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About Us

Inspiring Young People Since 1973...

Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People has been a leader in professional theatre for young audiences on Vancouver Island for 50 years.

Through a season of live theatre productions featuring professional adult artists, Kaleidoscope inspires young audiences through our innovative, imaginative, and original theatrical experiences.

As the training arm of Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People, the Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Studio offers classes in Musical Theatre, Acting, and Voice for young people aged 4 through 18. Kaleidoscope's studio is the premiere theatre training school for young people in Victoria, providing a foundation for future generations of performers.

Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People is a Professional Theatre Company, a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, and a Charitable Not-for-Profit organization.

What Audiences Are Saying

★★★★★ - Audience Member
It was a wonderful production! The acting was great, lots of energy and seamless transitions between the different characters they played. Loved the costumes made from things in the wardrobe, such as Aslan's costume made out of ties, very creative! Also, the snow was very magical!
★★★★★ - Audience Member
At age 81, I've seen 2 or 3 versions of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe in the past and this was the best! I brought 4 grandchildren to watch and they all loved it too.
★★★★★ - Christina H.
So many kids will fall in love with theatre because of this show.
★★★★★ - Ava B.
Thank you for a great production. Our kids (and we!) loved it!
★★★★★ - Jessica G.
I love attending Kaleidoscope productions with my family. I fondly remember going to Kaleidoscope shows with my parents, and I love being able to continue the tradition.
★★★★★ - Megan F.
Thank you for the wonderful performance of Gruff! It’s so wonderful that you were able to give the gift of free theatre to our city this year.  It was special for my mother and I to take my child to her first Kaleidoscope show, as I grew up watching your productions in the 80s and 90s
★★★★★ - Sherri G.
What a wonderful way to enjoy theatre. Felt very safe being out in the fresh air and lots of physical distancing between families:) Great Performers!
★★★★★ - Lee M.
My daughters first play today. Absolutely fantastic, she loved every minute
★★★★★ - Josh S.
My son is in the musical theatre program here. It is a great program and has done wonders for his confidence and overall well-being. I highly recommend it.
★★★★★ - Jennifer W.
We saw this today at Ed MacGregor Park, a great production!! The actors were awesome, costumes were so fun and the music was awesome!! Thanks for coming to Sooke!
★★★★★ - Jack W.
As grandparents we loved the look on our granddaughters faces as they were mesmerized by your talented actors at the recent Gruff production at Beaver Lake. Thanks

Our Values

At Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People we are guided by a set of core values that define who we are and how we engage with our community. At the core of these values is a deep-rooted respect for our audiences, our community, our environment, and our art. We believe in the transformative power of theatre, recognizing the intelligence of young people. These values inspire us to create impactful experiences that not only entertain but also educate and empower our audiences.

  • Inclusivity: We believe in the transformative power of theatre to bring people together. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. We celebrate the diversity of our community and strive to reflect this diversity in all we do.
  • Accessibility:We believe that theatre should be accessible to all and are committed to making our productions, programming, processes, and spaces inclusive and accessible to audiences, artists, and participants of all ages and abilities. We believe that every young person should have access to engaging theatre experiences.
  • Creativity, Innovation, and Imagination: We embrace creativity, innovation, and imagination in all aspects of our work, pushing artistic boundaries and exploring new ways of storytelling to engage and inspire young people.
  • Education:We are dedicated to using theatre as a tool for education and development. We believe in the importance of programs that engage young people in meaningful ways. We believe that Theatre is more than entertainment; it's a tool to educate, inspire, empower, and develop empathetic, socially responsible young people.
  • Collaboration and Community Engagement:We believe in the power of theatre to strengthen communities and build connections. We value collaboration and partnership, working closely with artists, educators, and our local and National arts community to create meaningful and impactful theatre experiences for young people. We are deeply rooted in our community and are committed to being a positive force within it.
  • Environmental Sustainability: We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and promoting sustainability in all of our operations and productions. We believe sustainability is a key factor in ensuring that theatre continues to thrive for generations to come, providing enriching experiences for children and families alike.

Our History

Founded in 1973, Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People has served as Victoria’s premier producer of Theatre for Young Audiences for 50 years.

The company was born when journalist Barbara McLauchlin and actor Paul Liittich sat down together in Victoria in 1973 to write an application for assistance in offering free theatre workshops to children. Since then, Kaleidoscope has survived and endured as an important force in the arts community on Vancouver Island.

Kaleidoscope’s first project, in 1973, was a free drama workshop consisting of introductory classes for children in acting, set design, and costumes. Later that year, Kaleidoscope toured two short plays, The Pirate Show and The Magic Stone, to local schools.

Elizabeth Gorrie officially joined Kaleidoscope as our first Artistic Director toward the end of our first season, in 1974.

Kaleidoscope’s artistic mandate, formulated in 1974 and faithfully upheld to this day states that the company’s raison for being is to “provide innovative and exploratory drama for young people”. Kaleidoscope’s goal is to make theatre that surprises, challenges, and engages young people, both intellectually and aesthetically.

Kaleidoscope quickly developed a reputation for fascinating audiences of all ages and has performed around the world in Japan, Singapore, Israel, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Washington State. The company has toured across Canada, performing in Toronto, Ottawa (including the National Arts Centre), London, Winnipeg, Montreal, Vancouver, and every city and town in British Columbia.

Since Our inception, Kaleidoscope has consistently worked to inspire young audiences. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Kaleidoscope returned to our touring roots, presenting two outdoor productions in local parks, including a residency at BC Government House.

Under the current leadership of Pat Rundell, Kaleidoscope has reaffirmed our commitment to staging productions that reflect the diverse world around us. We believe in creating theatre experiences for young people that enhance creativity, foster a sense of belonging, ignite imagination, and reflect the rich tapestry of our community.

Kaleidoscope has produced over 250 plays, many of which are world premieres, and have entertained, inspired and educated over 3 million children around the world.

Recent Productions

2023-2024 Season - 50th Season

2022-2023 Season - 49th Season

2021-2022 Season - 48th Season

Our Building

The Kaleidoscope Arts Centre is built on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen People. The Lekwungen People hunted and gathered here for thousands of years before European exploration, carefully managing the land through controlled burning and food cultivation.

The building that is now home to the Kaleidoscope Arts Centre was built in 1906 for J. Raymond and Sons’ Rosebank Lime Co warehouse and building materials store. The building continued to be used as a showroom and office space until the early 1950’s. From the 1950’s through 2013, the building had many tenants and occupants, including the Victoria Trades and Labor Union Headquarters from 1954-1963, and the Victoria Conservatory of Music through 1969.

Other past occupants include the Victoria City Social Welfare Department, the City of Victoria Parks Department, City Archives, the Greater Victoria Celebrations Society, the Victoria Tall Ships Society, and the Provincial Capital Commission until 2013. From 2019-2021 the building was occupied by MokSana Yoga Centre, who transformed it into the beautiful studio space it is today. 

Celebrating Elizabeth Gorrie

Elizabeth Gorrie was a major force in young people’s theatre in Canada. She began singing and acting at an early age and quickly moved into a directing role, writing more than 50 original scripts and adaptations. As founding artistic director of Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People, she helped develop the company from a small touring group to an established theatre company with a theatre school program. Gorrie’s awards and honours included the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal for her contributions to Canadian theatre for young audiences, and CFAX Radio’s Arts Person of the Year for Victoria. Her imaginative productions often put classic works in contemporary context — for example, one adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set Shakespeare’s tragic love story in the West Bank. Her productions have been performed by companies across Canada and as far away as the National Theatre in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Kaze-No-Ko in Tokyo. With Kaleidoscope, she worked with local performance institutions, including the Victoria Symphony and dancer choreographer Lynda Raino. She used movement and imagery together to give her productions strong visual elements. She held a drama diploma from the Banff School of Fine Arts and an associate degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and an English and arts degree from St. John’s College at the University of Manitoba. Gorrie worked and performed with several theatres across the country, including the Manitoba Theatre Centre, Toronto’s Young People’s Theatre, Kelowna’s Sunshine Theatre, Victoria’s Bastion Theatre and Winnipeg’s Rainbow Stage. Elizabeth Gorrie was Kaleidoscope’s first Artistic Director from 1974 through 1999.

Kaleidoscope is a regular member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, The Professional Arts Alliance of Greater Victoria, and Union internationale de la marionnette.

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