Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation member named artistic director of Young People’s Theatre

By Sam Laskaris

TORONTO – Herbie Barnes has had his share of roles with Young People’s Theatre (YPT) over the years.

Barnes has not only performed in various productions for the legendary Toronto theatre company but he’s also been a playwright, director and artist educator.

Barnes, a member of Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation on Manitoulin Island, is now gearing up for his biggest role yet. He will be YPT’s next artistic director.

“It’s a big change into a familiar place,” he said.

Though Barnes’ appointment was announced earlier this month, he will not officially begin his role until this fall.

He will work alongside outgoing artistic director Allen MacInnis until then.

“We’re going to pass the baton slowly,” he said. “I’ll learn as much as I can from him in our short time together.”

Barnes will be rather busy until he takes over the reins at YPT.

He’s currently teaching theatre classes at both Toronto’s Humber College and Sheridan College in Oakville.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, those classes are being staged virtually for now.

And he’s also developing a production called Mno Bimaadiziwin, which is expected to be staged this September at Theatre by the Bay in Barrie.

Though thrilled with his new position, Barnes said it is not necessarily one he aspired to obtain, in part because of MacInnis’ longevity with the theatre.

“This position doesn’t come up fairly often,” Barnes said. “But I think it’s the right position for me.”

YTP was founded in 1965. MacInnis has served as the theatre’s artistic director since 2002.

He had announced back in February of 2020 that he would be retiring from his role at the conclusion of YPT’s 2020-21 season.

A YPT search committee had spent a good chunk of the past year seeking and interviewing candidates for the artistic director job.

YPT’s executive director Nancy Webster believes Barnes’ hiring is a positive step.

“I personally am really looking forward to partnering with him for the next phase of our company’s development,” Webster said. “I know Herbie’s positive leadership style will inspire YPT’s staff and board well into the future.”

Despite the new role he will have at YPT, Barnes is not ready to abandon his other theatrical pursuits.

His YPT contract will allow him to dabble in other projects after he has been on the job for 12 months.

“For the first year, no, I can’t [do other projects],” Barnes said. “And then only if it doesn’t impede with my YPT work.”

Barnes is not looking to implement significant changes at YPT once he commences his artistic director duties.

But one thing he is hoping to add is to have YPT productions tour various Indigenous communities throughout the province, especially in Northern Ontario.

“I would love to tour up in the First Nations,” he said. “I toured up there as a young actor and I loved it.”

Barnes said he would also welcome the opportunity to have YPT shows become regular happenings at schools.

“I’d love YPT to be a frontrunner in that,” he said.

Barnes, who was born and raised and continues to live in Toronto, attended his first YPT show as a youngster.

He began his professional association with YPT in 1993 when he was a performer in a production called The Secrets of Shhh.