Paul Lacey

Paul’s 2019/20 classes:
Downtown | Saturdays: Gr. 3-4 (9AM-10AM; 10AM-11AM), Gr. 1-2 (11AM-12PM)
North York | Sundays: Gr. 1-2 (10AM-11AM), Gr. 3-4 (11AM-12PM)

Paul holds a Specialized Honours B.A. in Theatre from York University with a focus on collective creation and playwriting as well as a Bachelor of Education (Primary/Junior) from OISE/University of Toronto. He has been a teacher at YPT for many years. Selected writing credits include Tom Quixote (Black Recorder), Vacancy (York University Creative Ensemble), and Dream Awake (York University New Play Workshop). Selected acting credits include A Christmas Carol (EMP), Beauty and the Beast (CCP), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (SMT). Paul holds theatre workshops for students throughout the Toronto District School Board, and has also been involved in drama teacher training and workshops.

Q&A with Paul

Name your favourite YPT production.

Rough House by Andy Massingham – an innovative movement-based piece with a ton of unique lighting ideas, performed by an actor and theatre practitioner who continues to inspire me with positivity and kindness.

Describe your favourite Drama School memory.

Upon feeling as though one of our Grade 4/5 collectively-created showed had veered off into too-dark territory, I tried unilaterally imposing changes upon my students’ show the day before the performance. They were so displeased with me and so connected to their art that they wrote me a letter in crayon explaining why their own artistic vision should remain intact. I was incredibly proud of them for standing up to me, and we kept their play as they intended it.

What would the central theme of a play written about you be?

Man tries to prove to himself that money does not buy happiness. He sometimes almost succeeds.

As the 2019/20 Season theme is the Seven Ancestral Teachings, what is something you appreciate about Toronto and why?

For all that I appreciate the hustle and bustle of the big city, there is always a park or a ravine within walking distance when I really need them.