What our students say
淚 always have support
Violet (Acting stream, 4th year)
The professors and guest directors are incredible they檙e here to nurture you, to challenge you, and to help you succeed. I know I檒l always have their support, even after I graduate. I檝e also loved connecting with people at all levels classmates who are just starting out, upper-year students who mentor us, and industry professionals who come in to work with us. Those relationships have been one of the most rewarding parts of my time here.
淥ne of the best things about being in this program is that it檚 opened real doors for me. I know a lot of people and their parents worry about how you檒l ever make a living in theatre, but this experience has shown me there檚 a path. Casting directors come here looking specifically for us, and through guest directors I檝e made connections in places like Toronto. I didn檛 know what a career in theatre would look like when I started, but now I do and I檓 already getting professional work.
Violet performing in A Winter檚 Tale
淭he amount you learn here is incredible
George (Technical Theatre Production, 3rd year)
淏eing here has exceeded every expectation I had. I was nervous coming here but they meet you where you檙e at, whatever your skill level, and the amount you learn here is incredible. I was terrified of stage management when I started, and now I檓 stage managing twenty people in 楥aucasian Chalk Circle! What I love about it is the organization you get to see every moving part of a production from start to finish, from auditions to calling the final cue.
Last year I worked as a carpenter, which I never thought I檇 enjoy, and this year I檓 the student assistant in the carpentry shop. I檝e also been a sound board operator, helping with sound design and running cues through shows. Every role has taught me something new about how theatre works.
淚t檚 what I want to do with my life
Marty (Acting stream, 2nd year)
淚 never really knew what I wanted to do after high school, but I joined my school檚 drama club and we did a few plays and I just fell in love with theatre. When it came time to look for a school, I knew I didn檛 want to do English or anything else. I saw that theatre was an option and thought, yeah, that檚 it I檓 good at that, and it檚 what I want to do with my life.
I didn檛 really know what to expect when I first showed up, but once I got into the classes and the rhythm of it all, it was more than I ever could have imagined. Honestly, it檚 been life-altering so much fun, and I檓 still loving every minute of it.
Marty rehearsing a play
淚 can hold my own
Matt (BFA Theatre and BA English joint degree, 5th year)
淚 really enjoyed how the program opened me up as an artist and performer, and how many opportunities came from being in it. I often got cast in comic roles, which taught me a lot about timing and even gave me chances to improvise, but I also did dramatic parts. Even if you檙e steered one way, you檙e still learning skills that help you in the other direction both comedy and drama feed into each other.
淭his program really taught me how to embrace myself and get bolder with every performance. I started out very socially anxious, and I still am, but now I can hold my own in a way I couldn檛 before. Theatre really does help with anxiety it pushes you to grow in ways that stay with you.
Matt in a performance of The Seagull