Summer Drama Camp
The summer program at Market Hall is in its 12th year and we are thrilled to offer some familiar themes, as well as a brand new “My First Movie’ week. Our camps are high energy, action packed adventures that encourage children to develop new skills and have fun in a supported and authentic theatre environment. We encourage children to participate in the way that feels best for them, enabling them to stretch creatively and use their imaginations. We round off the week with a performance for friends and family.
Market Hall is a beautiful heritage building located in the heart of downtown Peterborough, with a 35 year history as a performing arts venue.
The Hall has just reopened after a $9 million renovation which has restored the exterior façade, installed 2 new elevators, improved the entranceway and retrofitted a first class theatre on the second storey.
It is a flexible configuration well suited to our summer program, offering a large open floor space, raked theatre seating, professional lighting and sound equipment, lots of daylight through a magnificent bank of 12 feet windows and a very efficient air conditioning system.
Our camp directors are all professional teachers and artists with many years experience directing summer camps and they are assisted by a full-time teaching assistant who is present throughout the day.
Cost for each camp is $155. All Camps will be held at the newly renovated Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, 140 Charlotte Street
Camp Policies
- Camp hours are from 9 am to 4 pm. Extended care is available between the hours of 8:30am - 9:00am and 4:00pm - 4:30pm.
- Participants are required to bring nut free lunch and snacks.
- Each camp will end with a performance on Friday afternoon. Family and friends of campers are invited to attend. Bring your camera!
- We strive to make our camps accessible for all. We have ways to make camp more affordable, with access to a subsidy program and family discount rates. Wherever we can, we will work with your family to overcome other barriers to your child’s participation. Please call us or email karen@markethall.org and let us know how we can help.
How to Register
- Registration forms can be downloaded here (You can also receive them by mail or fax. Please call us at (705) 749-1146 to arrange.) Follow the instructions for submitting the form and payment.
OR
- After April 1st, 2011 come to our new offices, located at 140 Charlotte St, Peterborough. Office hours are noon to 5pm Monday-Friday. If these times are inconvenient, please call us at (705) 749-1146 to make arrangements.
All camps are $155. We accept VISA, MasterCard, Interac, cheques or cash.
2011 Summer Programs
Download the summer 2011 brochure here
ages 6-10
Myth-ing In Action
with Janette Platana
July 4 - July 8
July 11 - July 15
Greek mythology is the basis of some of our children’s favourite stories and characters. Come and explore these legends and have fun turning them into a Friday afternoon stage performance. Improv and acting, songs and music as well as vivid visual art pieces created during the week will help your child learn new skills, draw on their strengths, gain confidence, have fun and push their limits… from Aphrodite to Zeus, your little gods and goddesses will have an epic week of fun and learning.
ages 5-7
Visiting the Land
of the Dinosaurs
with Andrew Bigg
July 18 - July 22
What would you do if you found a portal which could take you back in time to when dinosaurs ruled the earth? We will learn about dinosaurs, create an expedition and explore the very different world of long ago in this exciting camp for 5-7 year olds. As usual there will be games, masks, puppets and performances aplenty!
ages 8-16
Market Hall Idols Live!
with Andrew Finlan
July 25 - July 29
Using dramatic techniques such as movement, dance, script writing, monologues, clowning, improvisation and group dynamic games, this camp will explore the exciting theme of entertainment. Whether you have dreamed of being in a musical, the host of your own variety show, or a stand up comedian, this camp is for you. Come out and boost your confidence while making some friends along the way.
ages 5-7
Return of the Miniscules with Andrew Bigg
Aug 1 - Aug 5
Have you ever wanted to be very, very small? To see the world from the point of view of a ladybug or a centipede? In this camp we explore the world of SMALL, and we meet the Miniscules - a tiny race of people who live on the edges of human society and sometimes have really BIG adventures... We’ll learn all about them as we build things, play games, sing songs and act out their adventures.
ages 8-11
The Great Market Hall Circus Extravaganza
with Andrew Bigg
August 8 - 12
Come one come all to the Greatest Show on Earth! Meet the characters who make up the world’s greatest travelling circus - magicians, jugglers, clowns, acrobats, animals and sideshow entertainers! We will create our very own circus using mask, mime, magic, puppetry and, of course, showmanship! Bring your imaginations and your talents and join us in the Bigg Top!
ages 7-11
Shakin’ with Shannon
Dance Camp
with Shannon Stanlick
August 15 - August 19
This high energy fun-filled movin’ and groovin’ camp is packed with a variety of dynamic dance styles, along with creative games and activities. An introduction to hip hop, jazz, tap, lyrical, swing and musical theatre will be included in this week. We will end the week with a sizzling performance showcasing our new moves!
ages 10+
My First Movie
with Brian Mitolo
August 22 - 26
“My First Movie” is drama camp with a twist! Young people can have their first experience creating and performing in the short movies they make during their week at Market Hall. Writing, directing and acting skills are explored through fun games and story-making activities. Even if you’ve never picked up a camera before - or if you want to develop your skills - you’ll be amazed at what you can do in a week at movie camp.
Lights! Camera! Action! A Friday afternoon screening of your movie will premiere on the big screen at the new Market Hall and you’ll have a DVD to keep of your movie debut.
about the instructors
Janette Platana
Janette Platana is a creative artist who has been facilitating interdisciplinary art projects with kids, youth and adults for more than ten years, including Myth-ing in Action productions at The Art Gallery of Peterborough, and other projects at the International School for Interdisciplinary Studies, Toronto’s Griffin Centre for Youth, the Haliburton School of Fine Arts, the Peterborough Youth Emergency Shelter, schools of the Kawartha Pine Ridge and Victoria Northumberland Clarington boards, and at the John Howard Society of Peterborough.
Andrew Bigg
Andrew Bigg has taught Drama, Visual Arts and English in the PCVS Integrated Arts Program for 14 years. He was an instructor for every year of the Interact Children’s Summer Arts Experience in Peterborough and taught four summers at the King Street Arts Centre in Millbrook Summer Arts Camp. This is his fifth year at Market Hall camps. He has taken kids “Behind the Curtain of Sleep,” on a microscopic adventure and done some scary stuff with dragons! He delights in creating huge puppets and dramatic tales and looks forward to more great creative fun this summer!
Andrew Finlan
Andrew Finlan is the Vice Principal at Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School. He is a former curriculum consultant for the Peterborough Separate School Board and a former drama teacher at Holy Cross Secondary School. Andrew was a board representative for the highly successful ‘Youth 4 Youth’ concert in support of the Youth Emergency Shelter. He has directed and performed in many local productions. This is Andrew’s ninth year at Market Hall Drama Camps.
Shannon Stanlick
Shannon Stanlick is a Market Hall camp alumnus who has just completed her third year at Brock University. Shannon is a member of the Brock University Dance Team, and has taught at Peterborough’s Move N’ Groove studio for many years. The recipient of the dramatic arts award for 4 consecutive years at her high school, Shannon has also been involved in numerous local musical theatre productions. Energetic, enthusiastic, and extremely talented, we are so pleased to welcome Shannon back for her seventh summer season at Market Hall.
Brian Mitolo
Brian Mitolo is a local writer and filmmaker and we are thrilled to welcome him to our Summer program. His “my first movie” camps for kids have been a local summer hit since 2000. Brian is accomplished filmmakers with a passion for helping young people develop their ideas into stories. With a sense of humour, and by encouraging your child’s uniquely personal sense of self-expression, Brian engages your kids to learn together as they create memorable short films.