The National Theatre School (NTS) is proud to announce a new partnership with TD Bank Group as the national presenting partner of the National Theatre School Festival. The agreement and sponsorship, which begins this year, will support thousands of high school students, in hundreds of communities across Canada, who will create and present shows in their schools, regions and provinces. 

 “We are thrilled to welcome TD in this leadership role,” said Gideon Arthurs, CEO of the National Theatre School of Canada. “The Festival is an almost 75-year-old tradition that has touched the lives of thousands of young Canadians. With TD’s support, we can ensure the festival will thrive and continue to grow. The Festival is a vital happening that builds future generations of artists and arts lovers, while fostering respect, inclusiveness, excitement, empathy and entrepreneurship in our youth. TD is truly a model corporate citizen, making a difference in over 300 communities across Canada through this program.”

"The NTS Festival brings together students, mentors and theatre professionals to share new theatre created, produced and shaped by the experiences and vision of the students themselves. At TD, we recognize the importance of programs, like this one, that unite communities and amplify these voices. That's why, through The Ready Commitment, TD's corporate citizenship platform, we are proud to work with the National Theatre School to help young Canadians build confidence and thrive in a changing world, one community at a time," notes Andrea Barrack, Vice President, Global Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group.

The NTS Festival, formerly known as the Sears Drama Festival, exists thanks to the dedication of students, educators and theatre professionals across the country working diligently to collaborate on new and exciting theatre. These pieces draw on the myriad experiences of their creators and engage with the complexities of everyday life. Works created through the Festival are shared with peers, families and friends at local, regional and provincial showcases.

“It’s an exciting time for both students and teachers alike to take part in the NTS Festival,” said Wayne Fairhead, Executive Director, NTS Festival. “TD’s new partnership with the NTS Festival will provide ways to lead, build learning opportunities and develop practices.”  

The works presented are the culmination of months of hard work and collaboration between students, mentors and theatre professions. The National Theatre School Festival’s annual activities take place in high schools across Canada from September to May. 

About the NTS Festival 

The NTS Festival showcases secondary school theatre productions in their respective provinces and convene thousands of drama students to perform and share their talents and passion in a friendly atmosphere. Formerly known as the Sears Drama Festival, founded in Ontario in 1946 by the late Ken Watts, it is Canada’s oldest theatre festival. The Drama Festival started out with just three plays, and now has over 400 annual entries spotlighting spectacular performances and productions - including the addition of Festival offshoots in British Columbia (2009) and the Atlantic provinces (2011). The Festival helped launch the careers of numerous actors, directors and production professionals, including actors Margot Kidder, Rachel McAdams, Yanna McIntosh and R.H. Thomson, as well as movie director David Cronenberg.

About the National Theatre School of Canada 

The National Theatre School (NTS) is a school for the arts open to all. Since 1960, it has trained artists, in English and French, in all of theatre’s trades and professions. Many of its 2100 alumni are among the most active and recognized actors, directors, designers, writers, and production professionals in Canada and around the world. NTS is committed to solidifying community and breaking down the walls that separate us. NTS now offers workshops for anyone aged 15 to 115 who wishes to discover the power of theatre as an instrument of social as well as personal growth.