Theatre Terrific Society

What Theatre Terrific Society does

Theatre Terrific Society is a non-profit society incorporated in British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1985. It operates as Canada's and Western Canada's longest-running inclusive theatre company, providing theatre classes, workshops, and productions for artists with disabilities alongside non-disabled performers. The organization's core methodology is mixed-ability ensemble creation, an artist-development process pioneered by Artistic Director Emeritus Susanna Uchatius over more than 35 years and now continued under Artistic Director Kevin Jesuino (since 2022), with Managing Director Aaron Davis overseeing operations.

The company's programming is structured as a training-to-production pipeline. Participants enroll in paid classes — Theatre Creation, Acting (both $180), and the newer Set Design class ($150) — and progress toward an annual Summer Mainstage production. Recent productions include ZOETIC (2022), 1984:AGAIN, Tree Drum, Proximity (2024), and Dance Floor Memoirs (2025), the latter co-produced with Green Thumb Theatre. Open House events extend the engagement model to prospective participants and caregivers. The organization also extended storytelling into film through a collaboration with Lantern Films on the Unsettled documentary.

Theatre Terrific's revenue model is diversified across participant-paid class fees, ticket sales, a $10 annual membership, individual donations routed through CanadaHelps.org, and grants from a multi-jurisdictional public funding base — Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, BC Government, and City of Vancouver. Geographically, the primary operating base is Metro Vancouver, with programming extended to other BC communities (Kelowna, Powell River, Prince George) and international workshops in London and Barcelona. Distribution channels include the Vancouver Fringe Festival (30+ productions over 40+ years), Heart of the City Festival, and partner organizations.

Name

Theatre Terrific Society

Legal name

Theatre Terrific Society

Website

https://theatreterrific.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Theatre Terrific Society is a Vancouver-based non-profit founded in 1985 that provides inclusive theatre classes, workshops, and productions for artists with disabilities and non-disabled performers, operating as Canada's longest-running inclusive theatre company.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Services

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGABAI

Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

SECONDARYEDAMAAAG

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Arts & Creative Enrichment (Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance)

SECONDARYMPAGABAD

Community & Amateur Theatre

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

Keywords

• Inclusive theatre productions
• Theatre arts classes
• Mixed-ability performance
• Community theatre programs
• Theatre training workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Class Fees and Workshop Revenue: Theatre Terrific generates revenue through class fees for theatre programs including Theatre Creation ($180), Acting: Character & Movement ($180), and All Abilities Set Design ($150). They also offer financial assistance through their 'Pineapple Sunday' program for those who cannot afford full price.
2. Ticket Sales and Performance Revenue: Revenue from tickets to mainstage productions at the Vancouver Fringe Festival and Heart of the City Festival. Productions include ensemble work performed at venues like the Picnic Pavilion on Granville Island.
3. Membership Fees: Individual membership to the Theatre Terrific Society costs $10 annually, providing email updates, special access to performances and events, and participation in the Annual General Meeting.
4. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations through CanadaHelps.org and receives support from various funders including government arts councils. The website prominently features a 'DONATE NOW' option.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Theatre Terrific Society delivers inclusive theatre training, classes, and mainstage productions designed for artists of all abilities. The organization runs structured courses (Theatre Creation, Acting: Character & Movement, All Abilities Set Design) and produces ensemble-based performances at festivals such as the Vancouver Fringe Festival and Heart of the City Festival. Programming emphasizes mixed-ability ensemble creation, accessibility accommodations, and rigorous, professional-level theatre-making for artists with and without disabilities.

Product overview

Theatre Terrific Society operates as Canada's longest-running inclusive theatre company, offering a portfolio of theatre classes and productions designed for artists of all abilities. The organization provides structured classes including Theatre Creation, Acting: Character & Movement, and All Abilities Set Design, alongside Open House events where participants share their work. The company produces annual mainstage productions performed at the Vancouver Fringe Festival and Heart of the City Festival, with recent productions including 1984:AGAIN and Tree Drum (Re-mount). Past productions span diverse themes from multimedia works like Windows and Zoetic to documentary films like Unsettled, and ensemble pieces like Dance Floor Memoirs and Proximity. All offerings are designed to be accessible and inclusive, with accommodations including ASL interpretation, sensory-friendly environments, and flexible participation options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatre Creation An 8-session class led by a professional director exploring ensemble creation and collective storytelling with a diverse ensemble. Open to artists of all abilities; participants develop original shows and staging.
• Acting: Character & Movement An 8-session theatre class exploring how movement, gesture, expression, and presence create unforgettable characters, with emphasis on physical styles for specific plays and theatrical traditions.
• All Abilities Set Design A 2-session workshop teaching the foundations and principles of set design, including script base analysis, visual language interpretation, and collaborative devising.
• Open House A termly event where class participants share their work with an invited audience, and prospective students observe Theatre Terrific classes in progress.
• Summer Mainstage Production Annual inclusive theatre production where artists of all experience levels, backgrounds, and abilities collaborate to create an original show, performed at the Vancouver Fringe Festival and Heart of the City Festival.
• Society Membership Annual individual membership providing email updates, invitations to performances and events, and participation rights at the Annual General Meeting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced over 30 Vancouver Fringe Festival productions and 7 large cast site-specific works since 1985

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canada Council for the ArtscoreOthersMajor federal arts funder providing ongoing support for Theatre Terrific's productions and programming. Acknowledged on production materials and website as a key supporter enabling the company's work.
• BC Arts CouncilcoreOthersProvincial arts funding body supporting Theatre Terrific's inclusive theatre initiatives. Logo appears on production materials and website.
• BC GovernmentcoreOthersProvincial government funding support acknowledged on production materials and website as enabling ongoing work.
• City of VancouvercoreOthersMunicipal government arts funding supporting Theatre Terrific's operations and productions. Logo appears on production materials.
• Green Thumb TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue partner providing rehearsal and class space at 5522 McKinnon St, Vancouver. Theatre Terrific holds auditions and classes at Green Thumb Theatre Studios. Also sponsors/frunds productions.
• Vancouver Fringe FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual festival partner where Theatre Terrific presents mainstage productions. Theatre Terrific has produced 30+ productions at the festival over 40+ years.
• Heart of the City FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual festival partner for performances at Carnegie Community Centre and other venues. Theatre Terrific has multiple productions in this festival including premieres and film presentations.
• Lantern FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production collaborator on Unsettled documentary film, created in collaboration to capture the theatrical journey of artists exploring disability.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights16 records

Emerging players

• Site Theatre: SITE Theatre is a Vancouver-based Theatre of the Oppressed company founded and led by Theatre Terrific Artist in Residence Angelo Moroni. It operates in an adjacent inclusive/socially-engaged theatre niche with a smaller scale and emerging profile.

Direct peers

• All Bodies Dance Project: All Bodies Dance Project is a Vancouver-based inclusive dance company featuring performers of all abilities. Theatre Terrific's current Artistic Director Kevin Jesuino serves as a facilitator with the project, making it a closely connected peer in the Metro Vancouver inclusive performing arts ecosystem.
• Green Thumb Theatre: Green Thumb Theatre is a Vancouver-based theatre company serving young audiences and community participants. It serves as Theatre Terrific's primary venue partner (McKinnon St studios) and shares the community/mixed-ability ensemble mission in the Metro Vancouver market.
• Realwheels: Realwheels is a Vancouver-based performing arts company focused on artists with disabilities. It is one of the closest direct peers to Theatre Terrific in the inclusive Canadian theatre space, with Emily Grace Brook (Theatre Terrific's Artistic and Administrative Coordinator) graduating from Realwheels Academy.

Broad incumbents

• Arts Club Theatre Company: Arts Club Theatre Company is Vancouver's largest professional theatre company, operating multiple venues across the city. It is a broad incumbent in the same Metro Vancouver live-theatre ecosystem but does not specialize in inclusive or disability-led programming like Theatre Terrific.
• Firehall Arts Centre: Firehall Arts Centre is a Vancouver performing arts venue and producer with a mandate that frequently intersects with inclusive and community-focused programming. It is a broader incumbent in the Metro Vancouver performing arts landscape and operates as a venue partner for many local companies.

Regional players

• Green Fools Theatre: Green Fools Theatre is a Calgary-based physical theatre company specializing in mask, puppetry, and stilt performance. Theatre Terrific Artist in Residence Bill Beauregarde previously worked there, and the companies share a physical/devised-theatre DNA though they operate in different geographies.
• Boca del Lupo: Boca del Lupo is a Vancouver-based independent theatre company producing contemporary performance work and operating its own performance space. It shares the Metro Vancouver indie theatre ecosystem with Theatre Terrific but focuses on experimental new work rather than inclusive ensemble practice.

Others

• Curious & Company Entertainment Society: Curious & Company Entertainment Society is a community entertainment organization co-founded by Theatre Terrific's Managing Director Aaron Davis. It is an adjacent entity in the Vancouver community theatre ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
• Old Trout Puppet Workshop: Old Trout Puppet Workshop is an Alberta-based puppetry company known for innovative devised work. Theatre Terrific Artist in Residence Bill Beauregarde previously worked there, and the company shares a devised/visual-theatre sensibility though puppetry is its primary medium.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TheatreTerrific
• Facebookfacebook.com/theatreterrific
• Instagraminstagram.com/theatreterrificvan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theatre-terrific

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Theatre Terrific Society