Who We Are

Great Big Theatre Company is a non-profit organization and registered charity with thirty years of experience in the area of arts education. Our mandate is the promotion of drama education for young people and the development of drama programs and productions for audiences of families and children.

GBTC is local and community-based. Our instructors have a background in acting, drama, and the arts and are experienced and qualified in working with children; all have been trained in our curriculum and its implementation. We select instructors also based on their outstanding personal qualities: inspiration, enthusiasm, creativity and organizational skills.

We place a high priority on student safety; all our staff and instructors are police-checked. All staff are required to adhere to our defined safety policies.

We provide an enriching, supportive and cooperative environment for our students so as to foster inclusiveness, respect, responsibility, and creativity.

GBTC works extensively with volunteers to develop community participation and local skills. Hundreds of volunteers and co-op students have assisted with our Summer Camps program over the years.

We also make subsidies available to families, so that, as much as possible, no child will be prevented from attending due to financial circumstances. Each year, we provide up to 75 subsidized camperships to families in need of assistance.

GBTC gratefully acknowledges the support we receive from the Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund, Hamilton Community Foundation, Guelph Community Foundation, Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation and Cambridge-North Dumfries Community Foundation, which helps to make these subsidies possible.

GBTC is a registered federal charitable organization and is also registered as a non-profit organization in Ontario. Contributions, donations of materials, and volunteer involvement are always welcome. We also accept donations to our Camp Fund from the general public; please see the Donate Now link on our home page. Tax receipts will be issued for all amounts $ 25 and more.

All GBTC programs are coordinated locally under the supervision of our regional office. We take pride in the many cohorts of students who have moved on from our programs to use their skills, and the confidence acquired with us, in successful and advanced careers in many areas of adult life, including acting and the arts.

We take our responsibility to students and parents very seriously and encourage effective ongoing communication. If you have questions, please contact us on our toll-free number, at +1-866-864-4282 You can review our Privacy Policy here

Artistic Director

Lily Small has been the Artistic Director of GBTC since its founding. Born in Montreal and a graduate of McGill University, Lily has been involved in arts education and practice since the 1970s, working in music, movement, theatre and media, with adults and with young people of all ages.