Talk Is Free Theatre is a not for profit theatre company in Barrie whose mandate includes youth outreach and involvement in our community.
In our efforts to reach out to local youth, we offer many programs and volunteer opportunities benefitting young people by enriching their cultural experiences at a local level.
We offer student matinee performances for most of our season productions. Student matinee tickets are $15 (includes HST and all ticket fees). Teachers’ tickets are complimentary when escorting a group of students to a matinee.
For more information, please contact:
Richard Varty, Director of Outreach
richard@tift.ca
Each semester, Talk Is Free Theatre invites a Simcoe County high school drama class to ‘adopt’ a production – and see first hand how professional theatre is created! Students meet the creative team, attend read-throughs and rehearsals and are invited to the opening night of the performance. Best of all, this program is entirely free – including busing! Applications are welcomed annually for participating classes.
For more information, or to be added to our list of teachers, please contact:
Arkady Spivak
arkady@tift.ca
The Ms Main Asked For This Program program is designed to bring assistance from the theatre professionals directly to school staff and students, who would like support on one or more necessary aspects of their upcoming productions. Productions can include annual plays or musicals, Sears Festival productions, independent works, etc. The goal of this program is to support staff and/or students on their independent work, especially on an extra-curricular basis.
Applications are available for teachers as well as students.
For more information, please contact:
Arkady Spivak
arkady@tift.ca
The Talk Is Free Theatre Drama Award recognizes senior Drama students for outstanding contributions to the art of theatre throughout their high school career.
This award is given at the discretion of the teacher. The selection may be based on a combination of academic achievement, leadership, enthusiasm and effort. It is available to those participating in any aspect of theatre production. All recipients of this award will be presented with a certificate of acknowledgement. Each school may honour two recipients per year.
In order to receive this award, please contact Talk Is Free Theatre to receive the application form and return it to Talk Is Free Theatre by the indicated deadline. Certificates will be forwarded to your school to the attention of the nominating teacher.
There is no charge for the drama award.
For more information, please contact:
Arkady Spivak
arkady@tift.ca
Each semester, TIFT accepts up to two co-op students to complete their placement with Talk Is Free Theatre.
For more information on the positions and availability, please contact:
Cara McRae, Administrator
cara@tift.ca
705-792-1949 ext. 121.
The artsLocal Program is an opportunity for the emerging artists of Barrie and Simcoe County to partner with TIFT to build their distinct practices with our production and mentorship resources.artsLocal is a calling to those pursuing a career in the arts and prepared to step out of the development process, ready to perform their work for an audience. Those who work with alternative methods of creation and are willing to break barriers are heavily encouraged to apply. Previous artsLocal partnerships include:
MUSIC FOR THE CHANGING VOICE:
MY GRANDFATHER’S CELLO AND ALL THE TINY PIECES
Created by Alyssa Wright
THE ALLANDALE SUITE
Created by The Old Dance Hall Players
MISS JULIE & A DOLL’S HOUSE
Created by Quarter Century Theatre
Applications can be submitted at any time.
For more information about the artsLocal Program, please contact:
Arkady Spivak
Talk Is Free Theatre
705-792-1949
arkady@tift.ca
Talk Is Free Theatre is again part of the OAC’s Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators Program. Individual artists and ad hoc groups are invited to apply for funding, through the Ontario Arts Council online portal. Please note that all applicants must have an active online profile with the OAC, or register for one well in advance of the deadline.
Under their program allocation, TIFT is interested in supporting emerging book writers of musicals. Applicants are responsible to review application requirements on the OAC website under the appropriate section. For OAC’s definition of a professional artist, please visit their website at www.arts.on.ca.
Talk Is Free Theatre has established priorities for funding allocations. They are as follows, in no particular order:
Minimum grant request is set at $1,000 and maximum at $3,000. However, due to budgetary constraints, awarded amounts may be smaller than requested. For a full description of the Program, please visit https://www.arts.on.ca/grants/recommender-grants-for-theatre-creators.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, October 20, 2023, at 1 p.m.
