"Thank you to MTYP for everything it gave me as a child and a teenager; confidence, support, training, friends, mentors and that all-important creative outlet when I was still struggling to figure out who exactly I was. Here’s to MTYP—and may ten thousand shy and recalcitrant kids discover its joys.”
- Morag Wehrle, Former MTYP Theatre School Student, 2003

Why MTYP?

Tap into your creative potential and make the friends of a lifetime at Manitoba Theatre for Young People's Theatre School. Whether you're passionate about pursuing a life of acting, or just want to have fun putting on plays and making movies with your new friends, MTYP is the place for you! Here's why:

The Mainstage Connection
Seeing professional theatre for young people and learning to be an artist yourself is an unbeatable combination, found only at MTYP! Besides witnessing great theatre, MTYP students build acting skills, make friends and acheive onstage success performing in plays.

Adventure in Acting for Ages 3-19
From the Drama Explorers program for children ages 3-6 to the Shakespeare and Young Companies for teens, MTYP Theatre School offers courses designed for every age and skill level. Actor training begins with creative exercises and improvisation to build imagination and teamwork skills, and progresses towards rehearsing scripts and performing in plays, movies, and musicals.

On Stage: Class Performances and Student Companies
The thrill of performing is a big part of what makes our theatre program fun. Students in all classes have the opportunity to present their work to an audience. Young people age 9 and up are invited to audition for one of MTYP's student companies; The Junior Company, Musical Theatre Company, Shakespeare Company, and Young Company perform on stage with full costumes, props, lighting, and scenery. New this year, the Spring Performance Company will rehearse an amphitheatre show to perform outdoors in 2010.

On Screen: Film Courses
MTYP is a community leader in film education for young people. Our students have gone on to win video competitions and appear in acclaimed feature films. Acting for the camera and learning to make your own movies are the essential skills you'll learn in a series of film courses and camps offered the year round. Students in our classes receive a DVD copy of their work to keep.

Reaping the Benefits
Young people involved in theatre activities grow in confidence and social skills and develop their capacity to express themselves creatively. Many tell the story of how being involved in a theatre production was the best time they ever had:

"This experience in particular has been entirely positive - not just for our son but for the family as well. He showed us commitment, hard work, and passion - all qualities that we value. We watched him put everything he had into something he loves and you provided that outlet."
-Theatre School Parent

We invite you to come and experience that story for yourself.


Financial Assistance

MTYP also offers financial assistance to qualifying students in a number of ways: 

Scholarships
Through the generosity of donors to the MTYP Endowment Fund, we are able to offer several full scholarships to returning students who request financial assistance.  Scholarships will be awarded to candidates who have shown exceptional attendance and dedication to the art of theatre.  Scholarships are only available for courses in the Fall session.

Bursaries 
MTYP provides bursaries to students who would not otherwise be able to  participate in our classes.   Funds for the bursary program are provided by the RBC Foundation, the Peter D. Curry Memorial Fund, and TD Canada Trust.  Bursaries are available for all sessions.