Shrimp Magnet Theatre Company offers workshops for children aged 5-12. These workshops, which range in length from 30 minutes to an hour and a half, are an extension of the imaginative journeys taken by audiences who participate in our shows. These workshops develop basic theatre skills, teamwork, and the individual creativity (or, as we like to call it, genius) of each child participating. These three elements combine to create a learning experience that is fun, inspiring and unforgettable. The workshops are run by professional actors and can be tailored to fit different occasions. They can be offered as a one-time experience or as a course with weekly or bi-weekly sessions, and can be served with or without a Shrimp Magnet show.

For two years Shrimp Magnet and its members offered workshops to children at Wimodausis Day Camp at the Earlscourt Child and Family Centre, Children’s Peace Theatre of Toronto, and The West End YMCA.

Shrimp Magnet recently provided an hour long workshop for children aged 5-12 at the Canmore Children's Festival in Canmore Alberta. Our workshop participants enjoyed a journey into song, dance, dramatic techniques, imagination and creativity that will not be soon forgotten.

Shrimp Magnet is a company of young actors who share both a love of children and a desire to create their own work. Started in April of 1999 by Artistic Director Kate Keenan, Shrimp Magnet’s main goal is to create imaginative, interactive and smart theatre for children on an intimate level. In this age of mass media and high-tech special effects, Shrimp Magnet offers theatre created solely by imagination and some ingeniously altered household items. It is theatre that can change on a dime based on audience response. The children can directly affect what happens on the stage – a thrill that movies cannot offer. In addition, the company offers workshops led by the actors after the shows. This means that just as the children are fired up about theatre, they are given a chance to try it out themselves and to work with the actors who they have just seen perform. This balance of performance and interaction is what makes Shrimp Magnet unique.

Our program is very flexible. It can be suited to the specific requirements of individual schools. Basically, imagination’s the limit.

Option 1 – Show 1/2 hour show question and answer period Option 2 – Show and workshops 1/2 hour show 1/2 hour workshops for up to 15 children at a time. Three workshops can be taking place at one time provided there are three separate rooms available. Option 3 – Shows and continuing classes First Visit 1/2 hour show 1 hour workshops in which students develop ideas for the next play through ideas and improvisation. Second Visit 1/2 hour show based on input from last workshop 1 hour workshops Option 4 – Workshops for Parents/Teachers workshop/seminars to equip teachers with theatre knowledge to take into the classroom and parents with theatre activities for their children to enjoy at home. workshops consist of games and activities that develop communication and expression skills