Our Story
A quarter century of theatre by and for children of the Waterloo Region
actOUT! was founded in 1995 as the Kitchener-Waterloo Children's Drama Workshop in the Waterloo Region of Ontario, Canada by Leslie Gail Hill. Ms. Hill retired as Artistic Director in 2009. From 2009-2016 the organization was managed under the direction of Ms. Deanne Bingleman, winner of the 2013 Waterloo Region Arts Award - Mentor Award. From 2017-2024, Todd Vercoe served as Artistic Director and shepherded the company through COVID. Breanna MacLeod is our current General Manager.
Formed as a creative home and theatre training centre for children, actOUT! has grown from serving handfuls of students to hundreds a year.
actOUT! offers classes in:
Drama
Improv
Plus occasional workshops in:
Movement
Stage Combat
Audition Preparation
Short Film Making
Our ever popular Summer Day Drama Camps are sure hits! Bringing excitement and enjoyment to children taking their first steps in drama. actOUT! was also the official children's drama camp of the Elora Festival where we staged Willy Wonka KIDS in 2018 and Seussical KIDS in 2019.
The actOUT! performance program was formed for aspiring and skilled actors 5-17 years of age, allowing skilled, talented and developing young actors opportunities to perform in professional quality productions. actOUT! has now staged over 60 productions.
“It’s funny how the experience of becoming someone else on stage has allowed my children to discover who they really are at the core. They have each emerged from this experience with a renewed sense and greater courage to share their unique selves with the world!”
Believe... Belong...Become
ActOUT! is a board driven registered non-profit charitable organization.
actOUT! KWCDW Annual Report 2023-24 (coming soon - AGM in Feb 2025)
We're grateful for our connections with:
Community and families can join the journey too through volunteering time and talents in many facets of this fantastic organization.
We are honoured that actOUT! has won 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Waterloo Chronicle's Reader's Choice Awards in multiple categories including Best Kids Camps, Best Summer Camps, Best Live Theatre, Best Kids Activities, Best Family Activities, and Best Children’s Entertainment.
We were honoured to be a Diamond winner for the Record Reader Award for 2022 in Best Family Activities (Diamond) Best Live Theatre (Gold) and Best Theatre Instructors.
ActOUT! graciously acknowledges the support and affiliation of the City of Kitchener and the City of Waterloo.
