Now in its 49th season, Theatre Direct was founded by David S. Craig, in 1976 and continues to create, produce and disseminate innovative work for, with and by young people.

Theatre Direct has received numerous Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations and awards, 10 Chalmers Canadian Play Awards as well as the Canada Council Theatre for Young Audiences Prize.

Starting in 2011, Theatre Direct initiated research, development and creation projects for children in their early years and in 2014, Theatre Direct launched WeeFestival, a children’s festival dedicated to early years which has since become an annual event operating as its own incorporated entity under the Artistic Direction of Lynda Hill.

In January 2019, Lisa Marie DiLiberto was appointed Theatre Direct’s new Executive Artistic Director. During her tenure the company has launched the Creation Warehouse – offering opportunities for children to train and perform, Next Draft – a theatre creation program for teenagers, and Balancing Act – a national initiative that aims to create increased accessibility for caregivers in the performing arts. The company continues to innovate through site-specific, participatory work. 

Highlights include:

• Wishes in the Wind – a soulful parade capturing the struggles and resilience of children involving over 100 children in our community, commissioned by the National Arts Centre of Canada.

• Finding Home: A Salmon Journey Upstream – created by Animacy Theatre Collective at Harbourfront Centre’s Junior Festival, and recipient of the Dora Award for Outstanding New Play.

• Forward March – an annual festival that has commissioned and produced 18 new site-specific participatory plays by emerging artist companies between 2020 – 2024. 

• Guardians of the Gods – an upcoming international collaboration with 11 Theatre for Young Audience companies worldwide led by Unga Klara, Sweden’s National Theatre for Young Audiences. 

• Over 3M in support from Women and Gender Equality Canada for Theatre Direct’s initiative, Balancing Act, now expanding into visual arts, music and screen-based industries as well as performing arts.

This season, Theatre Direct is busy working on a slate of new site-specific productions and an interactive exhibition of our history as we prepare for our milestone 50th anniversary season in 2026/27.