Rachel Beales

Co-Founder, Education Director

Instructor: Acting, Young Company

Rachel is a theatre artist and educator with a background in performance and design. She holds a Specialized Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Production and Design from York University, and is a graduate of Queen’s University’s Artist in Community Education program, where she received her Bachelor of Education.

Rachel has a wealth of experience mentoring young artists in school and community settings across Canada. She is an Ontario Certified Teacher and spent many years teaching Grades 5/6 before moving to high school. Throughout her teaching career, she has dedicated herself to developing high quality performing and visual arts programs for students in Ontario and British Columbia schools. She has taught drama and dance to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and directed countless youth theatre productions including musicals, plays, concerts, and clubs. In addition to her work in schools, Rachel has taught with, and created educational programming for, many prominent theatre organizations in Southern Ontario, including Canadian Stage, The Living Arts Centre, Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts, and Theatre Orangeville. She is currently the Head of Theatre at Mentor College, in Mississauga.

As a theatre educator, Rachel is especially passionate about the effect the creative process can have on young learners and believe students involved in theatre become citizens who are compassionate, innovative, problem-solvers. She is thrilled to bring her passion home to Young Artists’ Theatre with the hopes of building a supportive, enriching, creative community together.