Reviving Theatre at Grand River Collegiate

Grade 12 students Jordan Capling and Catalina Astroza brought theatre back to Grand River Collegiate in a big way this year. Together, they led the 2025 student production of The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon by Don Zolidis—marking the school’s first full-length drama production since 2007.

The project wasn’t just about putting on a play—it was about rebuilding a creative space that had been missing for years. Jordan and Catalina worked hard to make the experience more inclusive, more collaborative, and more community-driven than past productions.

They chose a script with a large, flexible cast to ensure more students could be meaningfully involved, both on and off stage.

The team collaborated with community partners for costumes, props, lighting, and audience outreach—ensuring the play was rooted in the local arts ecosystem.

They also created opportunities for students in photography, business, and tech to lend their talents, and kept tickets affordable so the entire community could attend.
Held on June 3rd, 4th, and 5th, the performances were a hit—with a total of 324 tickets sold.

As Jordan reflected, one of the best parts was when elementary students came to see the show: “They were all so excited and loud and they started chanting and jumping on benches. It was nice to see that they appreciated our months of work so much.”

The experience left a lasting impression. As one cast member put it, “I really liked working on the school’s production! We had been working on it for most of the school year and seeing all that hard work come together was really rewarding and fun!”

With support from the Youth Creativity Fund, Jordan and Catalina made sure this year’s production didn’t just mark a return to the stage—but a new chapter for community involvement and student-led creativity at GRCI.