Youth Apprenticeships

Odyssey offers a summer apprenticeship program that combines learning, fun and a little income for teens with an interest in the arts. Youths receive training in mask and Commedia, placements and mentorship in a professional environment. The program offers up to 15 young people between the ages of 14–21 apprenticeships with a professional theatre company that allows them to explore and expand their artistic interests, develop their skills and prepare for a possible career in the arts. Successful candidates are placed in one of three areas of specialization: Performance, Technical/Production, or Marketing/Arts Administration.

For more information please refer to our YAP Brochure 2012.
Download our YAP Poster 2012.

If you would like to be considered for this program, please fill out our application form and email it to us. We will contact you shortly after receiving it.

Youth Apprenitces’ Final Presentation 2010

Youth Matinee Workshops
Groups booking for the Youth Matinee Series can also book a workshop with Odyssey artists to teach student skills in mask, Commedia and improvisation. Workshops can be held in Strathcona Park post-performance or at another venue on a different day. For more information on content options and cost, contact us.

Artists in the Schools
Odyssey is committed to making our work accessible to the broadest possible cross-section of the community, and introducing young people to the performing arts in general and mask theatre in particular. Odyssey artists give workshops in mask, improvisation, Commedia and clown at high schools throughout the National Capital Region. If you would like a workshop at your school, contact us to discuss content options and costs.

Canterbury Residency
Odyssey has developed a playwright residency program with Canterbury, Ottawa’s high school for the arts. A playwright has the opportunity to take a script in development into the classroom and work with students in the senior theatre class to read the play and workshop scenes from the script. As well, the residency includes discussions between the writer and the students about the play’s primary themes and ideas.

The intent of this program is to put writers in touch with the next generation of theatre artists and audiences and give them an opportunity to explore what young people respond to in their work. It also provides young aspiring artists with the opportunity to experience Odyssey’s new play development process and to meet with professional playwrights. Playwrights who have participated in the program in the past have found it to be a stimulating experience, beneficial to their work. Artists have included Jan Irwin, Bill Bhaneja, Laurie Steven and Kathy MacLellan.