Bard Youth Fest
A journey of creativity and discovery providing young people with an opportunity to make Shakespeare their own.
Participants will:
- collaborate with other young people to interpret excerpts from Shakespeare and create their own piece
- receive mentorship from a professional teaching artist in workshops and rehearsals
- share their piece in a professional theatre with other Troupes at the Bard Youth Fest Finale.
This multi-week program celebrates the infinite ways young people play, think about, and perform Shakespeare. Thanks to the generosity of our funders, the Pamela and David Richardson Family Foundation, participation is FREE.
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The students enjoyed creating and performing their own story with the guidance of the Bard actor. My students were so pumped after their performance. It made all the work worth it! – Troupe Champion
Program Details
BEFORE YOU SIGN UP:
Please read the BARD YOUTH FEST OVERVIEW (Spring 2025). Here you’ll find a timeline with specific dates and outlines the expectations for folks forming or joining a Troupe.
Whether your troupe is based in a school or you’re an individual applying for our “Indie Troupe”, please complete the form below.
If you are an individual and you’d like to join, please consider encouraging friends to apply with you as it will increase the likelihood of our being able to form an “Indie Troupe” (or Troupe of Individuals). The Indie Troupe rehearses weekly at our BMO Theatre Centre studios.
Troupes may also be formed through schools or community programs. If you are an adult or young person wanting to form your own Troupe, please contact Education Manager, Katie Johnstone, for details.
Sign-Up
We are now accepting applications for Spring 2025! Let us know you’re interested by completing the form below.
The deadline for school troupes to apply is Monday, November 25 at 11:59pm.
The deadline for individuals applying for the “Indie Troupe” is Monday, January 27 at 11:59pm.
FAQs
What is Bard Youth Fest?
A community of young people and educators who come together to celebrate different ways to think about and perform Shakespeare. It is a journey of creativity and discovery, an opportunity for young people to make Shakespeare their own. See Program Overview for timeline and details for Spring 2025.
What’s a Troupe Mentor?
A teacher, other staff member, or any dedicated adult who acts as an advisor to the Troupe, and liaison with your Bard Coach and the Bard Education team. The Troupe Mentor can take a directing role, or support their Troupe of young performers in directing the Shakespeare piece themselves.
What’s a Bard Youth Fest Troupe?
A group of young people, supported by a Troupe Mentor and a Bard Coach, who meet to create their own interpretation of a Shakespeare piece to share at the Bard Youth Fest event. We welcome everyone; no matter their experience with Shakespeare and performance. Bard Youth Fest will be an inclusive journey that empowers young people of all needs and abilities to make Shakespeare their own, and celebrate their creativity.
What’s a Bard Coach?
A professional theatre artist contracted by Bard Education who will guide and collaborate with your Troupe. They will come to your space (school, community centre, etc.) once or twice weekly to facilitate regular rehearsals.
What will your Bard Youth Fest Troupe perform?
Working towards your Bard Youth Fest performance will be a student-led journey, inspired and driven by their own passions, talents, and interests. We can provide schools with abridged scripts of Shakespeare plays (approx. 30 mins) which you can work with as you please. Your Troupe may choose to perform the whole thing, or to focus in on selected scenes and speeches. It may be an ensemble piece with movement and music which incorporates language from the play. It is up to you and your Troupe to get creative!
Our suggestions:
Become the set. We won’t have capacity for Troupes to bring their own set pieces, but you can use your bodies to create settings, or props to indicate location and character (consider keeping things lightweight and easy to transport)
Keep it simple. Focus on exploring the text and enjoying the creative journey. Your Troupe’s performance should be centre stage; no need to spend time and money finding costumes. Use what the actors have, or choose something easy to source.
Create the mood. Use performance techniques, space, and language to transport your audience – we won’t have a lighting and tech crew to do that for you!
Discover your talents. Do you have students who play instruments? Who love telling jokes? Your Shakespearean performance will come together beautifully if the performers are engaged and take creative ownership. Remember: this is all about young people making Shakespeare their own! There is no right or wrong way to do it.
Keep it short and sweet. Remember there are other Bard Youth Fest Troupes with work to show, so performances can run for up to 30 mins. You do not need to use all of that time and are welcome to prepare something much shorter.