Kaleidoscope Theatre
Kaleidoscope Theatre is Vancouver Island’s resident professional theatre company and theatre school for young audiences, under the Artistic Direction of Roderick Glanville.
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About
A charitable, not-for-profit organization established in 1974, Kaleidoscope has created and produced more than one-hundred original plays / original adaptations for young audiences. Over the past 40 years, Kaleidoscope has delighted the imaginations of children in British Columbia, throughout Canada, and around the world including international tours to Japan, Brunei, Israel, and the United States.
Kaleidoscope Theatre provides professional theatre experience for young audiences and their families. Under the vision of Artistic Director Roderick Glanville, Kaleidoscope Theatre presents: a mainstage season of plays relevant to the BC School Curriculum; a year-round theatre school for young people ages 6 to 17 years; a Young Playwrights Blitz for aspiring playwrights with award winning playwrights; a Family Theatre Festival that presents original productions; as well as numerous camps and workshops for all ages.
Kaleidoscope continues to pursue cost-effective venue alternatives to reach broader audiences at an affordable price. Kaleidoscope has spreading their roots into the greater community to expand and vary their programming offered to young people. Examples include performances outdoors at Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites of Canada, Berwick House Theatre, University Centre Farquhar Auditorium, The Atrium, and Uptown. By providing unique, and ever changing programming and theatre experiences for young people, Kaleidoscope has positioned itself as a pillar and key player in the vibrant arts community on Vancouver Island.
Originally established as a school touring company in British Columbia, Kaleidoscope has grown to become Vancouver Islands’ resident professional theatre company for young audiences. Founded in 1974 by Paul Littich and Barbara McLaughlin, the company continues to gain popularity and critical acclaim for our unique approach and iconic style. Throughout our history, Kaleidoscope Theatre has helped launch the careers of some of Canada’s top theatre practitioners. Kaleidoscope alumni can be found in Film and Television including ABC’s Once Upon A Time, and on stage with London’s National Theatre, The Stratford Festival, and The Chemainus Theatre Festival. Our alumni are also attending some of North America’s top training institutions such as The Canadian College of Performing Arts, Studio 58, The American Musical & Dramatic Academy, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, The Randolph Academy, and The London Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Kaleidoscope Theatre plays a unique role in the theatre ecology of our community, and is the only theatre company on Vancouver Island that offers a fully professional season of mainstage programming especially for young people.
Kaleidoscope Theatre is committed to supporting and mentoring theatre artists for our community. Emerging young talents are given the opportunity to work with veteran theatre artists, thus enriching the creative process. Kaleidoscope aims to inspire and develop new generations of artists and theatre patrons all while upholding our mission to create original, innovative and relevant theatre experiences that stimulate and inspire young people and their communities.
Kaleidoscope is an active member of The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, The Professional Arts Alliance of Greater Victoria, The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and Volunteer Victoria.
Vision
Kaleidoscope Theatre will be among North America’s most respected professional theatre companies producing unique and relevant Theatre for Young Audiences; and recognized as a leader in young actor training in Western Canada. We will honour the vision of our Founders and their commitment to creative growth and innovation.
Mission
To create original, innovative and relevant theatre experiences that stimulate and inspire young people to think critically about the world around them, and to engage in constructive and creative self-expression.
Values
Kaleidoscope Theatre is dedicated to these core values:
To create innovative theatre that is challenging and exciting, honours the imagination of young people, and encapsulates ideas and stories which will resonate in children’s minds and hearts. A commitment to superior artistic values and professional production standards To strive for excellence in all that we undertake To provide mentorship opportunities for young artists (actors, technical crew, designers, playwrights) Providing accessible and affordable productions, programs and services that benefit children and their families
Mandate
To produce innovative, high-quality theatre experiences for young people and their families principally in the Greater Victoria area. To explore the art form of theatre through the development and presentation of new works. To produce and present theatre that reinterprets the classics, explores our history, or explores current social issues. To provide outreach through theatre-based educational activities for the Greater Victoria community including classes, workshops, and camps. To produce works which provide young artists the opportunity to be mentored by theatre professionals in both performance and technical support roles. To provide high-quality professional touring productions for young people throughout British Columbia, across Canada and around the world.
Performing Arts Studio
Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Studio is the outreach and education division of Kaleidoscope Theatre Productions Society. Theatre classes are led by professional arts educators who have received professional post-secondary education in their field. These programs introduce young people to performing arts to help them develop positive social skills, and build self-esteem. Their unique voices and creativity shape our world today and will steward it for the future.
Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Studio offers a safe and creative place where young people can develop their drama and social skills. Professional theatre artists provide a thrilling environment full of theatrical innovation and creative development. Young artists in each course will be introduced to age-appropriate drama skills based on a theatrical arts curriculum. All sessions end with a Presentation Day in which young artists present the skills they have acquired.
Along with a wide range of courses for students age 6 – 17 in creative drama, acting, film, dance, magic, and musical theatre, Kaleidoscope has identified some exciting new challenges for our students to take on in the coming year. Students in our performance classes (Performance Choir and Junior & Senior Company) will work towards public performances, including appearances at Kaleidoscope’s annual Family Theatre Festival in Victoria’s Centennial Square.
All Kaleidoscope Students have the opportunity to be a part of the Kaleidoscope Young Company and 1 MainStage production annually. These unique experiences allow young artists to work beside and be mentored by professional actors in a professional theatre environment.
2014-2015 Teaching Faculty
- Roderick Glanville
- Pat Rundell
- Tara Britt
- Alexander Brendan Ferguson
- Ian Ferguson
- Barbara Poggemiller
- Bryony Blake
- Sarah Anne Murphy
- Christine Willes
- Jessica Van der Veen
Igloo Theatre
Kaleidoscope has a rich history of thinking outside the box when it comes to the style and creativity of productions presented. Through the support of the Telus Foundation and The BC Arts Council, Kaleidoscope Theatre’s dream of owning our own creative space is a reality.
Kaleidoscope’s new IGLOO THEATRE is portable, easily transportable, and will be a uniquely identifiable venue for young audiences in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. This exciting venue will hold approximately one-hundred-forty-five audience members, in addition to adaptable staging, a lighting truss, and technical control booth. Flexible staging, lighting, and seating will allow for the option to stage in a traditional “proscenium” style, or theatre-in-the-round. In selecting this structure, Kaleidoscope has taken into consideration all safety concerns, and have researched the safety standards, licensing, and insurance required by the Province. A smaller igloo connected by a tunnel will act as a dressing room, or lobby and reception spaces, depending on the needs of the production. Kaleidoscope’s IGLOO THEATRE will provide an exciting, professional and truly immersive theatrical experience. Kaleidoscope’s IGLOO THEATRE is a simple idea – it brings theatre to a broad range of youth in a fun and accessible way.
Innovative and affordable, the IGLOO THEATRE will serve many functions to increase the sustainability of Kaleidoscope Theatre:
- Home to Kaleidoscope’s Family Theatre Festival – an annual festival that features specially commissioned plays for young audiences by local theatre companies;
- a transportable, ‘pop-up’ theatre venue that can travel to schools, public events, and remote communities;
- used as a prominent and recognizable venue for special Kaleidoscope events and fundraisers;
- will provide a fully equipped portable venue for rent at low cost to other members and non-profits in our community.
Family Theatre Festival
Kaleidoscope Theatre's Family Theatre Festival is an annual Theatre Festival of new work for young audiences commissioned by Kaleidoscope Theatre.
The Inaugural festival in 2013 featured Puente Theatre, Urban Arts, Suddenly Dance Theatre, and Kaleidoscope.
2014 featured work from Theatre SKAM, SNAFU Dance Theatre, Urban Arts, and Kaleidoscope's Teen Ensemble.
The 2015 Festival will feature work from Theatre SKAM, Intrepid Theatre, Puente Theatre in collaboration with Old Trout Puppet Workshop, and Kaleidoscope's Teen Ensemble. The 2015 festival will feature the unveiling of the new Igloo Theatre.
Teen Performance Ensemble
The Kaleidoscope Teen Performance Ensemble is a program of Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Studio. The Teen Performance Ensemble actively seek out performance opportunities within the community to expand their skills and experience. The program consists of 16 teen actors who audition to be a part of the program.
