VYT History
VYT Alumni
Many of our VYT Alumni have found success in many areas of life including theatre and
film. Actors
Kelly Sheridan, Zachary Ansley, Mike Andaluz, Sarah Sawatsky, Richard Cox, Margot Finley,
Devon Sawa, Kyle and Jason Alisharan, Jewel Staite, Sarah Strange, Aloka McLean and Joely
Collins, daughter of Phil Collins, had their beginnings at Vancouver Youth Theatre. We
also hire our Alumni as Directors, Stage Managers and Administrators. Yes - VYT is a place
for great training and experience in acting, and for the fulfillment of dreams, but also,
VYT is a place for the development of our local young people into leaders; it is a place
for the building of self-respect, community and integrity.
Established in 1983 by Carole Tarlington, Vancouver Youth Theatre is a non-profit society dedicated to the inspiration and education of young actors ages 5-18. Vancouver Youth Theatre is a theatre for, by, and about young people. We provide an environment where actors are free to express their ideas without risk of censorship. At VYT, young people experience theatre as they build their confidence and self-esteem.
VYT provides a voice for youth and allows them to explore topics relevant to their lives through Playbuilding programs and collaboration on script development with professional directors such as former Artistic Directors Carole Tarlington, Judith Hogan and Heather Brownsey. Other Directors who have created plays with Vancouver Youth Theatre actors are Patti Allan, Eileen Barrett, Amy Clausen, Dolores Drake, Christa Duttchen, Camyar Chai, Jude Lee, Daniel Maté, Chris McGregor, Bev Sauvé, Kelly Sheridan, Andrea Superstein and current Artistic Director, Heather Duff.
Vancouver Youth Theatre is recognized locally, nationally, and internationally. Now two decades old, Vancouver Youth Theatre has provided the Lower Mainland with hundreds of acting programs such as Sensational Smalls for very young actors, Playbuilding, Scene Study, Improv Comedy, On Camera and one to four mainstage and touring productions per season that reflect issues and concerns relevant to youth.
VYT has produced award-winning productions such as Will the Real Canadian...? (a serious but lighthearted look at Canadian Identity, which toured to Australia and Japan) and Canadian Stories (which toured Canada, the US and the UK, including Scotland), with original music by Bill Sample, and Teen Parents (which toured to Scotland). Other notable internationally touring shows on teen issues have been Minor Reality and Obsession Cabaret. In 1991, Courage, with original music by John Sereda, a play about bullying in schools, has toured to over 80 B.C. elementary schools. In 1991, VYT received the B.C. Race Relations Award. In 1998, the teen touring production Oh Canada! with original music by John Sereda, was presented with the BC Eliminates Racism Together Award by the Honorable Ujjal Dosanjh. In 1988, VYT also received Honorable Mention for the Cultural Harmony Award. In spring 2000, Harmony, with original music by John Sereda, a teen show about inclusion and diversity, toured to 16 secondary schools. Vancouver Youth Theatre productions have been featured at conferences held by the B.C. Teacher’s Federation as well as at other educational conferences and VYT-generated Teacher’s Guides have inspired hundreds of teachers to facilitate workshops and discussions about issues relevant to youth.