Spark a new love of theatre at the Segal Centre this fall
The Segal Centre is a destination for the whole family to experience some of the city’s best theatre productions.
In a dim amphitheatre, an audience of theatre-lovers and newcomers wait with bated breath. The first note of the score rings out, the curtains open, and the lights illuminate the stage—the magical journey of performance has begun.
This fall, the Segal Centre has an array of entertaining shows to capture the hearts of the whole family. Known as the “heart of English theatre in Montreal”, the Segal Centre is both a destination for some of the city’s best productions and an academy dedicated to training talented young people.
Even though the weather is cooling off and the range of outdoor activities is narrowing, that’s no reason for our screen time to increase. The Segal Centre is offering several family-friendly shows this season to spark a love of theatre in kids, teens, and parents alike—even spooky-themed Halloween shows like “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” and an adaptation of “Frankenstein.”
“A show at Segal Centre is a wonderful opportunity to [...] just have a have bonding time with your kids without the technology and just sit back and watch the talent unfold in front of you because there’s nothing like it,” says Academy director Liana Wiener.
The benefits of introducing kids to the theatre, from early childhood to young adulthood, are immeasurable. Exposure to the performing arts fosters creativity, critical thinking skills, and patience—the experience of a family outing to a show is completely different than watching a movie at home.
Performances at the Segal Centre will not only capture the hearts of the whole family, but they also teach you something new. Storytelling through theatre can often teach kids about morals and encourage them to embrace perspectives other than their own—crucial to developing empathy and instilling important values. In fact, plays and musicals are a great opportunity for kids to learn how to cope with difficult situations and to communicate effectively.
Many families may be understandably nervous about bringing younger children to a live performance, as attention spans can run low, but Wiener assures that a theatre outing is a perfect chance to disrupt those patterns.
“I know that parents are looking for things like this more so now than ever, because we’ve all fallen into this screen time pit,” Wiener says. “The whole thing is done at such a
professional level and is so impressive that I think it would be very difficult for anybody to not be focused on what’s happening in front of [them].”
A theatre outing will undoubtedly be a cherished bonding experience for the whole family. And for students looking to check out a show with their friends, the Class Act Card offers discounts and the accessibility of booking same-day tickets.