Skip to content Skip to footer
🟢 Springer & Firehall Box Offices OPEN today: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Menu Close
Close
Buy Tickets
Cart
Account
Menu Close
Close
Buy Tickets
Cart
Account

Young Company

Get out of the classroom and into the Theatre.

Our Young Company Theatre Production Program (YOCO Program) is an experiential learning program for secondary school students in Gananoque and the surrounding area that takes place on-site at the Thousand Islands Playhouse. This is a full-semester, for-credit program in partnership with local school boards that takes place during the Fall Semester.

Young Company. Photo by Seanna Kennedy.

To eliminate financial barriers to access, the Playhouse undertakes an expansive fundraising campaign each year to fund the Young Company and enable students to participate at no cost to themselves or their families.

Young Company. Photo by Seanna Kennedy.

About the Program

Young Company. Photo by Seanna Kennedy.

Program Focus

The program enables students to experience learning outside of the classroom under the mentorship of working theatre professionals in the areas of:

    • Carpentry
    • Costuming
    • Performance
    • Scenic painting
    • Prop creation
    • Technical theatre (sound and lighting)
    • Stage management

Semester Breakdown

Students begin their semester learning about each of the theatre disciplines. From there, students select an area of focus and collaborate with other students and professional mentors to design and build a theatrical production which is performed in the Firehall Theatre.

In 2025, YOCO put on two community performances, and nine student performances for more than 1200 elementary school children from Leeds and Grenville and the Kingston area.

In addition to in-class learning, students also attend professional theatre productions from the Playhouse and and theatres around Ontario including the Shaw and Stratford Festivals. 

At the end of their semester, YOCO students design, plan and teach their own theatre workshops for elementary school students.

Young Company. Photo by Seanna Kennedy.

Why YOCO?

The program helps to:

  • Build confidence
  • Encourage teamwork and communication
  • Learn practical and applicable skills in skilled trades, arts and culture, and tourism
  • Create community and a sense of belonging
  • Foster life-long learning

what the parents are saying

Let’s hear it for YOCO!

“My son went from being nervous to answer/ask questions in front of his peers to being 100% comfortable sharing about his work in the program with an audience full of strangers. He was able to utilize his creativity to create props for the performance and be proud of his work. A wonderful confidence building experience!”
YOCO Parent
“This program is run to a higher standard than other theater programming. I was impressed with how polished and professional the final results were.”
YOCO Parent
“My daughter has grown in confidence, ability, sense of direction post secondary and gained so much from the program, including new friend connections. This helped her grow as an artist and develop a better understanding of dream versus reality. She is excited to pursue theatre!”
YOCO Parent
“I believe this is one of the most positive experiences to be had in secondary school. This program builds character and will have long lasting positive effects on the students. They have learned to step outside their box, try new things and work with all types of people. This program helps to prepare students for the work force, where they will have to collaborate, resolve problems (personal and work related) and communicate with people that they have never met or don't know well.”
YOCO Parent
“I looked forward to school for once…The whole program is like a safe space, I have never been more myself at school. I came back an extra year just for this program.”
YOCO Parent
“I liked the workshops, exploring all the different departments. I really enjoyed that it felt like a professional experience and show.”
YOCO Parent
“I learned a lot of new things and had a really great time! I also found that working in a theatre is very cool and gives me a strong sense of accomplishment. I didn't expect to feel so sad when we were taking the stage apart. This is a wonderful program”
YOCO Parent

Interested in more information?

For more information on the program or performance dates for schools, please email: Allison Hess, Education & Engagement Manager at: [email protected]

The Young Company is supported by The United Way of Leeds & Grenville and The Davies Charitable Foundation.

Young Company. Photo by Seanna Kennedy.