Visit our Programs page to register for Summer Art Camp 2025!

Enrollment is limited!

Reserve your spot today!

〰️

Visit our Programs page to register for Summer Art Camp 2025! Enrollment is limited! Reserve your spot today! 〰️

"Big Hearts Little Theatre" text logo on a white background
Illustration of two heart-shaped masks with happy and sad expressions.

BIG HEARTS little theatre is a performing arts company in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada providing dramatic arts education and performing arts opportunities to local artists and beyond. Artistic Director, Erin Newton, is a celebrated arts educator with over 20 years of experience as a teacher, director, choreographer, artist, and mentor. BIG HEARTS little theatre presents new works as well as licensed productions, and empowers artists to share their gifts through performance, training, and community service.

OUR PROGRAM PILLARS

Our Program is delivered using the following pillars of theatre education

  • The foundations of artistry lie in creativity, originality, and personal expression, which are honed through exploration and spontaneity. On the other hand, an actor's technique is formed by clarity, intention, and analysis, developed through practice and skill-building. It is crucial to foster both Artistry and Technique holistically, ensuring equal focus on both elements.

  • Artists grow, experiment, and uncover new skills when provided with supportive feedback and clear, focused guidance for their development. Confidence is nurtured through a compassionate, trauma-informed method that is personalized for each actor.

  • We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming atmosphere that embraces mistakes along the creative journey and celebrates each milestone reached. Any rehearsal or training session with BIG HEARTS little theatre begins with a mindful transition into the creative space. Sharing theater with the community allows artists to recognize its profound influence while sharing theatre within the group, fosters connections and a feeling of unity.

  • At BIG HEARTS little theatre, we consistently apply theory in practice. Since drama is a performance art, we offer frequent chances for our actors to showcase and refine their skills in various theatre spaces for diverse audiences.

  • Having a working knowledge of Safe and Responsible Practices is essential for theatre practitioners to sustain a healthy, enduring engagement in theatre. Key aspects of the BIG HEARTS little theatre holistic approach to arts education and training include:

    • Respectfully establishing and upholding boundaries

    • Implementing physical and emotional safety practices

    • Advocating for industry change to systemically oppressive or outdated paradigms

Person wearing a red clown nose and purple shirt against a blue background.

We are the little theatre

with the BIG HEART

OUR PROGRAMS

  • Man in red shirt holding a brown comedy mask against a blue background.

    PERFORMANCE COMPANY

    Our Performance Company is composed of actors and technicians who have completed an audition and been cast in our current production.

    Read More about the Program Details

  • Woman in blue holding a green comedy mask against a blue background.

    TRAINING COMPANY

    Our Training Company is composed of theatre artists who are keen to hone their craft through weekly lessons in performance technique, movement, and scene work.

    Read More about the Program Details

  • Woman with long dark hair smiling, wearing a purple top, against a blue background.

    ACTING FUNDAMENTALS CLASSES

    Our Acting Fundamentals classes are composed of young theatre artists who are keen to hone their craft through weekly lessons in performance technique, movement, characterization, and scene work.

    Read More about the Program Details

  • Promotional poster for "HeART Camp" by Big Hearts Little Theatre, scheduled for July 14-18, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Activities include acting, singing, dancing, creative writing, visual arts, hand-sewing, and filmmaking. Registration opens January 20, 2025, at $300 per student. Target age groups are 6-9 and 10-14. Space is limited. Includes an image of a person smiling with hands under chin.

    SUMMER CAMP

    Our heART camp program will create opportunities for campers to explore singing, dancing, acting, visual arts, creative writing, acting- for-film, and hand sewing! We will also have daily outdoor time at the park on our street.

    The week will culminate in a film screening and gallery tour of work created thoughout the week!


    Read More about the Program Details

  • Two women performing yoga poses against a blue background.

    YOGA

    This class in intended for late teens and adults. Participants will be led through gentle poses in low light, with soft music. You will leave feeling deeply relaxed, calm, and ready for a good night’s rest.

    Read More about the Program Details

  • Person with curly hair wearing a clown nose and an orange shirt against a bright blue background.

    ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEER HOURS OPPORTUNITIES

    Other volunteer opportunities available with our Community Company may include ushering for BIG HEARTS little theatre performances, creating props, set and costumes, advertising, promotions, and community events.

    Read More about the Program Details

AUDITIONS

Poster for 'One Good Marriage' by Sean Reycraft featuring two hands holding and two black leather armchairs on a dark background.
Illustrated casting call announcement with decorative golden stars on a black background, featuring the text 'Casting Call Now for 2 Great Shows!' with arrows pointing left and right.






Theatrical poster for "Broadway Hearts: An Evening of Razzle Dazzle" presented by Big Hearts Little Theatre. Features a dancer in a spotlight with text describing a curated selection of Broadway classics staged by Erin Newton, scheduled for April 2025.

Fall 2024

Munsch at Play

Promotional poster for 'Big Hearts Little Theatre' showing 'Munsch At Play'. Features a group of people in colorful outfits, oversized book graphic, rainbow, and clouds. Describes a performance of Robert Munsch stories with dates, location, and ticket prices. Includes a QR code and contact email.

BIG HEARTS little theatre is proud to present Munsch at Play, a collection of 8 Robert Munsch Stories, adapted for stage by Irene Watts and creatively directed by Erin Newton.

Performers on stage in colorful costumes, including polka dot dresses and a dinosaur outfit, holding red ribbons.
Person in orange outfit performing on stage with colorful props and a curtain backdrop.
Performers in colorful costumes, posing on stage with polka dot dresses and vibrant suits.
Two people on stage wearing costumes, including a green outfit and a dress with polka dots, both wearing police hats, with colorful boxes in the background.

Summer 2024

The-One-Act Play that Goes Wrong

Promotional poster for "The Play That Goes Wrong," a one-act play by Henry Shields, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Lewis. Features a group of actors in comedic poses, wearing costumes, with props like a keyboard and lamp. Show dates are August 16th, 17th, 23rd, and 24th at The Zoetic in Hamilton at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for students/seniors. Presented by Big Hearts Little Theatre with contact email for tickets.

BIG HEARTS little theatre is thrilled to be producing The One-Act Play that Goes Wrong, written by Henri Lewis, Jonathon Sayer, and Henry Shields and presented by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service under license from Mischief Worldwide Ltd. The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong is a hilarious comedy which will have people rolling in the aisles!


August 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 2024
7:30 PM

The Zoetic
526 Concession St, Hamilton

Read what the press has to say about us!

Hamilton City Magazine

Steel City Reviews

Erin Newton, (she/her)
Artistic Director

Person dressed as a clown in a red blazer, bow tie, and nose, posing against a red background.

Erin has trained in dance and theatre since childhood. During her early education, she received training at local dance and vocal studios, performed as a member of the McMaster Dancers, and took classes at Randolph Performing Arts in Toronto, Steps on Broadway, and the Broadway Dance Centre in NYC. Before pursuing a career in secondary education, she owned a successful chain of three dance studios for ten years.

Testimonials