Photo by Moonrider Productions
Young Creators Company
Aimed at students in grades 7–12 (ages 12–18), the Young Creators Company (formerly known as Creative Teens) invites students to collaboratively create an original show based on ideas and stories that they are passionate about. Now entering its 11th year, the YCC offers youth artists the opportunity to act as a mini theatre company over the course of 12 weeks, exploring process over product, all in person at the Arts Club rehearsal studios!
The YYC will also be invited to attend Arts Club shows, work with professional artists across theatrical disciplines, will work as an ensemble, guided by the Program Leaders to create and shape the program's final showcase—an original show written and performed by the cohort on an Arts Club stage!
Students will learn a variety of drama techniques and styles, including:
- Acting
- Character creation
- Comedy
- Devised theatre approaches
- Directing
- Physical theatre
- Scriptwriting
- Stage Management
- Tech for theatre (lighting design, costuming, set design, and more)
- Movement
- Voice technique
and so much more! The Young Creators Company strives to grow and develop well-rounded, inquisitive, and imaginative young artists and connect them with professional teaching artists facilitate the YCC discover and share THEIR stories, THEIR way.
This is the place for young people who are passionate about performance and storytelling, who want to express themselves freely and take ownership of their creative work.
For more information or a tour of our spaces, contact Kevan Ellis, Director of Education, at kellis@artsclub.com.
THIS PROGRAM IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY
Roberta Beiser
River Foundation
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
David R. McCann O.C. and Brian Edwards
Registration for the 2027 Young Creators opens October 2026!
$520 + GST (limited subsidy spots available on a case-by-case basis)
Class size: 14 students maximum
To be added to the notification list, email Kevan Ellis, Director of Education, at kellis@artsclub.com
We welcome young artists of all disciplines (acting, writing, improv, musical theatre, stage tech, stage management, visual arts, etc.). The Young Creators welcomes diverse artistic experiences and asks for participants to dive in with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to fail!
To learn more about our accessibility, equity and inclusion policy, see here.
INSTRUCTORS
Jill Goranson
Co-Program Leader/ Instructor
Jill Goranson is a Vancouver-based artist, producer, & educator of Métis, Swedish, and Austrian descent, originally from Red Deer, Alberta. As a 2019 graduate of Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Musical Theatre program, Jill received the Triple Threat Award and has since worked across Canada. Jill’s work spans producing (Art Pop-Up), improvised comedy (Vancouver International Improv Festival & Blind Tiger Comedy), and creating original shows at the Toronto & Vancouver Fringe Festival. As an educator, Jill has founded a dance camp, ran musical theatre intensives, developed community programs for kids and new workshops, taught private music lessons over the last decade, and now is so excited to be working with teens for Creative Teens.
Mikenzie Page
Co-Program Leader/Instructor
Mikenzie Page (she/they) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist, educator, and producer based on the unceded and ancestral territory of the oxʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ Nations. Mikenzie has been fortunate enough to collaborate, teach, work, perform, and learn from companies across Canada such as the Arts Club, Bard on the Beach, Bramble Theatre Collective, Carousel Theatre for Young People, the Stratford Festival Teaching Program, and more. She has performed across Alberta and BC with their original works being produced across the two provinces. Mikenzie is the current Co-Managing Director of Promethean Theatre, a 2025 Bill Millerd Artist Fund recipient, a graduate of Studio 58, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Mikenzie also hates writing bios but LOVES talking about fostering inclusive spaces for theatre education!
EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY
We encourage applications from equity-deserving writers, including but not limited to those who are Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Trans, gender diverse, Intersex, Queer, Neurodivergent, Deaf, and Disabled/have lived experience of disability (including mental health disability).
Since our meetings will bring together people with different relationships to privilege and oppression, we will collaboratively create community care and accountability guidelines. The facilitators will consult participants about their access needs and strive to adapt the program accordingly. Our access practices will include:
- Regular check-ins for access needs
- Community contract to be created and set best practices during rehearsals.
- COVID-19 safety procedures (everyone will physically distance and wear masks, unless they can’t because of an access need)
- Physically accessible and gender-neutral washrooms
- Sighted-guide assistance
- Wheelchair user friendly space
- Program materials provided in accessible formats
- Automatic captions through participants’ personal devices
- Relaxed environment in class and chill-out zones in the building
- Fragrance-free space (everyone will be encouraged to use fragrance-free products; if this is a barrier for you, we will collaborate on finding a way to meet everyone’s needs)
- We currently cannot offer ASL services during classes
Our Accessibility Coordinator, Amy Amantea, will be happy to talk to you about your access needs, and how they may be addressed during our Education programming. Amy can be reached at aamantea@artsclub.com.
We welcome personal support workers and companions. Sharing this information ahead of time, while not require, may support the access needs of others.
YOUNG CREATORS COMPANY SCHEDULE SPRING 2027 – BMO Theatre Centre
Week #1–Wed, Mar 31, 2027, 6–8 PM
INTENSIVE WEEKEND
Week #2 – Sat, Apr 3, 2027, 10 AM - 3 PM
Sun, Apr 4, 2027, 10 AM – 1 PM*
*Includes a field trip to see the 2 PM matinee of John Proctor is the Villain
Wed, Apr 7, 2027, 6 – 8 PM
Week #3 – Sun, Apr 11, 2027, 10 AM – 1 PM
Wed, Apr 14, 2027, 6 – 8 PM
Week #4 – Sun, Apr 18, 2027, 10 AM – 1 PM
Wed, Apr 21, 2027, 6 – 8 PM
Week #5 – Sun, Apr 25, 2027, 10 AM – 1 PM
Wed, Apr 28, 2027, 6 – 8 PM
Week #6 – Sun, May 2, 2027, 10 AM – 1 PM
Wed, May 5, 2027, 6 – 8 PM
Week #7 – Sunday, May 9, 2027, 10 AM –1 PM
Wednesday, May 12, 2027, 6 - 8 PM
Week #8 – Sun, May 16, 2027, 10 AM – 1 PM
Wed, May 20, 2027, 6 – 8 PM
Week #9 – Sun, May 23, 2027 – NO CLASS
Wed, May 26, 2027, 6 – 8 PM
Week #10 – Sun, May 30, 2027, 10 AM – 1 PM
Wed, Jun 2, 2027, 6 – 8 PM
Week #11 – Sun, Jun 6, 2027, 10 AM –1 PM
Wed, June 9, 2027, 6 – 8 PM
Week #12 – Sat, June 12, 2027, 10 AM – 5 PM
Lindsay Family Stage at Granville Island /DRESS REHEARSAL
Sun, Jun 13, 2027, 10 AM – 8 PM
Lindsay Family Stage at Granville Island/FINAL SHOWCASE
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Photo by Moonrider Productions
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Photo by Moonrider Productions
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Photo by Moonrider Productions
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Photo by Moonrider Productions
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Photo by Moonrider Productions
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Photo by Moonrider Productions
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Photo by Moonrider Productions