? Yes. Campers are not permitted to use cell phones, Ipads, Iphones, Ipods and similar electronics at the camp. The use of these devices is a distraction, it inhibits interaction with staff and other campers, and it is damaging to the camp environment as a whole. We strongly suggest that electronics be left at home. There is always a camp cell phone that can be used in the event of an emergency. Parents can also be put in contact with any of the camp locations, where needed, by calling our toll-free number. If electronic devices are brought to the camp, staff will ask that they be left at the camp table at the entrance; they will be returned at the end of the day.
Offers children's birthday party packages: Yes
Acting and Drama Parties featuring theatre games, role-playing, storytelling, costumes and improvisation. Call us for information, at 1 866 864 4282
December 21, 2024
Great Big Theatre Company: largest discounts camps until December 31
Great Big Theatre Company offers summer camps across the region. The largest discounts on summer camps are available until Dec 31 only.... Read More
December 2, 2024
Here's where you can find answers to all your drama camp questions!
Great Big Theatre Company has a new Q & A page to provide answers to more than 50 of the questions most commonly asked by parents.... Read More
March 21, 2024
Great Big Theatre Company: discounts on summer camps until March 31
Great Big Theatre Company: discount on summer camps until March 31; GBTC offers camps all across Toronto, the GTA and southwest Ontario... Read More
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Our Kids: The Trusted Source for Families since 1998. |
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