Barrie Theatre Festival
Perfect for: Theatre lovers, curious audiences, cultural explorers, weekday and weekend getaways, and anyone who enjoys discovering something new.
10 Days. 6 Productions. One Great City.
For ten days each June, Barrie becomes a destination for professional live theatre.
The Barrie Theatre Festival, presented by Tourism Barrie, is a carefully curated celebration of storytelling — bringing together acclaimed touring artists, bold new Canadian work, and performances selected for their artistic excellence and audience appeal.
This is not an open-call fringe. Each production is chosen with intention — to surprise, to entertain, and to create conversation.
The 2026 Festival features nationally touring artists, a Broadway performer whose journey began in Barrie, and original works created in Central Ontario. Each show runs under an hour, allowing you to experience multiple productions in a single visit.
Join us for an afternoon, an evening — or a few days.
Plan a midweek cultural escape or a full weekend immersed in theatre.
Downtown Barrie comes alive during the Festival. Restaurants buzz. Conversations spill onto sidewalks. The theatre becomes a gathering place.
Explore the lineup. Choose your favourites.
And make the Festival part of your June.
Your next favourite story starts here.
Venue
Five Points Theatre1 Dunlop Street West, Barrie
Ontario L4N 1A1
Production Team
Glenn has over 20 years of experience with sponsorship and fundraising. He has a verifiable track record with fundraising capital campaigns, corporate partnership development and sponsorship combined with a strong skill set and expertise in communications, the performing arts, branding, sponsorship, finance, marketing, creative work production and publicity.
He is also a musician – the Managing Creative Partner of Absolute Sync, a music sync licensing & publishing company based out of Los Angeles & Toronto. He is the lead Music Producer & Songwriter, creating music for sync music placements and various artist projects. His success in sync has included song placements with SuperChannel, Netflix, CW Network & CBS Studios. His musical collaborations include work with award winning hit producer Justin Gray (John Legend, Mariah Carey, Avril Lavigne, Toy Story 4, Target), JT Roach (One Republic), Nikki Flores (Mya), Dyson (Nickelodeon), King Flexx (NFL), N’Sync’s Lance Bass & Joey Fatone, Randy Bachman & Tal Bachman (She’s So High) to name a few.
Tomas Ketchum
A long-time collaborator with Theatre by the Bay, Tom returns to the company to co-direct the classic family adventure, Treasure Island. Having contributed to numerous productions as a performer, writer, and most recently as Production Manager, Tom brings a holistic understanding of the Barrie stage to the director’s chair. A graduate of the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Theatre and Drama Studies program, he combines a deep passion for storytelling with a rigorous technical background. Tom is dedicated to fostering an environment that brings out the heart of this comedic musical for the Barrie community
Sarah has over 25 years of experience working across the performing arts and nonprofit sectors. With a BFA in Theatre Education & Acting from Emerson College in Boston, she has built a career as a skilled performer, director, producer, and arts administrator balancing creativity with strong communication, thoughtful leadership, and the practical know-how it takes to get things done. In addition, her certifications in therapeutic coaching brings an extra layer of empathy and clarity to her work with teams, artists, and communities.
New to Theatre by the Bay, Sarah is excited to be part of a company that shares her passion for high-quality theatre and meaningful community connection. She’s eager to support its continued growth and momentum. She’s passionate about helping arts organizations thrive, reach new audiences, and build something that lasts.
With thanks to our sponsors