“… one of the best ways to capture our students’ interests is quality theatre that immerses young people in the many rich experiences that theatre can bring.”
Roy Fernandes
Each year on March 20th, World Theatre Day for Young Audiences is celebrated around the world. Five associations representing theatre for young audience creators, producers and presenters in Canada, ASSITEJ Canada, l’Association des théâtres francophones du Canada (ATFC), Théâtres Unis Enfance Jeunesse (TUEJ), The Professional Association of Canadian Theaters (PACT) and the Canadian Children's Festivals Association joined forces to present the Canadian message of World Theatre Day for Young Audiences.
This year, we asked Roy Fernandes to write the 2021 Canadian message for World Theatre Day for Young Audiences. In this complicated period for the practice of our art, it seemed important to us to give a voice to a teacher who shares his passion for theatre to his students. Roy is a K-8 teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Some say he’s the principal, but he prefers to think of himself as the lead teacher. His day includes literacy instruction, eco initiatives, writing and directing student plays, running a school choir and running in a school running club. He believes that holistic education is the most valuable thing we can provide for our students and that includes exposure to all curriculum subjects, extracurriculars and the development of the entire student.