“Over 200,000 children have enjoyed a Suitcase Theatre performance in their school.”
Our Fall School Tour is SOLD OUT!
Thank you to the Tachane Foundation for supporting this outreach to schools program, and to St. Olave’s Church for the rehearsal space.
Announcing our Stronger Together cast!
Karen Scora
Karen is a Dora-nominated actor, improvisor and educator. They love theatre for young audiences! This year she toured the schools of Saskatchewan acting in The Three Musketeers and Beauty and the Beast with DuffleBag Theatre. She’s passionate about audience inclusion through immersive/interactive performance, and is one of the original actors in Many Happy Returns (an immersive show set in the 1920s) that had a sold out run at this year’s Toronto Fringe. When not on stage, or in the classroom, they enjoy cooking, spending time outdoors and playing board games.
Character: Purple
Sarah Kaufmann
Sarah Kaufmann (she/they) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist from Vancouver Island. A Musical Theatre graduate of RCPA and an alumnus of the Paprika Festival’s Creator’s Unit, Sarah is passionate about theatre for young audiences, clown, and new works. Select projects include: Isabella in RAPIMENTI (ArscomicA), Cipollina in MADAME WINIFRED’S CIRCUS OF WONDERS (Winner of the TO Fringe Kids Fest Patron’s Pick), Actor in Rep for TEATRINO (Educo Italia), and Lynne Harper in INNOCENCE LOST (Theatre on the Ridge). Additionally, Sarah is an Actor in Rep with Dufflebag Theatre, performing in schools and theatres across Canada.
Character: Blue
Character: RedVictoria Brimble
Victoria Brimble is a Winnipeg-born, Toronto-based multidisciplinary performer, musician, and writer. A graduate of Sheridan's Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program, Victoria can’t remember a time when she wasn’t drawn to the stage, using music, dance, and storytelling to connect with others. Recent credits include IN REAL LIFE (Theatre Sheridan/Musical Stage Co.) and the world premiere of RIEL: A Canadian Musical (Winnipeg Theatre for Change). She is also developing her own works as a writer and songwriter. Victoria is grateful for the ongoing support of her family, friends, and agent, Ariel Sterling at AMI Artist Management.
Meet our Stronger Together artistic team!
Naomi Jijina
Naomi Jijina is a multidisciplinary performer, producer, and arts educator whose work spans theatre, film, and interactive performance. Naomi has been an arts educator with Suitcase Theatre since 2024 and is thrilled to be directing Stronger Together this fall. Naomi is also the co-producer and location owner of The Dinner Detective Mississauga and Calgary, as well as a co-founder of Rule of Three Theatre. With Rule of Three Theatre, she co-wrote, co-produced, choreographed, and designed the shadow puppetry for their original musical adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit, currently on tour. In addition to her theatre work, Naomi performs as a children’s party entertainer, where she loves creating magical and imaginative experiences for young audiences. Naomi is delighted to be part of the Stronger Together team and looks forward to sharing this production with young audiences, creating opportunities for children from all walks of life to feel seen, heard, and supported.
Director
Mya Leworthy
Mya is thrilled to be Stage Managing Stronger Together! Previous credits include: Stage Managing Halfway There by Norm Foster at Bruce County Playhouse (2026), and un(capital)Famous at The Red Sandcastle Theatre (2026), Directing Baggage for Theatre Gargantua’s SideStream Festival (2025), and co-writing, producing, and choreographing Rule of Three’s musical adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit (2024-26). Outside of her Behind the scenes work, Mya tours across Canada with DuffleBag Theatre, bringing laughter and storytelling to audiences of all ages. Mya loves working in TYA as it gives her a chance to share her love of the arts while helping the next generation of creators find their own voice.
Stage Manager
Musical DirectorLucy Ellis
Lucy Ellis is a Toronto-based composer, actor, and singer-songwriter. Since graduating George Brown Theatre School and Seneca College's Music Production program, she’s composed and/or music directed for projects including the films SICK (dir. Pasha Soltani), The Good Old Days (dir. Desmond Lazar), and theatre productions The Velveteen Rabbit (Rule of Three), Hamlet, Sweet Prince (dir. Alex Verge), the upcoming Between Stars and Sky (First Born Theatre), as well as for the upcoming video game Mandatory Isolation.
Stronger Together: Opening Doors to Mental Health
Touring Dates: November 9-20th, 2026
We are excited to announce that Stronger Together will be touring again in the fall of 2026! During our previous 5-year tour, the performance received tremendous feedback from children and teachers. We have visited well over 200 schools on our tours in the GTA, and we can’t wait to connect with more young audiences soon!
Stronger Together: Opening Doors to Mental Health, was developed with mental health professionals from The George Hull Centre to ensure the messaging was appropriate for a JK-Grade 5 age level.
Touring Dates: November 9-20th, 2026, Monday-Friday. One show in the morning, and one in the afternoon. Stay tuned for the announcement of the schools we’ll be visiting!
Key Messages
Created in collaboration with mental health professionals, Stronger Together offers thoughtful, supportive messaging to help children navigate situations they commonly face.
Learn about your mind - your beautiful noodle!
Discover tips to BREATHE
Find out how to cope with small, medium and big problems
Change hurtful thoughts to helpful thoughts!
Figure out who is on YOUR team
Express your feelings and emotions
Read body responses
Be Stronger Together!
Download the BLUE SKIES ACTIVITIES GUIDE for ideas to promote mental health for your students:
What Principals have to say about Stronger Together.
“Stronger Together reinforces our message that students don't have to face challenges alone, and that reaching out is a sign of strength."
"It opens conversations about mental health and helps reduce the stigma that stops young people from asking for help."
"As a school with limited resources, a subsidized performance lets us offer this valuable experience without added financial strain on our families."
"This performance helps students build empathy and resilience, and encourages them to seek help when they need it."
"Its focus on empathy, resilience and community support fits seamlessly with our school-wide mental health and well-being goals."
"This show gives every learner in our school equal access to creative mental health programming."
"We want to break down the stigma that keeps students from seeking help, and build empathy among classmates."
"Many of our students and families face mental health concerns and would benefit from this performance."
"An engaging way to keep the mental health conversation going with our students."
"A chance to share our school's community resources for mental health."
"A great fit with our Healthy Eating Healthy Living initiative and our community Wellness Night with Toronto Public Health."
#PlayItForward
Suitcase Theatre offers a subsidized rate to schools serving higher-need communities in the TDSB and TCDSB. Schools qualify by meeting at least one of the three criteria below, confirmed by a signed administrator attestation
1. The school is in, or draws most of its enrollment from a City of Toronto Neighbourhood Improvement Area. Check your address in the City’s Find Your Neighbourhood tool. TDSB schools may instead cite their Learning Opportunities Index standing.
2. The school runs a breakfast or snack program.
3. At least 10 percent of families receive waivers or subsidies for trips and activities.
4. You feel the community deserves a subsidized rate despite being in a neighbourhood that has varied families from many socio-economic backgrounds
Please complete this form if your school is interested in a subsidized performance.
Thank you to The Tachane Foundation and our amazing donors for their continued support of our #PlayitForward program.
Listen to the Stronger Together soundtrack on Spotify.