Learning, Laughing and Building Confidence Through Theatre
A memorable experience for kids ages 6 - 16.
Youth Theatre Summer Camps
Budding Actors (6-7) - Opens Saturday, March 7 @ 10:00am
Centre Stage (8-11) - Opens Sunday, March 8 @ 10:00am
Future Stars (11-13) - Opens Sunday, March 8 @ 4:00pm
Name in Lights (13-16) - Opens Sunday, March 8 @ 4:00pm
Funny Bone Comedy & Improv (11-16) - Opens Sunday, March 8 @ 4:00pm
Information you will need to register:
Camper name, date of birth, gender
Parent/Guardian contact info
2 x Emergency Contact name, phone, email
Health card number, doctor, allergies, other health issues
Previous experience in the dramatic arts
Campers will learn about acting, scene study, blocking, basic improvisation, vocal projection, and character development . Our talented instructors guide young people through the entire process of mounting a production, beginning with the audition through to the final bows.
Campers’ days are packed with fun, games and theatre and music activities chosen to focus and teach stage skills needed for stage performance as well as everyday life. Each week will be tailored to the age and experience of the students.
The camps offer flexibility. We offer 2 camps that run for 2 weeks. The two week camps allow the students to focus on stage craft and scene study and polishing performance skills as they have a performance on the 10th day. The two-week camps will also have activities for musical theatre.
The Budding Actors camps are all one week camps as the focus is on fun theatre games and building confidence culminating in a final showcase. The single week camps will also have a final play which will culminate in a dress rehearsal performance on day 5.
Campers may take as many ONE week sessions as they please as they work on different plays. We are also running a stand up comedy camp, Funny Bone Comedy, with a professional comedy coach.
Think about your child’s comfort level. An 11 or 13 year old might work well with the younger group if inexperienced and shy, but fit in with the older group if outgoing and with a great deal of stage experience.
Please contact Jack Boyagian if you have any questions regarding placement.
Camps run from 9am to 4pm at the Firehall Theatre, Cobourg.
Camp Schedule
| Budding Actors Ages 6 - 7 13 camper max |
Centre Stage |
Future Stars |
Name in Lights |
Funny Bone Comedy |
|
| July 6 - 10 | BA1 | CS1; 2 week camp | |||
| July 13 - 17 | FS1 | ||||
| July 20 - 24 | BA2 | NL1 | |||
| July 27 - 31 | CS2 | FS2; 2 week camp | FB1 | ||
| August 3 - 7 | BA3 | ||||
| August 10 - 14 | CS3 | NL2 | |||
| August 17 - 21 | CS4 | FS3 |
Budding Actors
Ages 6 - 7
9:00am - 4:00pm
Firehall Theatre
$250 for 1 session, $475 for 2 sessions, $700 for 3 sessions
This program focusses on movement through music and acting through improvisation and theatre games. Art activities related to theatre will be incorporated into the day.
A showcase will be performed for family and friends on stage on Friday at the Firehall Theatre.
Centre Stage
Ages 8 - 11*
*Appropriate for an 11-year old with little experience
9:00am - 4:00pm
Firehall Theatre
CS1: $500 for 2-week camp
Similar to the one week program but offers more in depth study of character development. Sessions will hone in on acting skills specifically needed to shape a character. Guest instructors including a music instructor who will provide a few vocal music lessons. A play will be performed at the end of week 2.
CS2/CS3: $250 for 1 session, $475 for 2 sessions
The program teaches acting through improvisation, games and scene study. Students will study scripts and various techniques to develop character. They will learn stage terminology. Students will be expressed to the audition process and develop the skills needed to apply stage direction. Students will present a showcase on the Friday.
Future Stars
Ages 11 - 13
9:00am - 4:00pm
Firehall Theatre
FS2: $500 for 2-week camp
Similar to the one week camp but focusses on the further development of character and stagecraft. The extra time allows students to develop a polished play and apply acting skills in greater depth. Guest instructors including a music instructor who will provide a few vocal music lessons. A play will be performed at the end of week 2.
FS1/FS3: $250 for 1 session, $475 for 2 sessions
Campers will further develop acting skills as they build on previous experiences. Great focus will be placed on scene study and character development in comedy and dramatic scenes. Students will develop auditioning skills, connecting with characters in a scene and develop a further understanding of subtext in scenes to further develop character. Students will perform a play in progress at the end of the week.
Name in Lights
Ages 13* - 16
*Appropriate for a 13 year old with advanced skills and confidence.
9:00am - 4:00pm
Firehall Theatre
$250 for 1 session, $475 for 2 sessions
These sessions are particularly valuable to students interested in pursuing more theatre classes in the future. It is highly recommended for students taking secondary drama courses.
The sessions are full of very focused improv activities and scene study activities to further develop acting skills. Students will study, movement, vocal projection and scene study in both comedy and dramatic scripts.
A show case performance will be performed at the end of the week. Students may take both the courses as they will perform different plays.
Funny Bone Comedy & Improv
Ages 11 - 15
9:00am - 4:00pm
Firehall Theatre
$250 for 1 session, $475 if done with another 1 week camp
Do you have a funny child or a child who could use more laughter?
This camp is for anyone who loves to laugh. It will focus on stand up comedy and improvisation. It is taught by professional comedian and comedy coach, Christel Bartelse.
The camp will help campers develop comedic skills through learning to write comedy and learning comic timing. The camp will include improv games and will culminate in a stand up routine and show case for parents on the Friday.
Camp Staff
We are in the process of hiring camp staff. Our staff are typically university students in music, drama or pursuing a teaching profession. They have qualifications and experience in theatre and or music.
This year our professional comedy coach is Christel Bartelse. Jack Boyagian is the Curriculum coordinator, Fran Martin is the Summer Camp Administrator, Victor Svenningson is the Health and Safety lead and Leslee Argue is the Human Resource Lead.
Health & Safety
The Northumberland Players have medical grade air scrubbers in every studio.
Provincial protocols and safety practices will be followed for the combination of indoor and outdoor activities.
The studios are air-conditioned.
If parents want a tour of the facility please contact the office.
Registration Information
- Please fill out the application form in detail. It is important for our staff to know your child. Health information, including mental health, are critical for our preparation.
- Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Your spot is not confirmed until payment is received and you have received a confirmation email from us.
- Payment instructions are included in the checkout process.
- Camps fill very quickly. Last year 12 of 14 camps were sold out.
Cancellation Policy
- If for any reason the the camps are cancelled before the camps start a full refund will be given.
- If a camp is cancelled part way through the camp a refund for the days not attended will be given.
- If you cancel less than 14 days before the start of your session we will not provide a refund unless we fill the spot from a waiting list. A full refund less a $40 admin fee will be given if the spot is filled with a camper on a waiting list.
- If you cancel after payment but more than 14 days before the start of your session, you will receive a refund less a $40 admin fee.
Illness During Camp
- Health issues during camp will be dealt with on an individual basis.
Camp Instructors
Bria Chalovich
Bria has just completed her third year in the Concurrent Education program at Queen’s University. She is majoring in drama in addition to her teaching degree. Bria lives in Cobourg and is a graduate of Trinity College School in Port Hope. She has a passion for theatre, with experience performing, directing and working backstage in plays and musicals with Queen’s University student theatre groups, La Jeunesse Choirs, Trinity College School, and more. Bria is also a singer, pianist and trumpet player, with experience singing and playing in many choirs and musical ensembles throughout her life. She has been with Northumberland Players Theatre Camp for the past four years as a mentor and counsellor, and is thrilled to be returning this summer!
Christel Bartelse
Christel Bartelse is a multifaceted performer whose work spans acting, comedy, storytelling, clown, directing, writing, and education. She began her career in comedy and improv as one half of the acclaimed physical comedy duo The Burnt Marshmallows (Canadian Comedy Award Nominees), and has since collaborated with a wide range of artists to create bold and original independent work.
She is mostly known for having created and written several solo shows, including Chaotica, ONEymoon, All KIDding Aside and most recently A Woman of my Age and she has toured extensively across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. earning her a reputation as a dynamic and inventive solo artist.
A fixture in the Toronto comedy scene, she is regularly seen on stage performing character work, physical comedy, stand-up, and storytelling. She was the co-producer and co-host of the hit storytelling show "But That's Another Story", and currently produces and hosts "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" where veteran actors and comedians present material on the theme of Age. In addition to her performance work, she is a passionate educator, leading workshops in improv, physical theatre/clown, and solo performance across Toronto. She has also taught kids for years, in schools and with organizations "Laugh More, Worry Less" and "Thrive Youth"
As a Director she has worked on several shows across various institutions but most recently directed 12 Angry Jurors (Toronto Film School) The Ensemble for Toronto Fringe and their remount at The Second City Toronto and had the pleasure of directing "The Marvelous Museum of Munsch" for George Brown Theatre Program in 2025.
She is thrilled to be back at camp gain this year working with a talented group of young artists.
Gloria Digby
Gloria is a performer, choreographer, and educator originally from Napanee, Ontario! She started performing at a young age, both in theatre plays and singing at a variety of events. Gloria went on to study Music Theatre at St. Lawrence College/Queen’s University, and recently completed a degree in Education. Throughout her life she has worked with multiple theatre companies both on stage and behind the scenes. Gloria aims to create a fun, supportive environment where students can build confidence, grow their skills, and discover their love for the performing arts!
Mackenzie Smith
Mackenzie Smith is a passionate and driven musician from Cobourg. She currently attends Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, where she is currently a fourth year performance major studying under Leslie Fagan. She has always had a strong love for the arts, participating in many musicals and recitals with ensembles and solo. Mackenzie has attended many young artist programs, including Opera NUOVA’s Ten Day Intensive and Wilfrid Laurier’s Voice Lab. She starred in her first opera this year with Opera Laurier, playing Nurse Christina in Stephanie Martin’s contemporary opera “The Llandovery Castle.” After her undergrad, Mackenzie plans to receive her Opera Diploma from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Makenna Beatty
Makenna is a second year Concurrent Education student at Queens University with a Major in Psychology and Minor in Drama. Ever since she was 6 she had an intense passion and devotion to the performing arts. This lead her to engage in acting for film and stage both professionally and within her community. Most recently, she has won awards for her performance as Emmy in Northumberland Players production of A Dolls House Part 2 and she just finished starring in a professional short film. The performing arts have helped shape who she is today and she hopes to share all they have taught her with the kids!
Malcolm Jack
Malcolm is an aspiring actor and a recent graduate of the Performance Acting Program at Toronto Metropolitan University. He is deeply passionate about the positive impact that theatre and storytelling can have on communities, audiences, and the performers themselves. His experience attending the Players drama camp and his time spent in local community theatre productions have helped develop a lifelong love of drama. He is deeply grateful for the opportunity to combine his passion for working with youth and his love of the arts.
Theodora Mollicone
Theo is entering her second year of the Teacher Education program at Trent University, where she is working toward their goal of becoming a high school theatre teacher. With eight years of experience in children’s theatre in the Niagara region, and a brief summer of Clowning professionally, Theo has developed a strong passion for arts education, creativity, and youth engagement.
Throughout their theatre journey, Theo has explored a variety of roles both on and off stage, with a particular focus on stage management, production, props, and technical theatre. She is excited to bring her enthusiasm for theatre, storytelling, and mentorship and looks forward to helping campers build confidence, creativity, and lasting memories through the performing arts.