Home | Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy

Rooted in belonging, Drayton Entertainment delivers a profoundly new and positive approach to performing and technical arts education.

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Classes by Age

Everybody Belongs Here

Our aim is to help dismantle systemic constructs which serve as cultural, financial, and physical barriers to representation and participation in arts education.

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Kids (8-10)

Youth (11-13)

Teens (14-18)

Adults (19+)

Our Facility

Upstairs at our 10,000 square foot training facility, you’ll find four rehearsal halls with natural light, wall-to-wall mirrors, wood sprung floors, state-of-the-art sound and screen systems, and a water bottle hydration station. The main floor features tutorial classrooms, a choral music room …. and a green room with kitchen homework bars with laptop connections!

Every training space of the Academy is equipped with real-time digital video surveillance, broadcast to monitors in our waiting area. The Academy’s technical arts training programs will be made available through Drayton Entertainment’s adjacent Production Centre. An elevator and exterior ramp, with two inclusive washrooms and accessible hallway configurations, ensure barrier-free access for everyone.

Transformation

The symbolism of the butterfly found in our logo is universally related to its journey that starts crawling and ends flying. Our curriculum of classes is designed to align with the idea of a butterfly’s powerful transformation, metamorphosis, growth, learning and endless potential.

Testimonials

This environment is free of judgment and full of love. Thank you for always pushing us and reminding us how important, valued and powerful we all are.

I can’t thank you enough for the courage, independence and kindness you help to instil in my kids.

Although my Dad never spoke of it to Evan or me, he was a little hesitant with the dance stuff and then theatre stuff… but then he came out of the Panto that Evan was in crying, so happy that Evan had found a place where he felt like he belonged.

As parents we got to ride this high with our son. We got to see him, for the first time, totally come into himself, for the first time, pure happiness. Something changed, he has changed….thank you.

This was the most amazing theatre experience I’ve had to date, and I’ve had a LOT! It’s the first time I’ve felt like I really belonged because you made such an inclusive environment.

Thank you! She walked away with more confidence about body image, an even deeper love of everything “theatre” and huge love and respect for her community!

The patience David shows to the children is perfect! As a teacher I recognize that this man was made to work with kids!! The way he speaks to kids makes them believe they can do anything!!!

This is where I want to be. I get to learn from Broadway performers who are performing at a theatre right next door but more importantly, I’ve made lifelong friends. Even the audition process is awesome. Drayton has helped me grow not only as a performer, but as a person.

My son has done lots of programs and I think he felt the most at home here. The children and staff were the most inclusive of any I’ve encountered.

Each and every day he arrived at Huron Country Playhouse, he knew he was stepping into a place where his passions and dreams were going to be honoured, respected and encouraged.

The staff involved had an incredible ability to push the kids outside of their comfort zones to try new things and take risks. Most of all, they were able to teach kids to embrace differences and that it’s okay to be different.

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