Established in Red Deer in 1988, by Richard O'Brien, at the newly built Red Deer College Arts Centre, Tree House Youth Theatre has been providing extraordinary theatrical experiences for youth in central Alberta for the past 38-years. In 2026, we launched Tree House: Thrive, an innovative youth mental health program for teens experiencing anxiety and/or depression, which was created by Artistic Director, Albertus Koett. 

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THEATRE PROGRAM

Theatre requires a team of people, and the theatre industry rewards those with a diverse set of theatre skills. Our Theatre Program teaches industry standards in theatre creation including acting, playwriting, directing, stage management, design, and running crew.

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We do this by utilising a process driven approach, and by allowing for multiple opportunities for youth to try out everything that theatre has to offer, including:​

• Acting

• Design (Costumes/Lights/Props/Set/Sound)

• Directing

• Stage Management and Crew

• Playwriting​

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Every January and June we will present the plays that have been created by our participants, ages 9-17. Rehearsals for our Theatre Program take place at Parkland Mall. We perform at the Scott Block in Red Deer, which is also home to Prime Stock Theatre, Bull Skit Comedy, and Red Deer Players. Each production we create is written, performed, directed, stage managed, and designed by our participants, with assistance and guidance from our team of professionals. Work created by our Theatre Program goes through a process of workshops called dramaturgy, which consists of the play being taken through various readings/note sessions in order to create additional drafts of the play.

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TREE HOUSE: THRIVE

This innovative mental health program combines proven methods of reducing anxiety and depression with theatre games. Over 12-weeks, participants learn coping techniques for managing their anxiety and/or depression using theatre games, exercises, and improv. The teens then create a workshop they will tour to elementary schools to teach grade 6 students the same skills they learned. 

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THYT STORY

Over the years, Tree House Youth Theatre has been led by many organizations and individuals over the years. 

• 1988-2000: THYT performed at the Arts Centre at then Red Deer College, now Red Deer Polytechnic. The program was founded and led by the chair of the RDC Theatre Program, Richard O'Brien. 

• 2000-2005: THYT was operated by Central Alberta Theatre, and performed at the Red Deer Memorial Centre, and around central Alberta. Tree House was led during this time by various C.A.T. volunteers. 

• 2005-2015: In 2005 a group of THYT parents formed a board of directors, and THYT became Tree House Youth Theatre Society a non-profit organization. Matt Gould, a celebrated Red Deer artist, was hired as the first Artistic Director of THYT. During this time, Tree House rehearsed throughout Red Deer, and performed at The Scott Block.

• 2016-2018: After 10-seasons of writing, directing, and leading THYT, Matt decided that it was time for someone else to lead the company. Nicole Leal, co-founder of Improv Jelly, was hired as the 2nd Artistic Director of THYT. 

• 2019-2023: In 2019 THYT made a return to the Red Deer Memorial Centre for rehearsals and performers. Albertus Koett, an award winning central Alberta playwright and director, was hired as the 3rd Artistic Director for Tree House. 

• 2024: Tree House joined Prime Stock Theatre, Bull Skit Comedy, and Red Deer Players at The Scott Block Theatre in Red Deer. This signalled a return to The Scott Block for THYT, after spending 2005-2018 at the downtown theatre and events space. 

• 2025: We began a partnership with Parkland Mall to rehearse in the mall free of charge. This partnership will help us to keep registration fees low. 

• 2026: Tree House: Thrive launched in Red Deer. An innovative approach to mental health treatment in central Alberta, this program partnered with Red Deer Polytecnic, the Red Deer Primary Care Network, Parkland Mall, Northern Alberta YMCA, and the Move Your Mood Studio. 

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It is important for THYT to acknowledge that we ​rehearse and perform our plays in Treaty 6 and Treaty 7, where First Nations, Metis, and Inuit have been sharing their stories for generations. We are located in Wawaskeso Sipi (Red Deer). We are thankful to share these unseeded lands. 

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Tree House Youth Theatre is a safe and supportive space for all individuals.

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