About
Who We Are
Theatre by the Bay is a professional, not-for-profit theatre company based in Barrie, Ontario. We are entering a bold new era marked by artistic ambition, financial responsibility, and community-rooted programming. Our revitalized brand—Play On—reflects creativity, resilience, and a strong commitment to excellence and access.
We produce world-class theatre right here in Barrie, blending nationally recognized talent from Stratford, Shaw, Broadway, and Mirvish with exceptional rising artists from Central Ontario. Our shows are entertaining, inclusive, and professionally staged—crafted to resonate with a wide range of audiences.
Our Vision
Beyond our artistic mission, Theatre by the Bay offers something beautifully simple: An unforgettable night out.
Have dinner at one of Barrie’s fine downtown restaurants. Enjoy a glass of wine. Then sit back and take in a show you’ll be talking about long after the final bow. Whether you’re a long-time theatregoer or new to the experience, we promise a performance that connects, delights, and inspires.
Our impact goes deeper, too:
• We mentor the next generation of Canadian theatre-makers
• We offer hands-on training in producing, marketing, development, and outreach
• We contribute to Barrie’s cultural and economic vitality with artist-first, community-centred programming
Support Beyond The Ticket
Our Values
Our Values:
- Financial Sustainability:We only produce what is fully funded—ensuring long-term impact
• Audience Focus: We stage shows that are engaging, thoughtful, and universally accessible
• Innovation: We stay agile and relevant in a changing world
• Leadership & Inclusion: We work collaboratively, transparently, and ethically
• Reputation & Brand: Play On signals creativity, professionalism, and trust
• Community Partnership: We work closely with Tourism Barrie, the City of Barrie, the Downtown BIA, and major provincial/federal funders
At Theatre by the Bay, we make theatre that means something—both to the artists who create it and to the audiences who experience it.
The Play’s the Thing.
Play On.
Meet The Team
Staff Members
Board of Directors
Interested In Joining Theatre by the Bay's Board Of Directors?
Presenting Sponsors
Barrie Theatre Festival
Presenting Sponsor
Stars Come Out
Presenting Sponsor
Galina Johnston, CFP, RRC
Festival Series Presenting Sponsors
Canada Wide Series
Central Ontario Series
Theatre for Young Audiences
Show Presenting Sponsors
Canada Wide Series
Crime After Crime (After Crime)
Down Broadway Lane
Central Ontario Series
Daughter of the Country
Barrie Bards Blunder
Theatre for Young Audiences
Curious K Explores the Paleozoic
The Camp Campy Campfire Show
Barrie Theatre Festival Funding is generously provided by
Website & Technology Sponsors
Media Sponsors
Hospitality Sponsor
Print | Photo | Graphic Design Sponsors
Our History
Land Acknowledgement
A Commitment To Truth and Reconciliation
Resources
More Information About The Territories Surrounding Barrie
- Barrie was established at the Foot of the Nine Mile Portage, an Indigenous and traditional transportation route that existed centuries before Europeans arrived in Simcoe County.
- There have been at least five major archaeological finds around Barrie that tell us more about Pre-Settler Indigenous life in this area.
- The “Confederacy of Three Fires” existed long before European contact. It was a relationship between three peoples: The Ojibway (Chippewas) were the providers, the Odawa were the warriors and the Potawatomi were the firekeepers.
- Treaty 16, or the Lake Simcoe Purchase, was signed in 1815 at Kempenfelt Bay by representatives of the Crown and certain Anishinaabe peoples. The territory described in the written Treaty covers approximately 100,000 hectares or 250,000 acres.
- Treaty 18 was signed on Oct 17, 1818, by representatives of the Crown and certain Anishinaabe peoples. It is also known as the Lake Simcoe-Nottawasaga Treaty and was the first of three treaties signed between October and November 1818. A fourth, Treaty 27, was signed in the Spring of 1819. The treaty details include a payment of goods at the "Montreal Price," because Montreal was the economic hub of Upper and Lower Canada.
Hot Off The Press!
Review from Lynn Slotkin: "Icemen"
“You grip the arm rest waiting to hear what’s going to happen.”
News Article: Theatre by the Bay's Icemen is a thriller set in Barrie
“Let’s go back to 1930s Barrie when ice harvesters were on Kempenfelt Bay.”
Review from Girl Likes Theatre: "Icemen"
“There are many suspenseful moments culminating in a gripping final scene.”
News Article: "Icemen," inked by award-winning playwright, marks world premiere at downtown Barrie's Five Points Theatre
“Theatre by the Bay is taking a chilling look back at Barrie’s history, with a tale of vengeance, betrayal, class warfare and defence of livelihood.”
Blog By The Bay
Blog Title Three
- October 10, 2023
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- October 10, 2023
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi…
Blog Title One
- October 10, 2023
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi…