Aidan Spila
Co-Artistic Director
C$225
We had the idea to start a theatre company back in October 2019, but it was only through confronting our new reality of living through an international health crisis that we decided to take the plunge. We were initially going to name our company “Atmosphere Theatre,” and we would focus on producing new works in an intimate setting. But as students in a pandemic, we recognized how difficult it was to transition to online learning and to stay inspired. Since we understood the struggle of adapting to our own schooling, we realized that it must be even more distressing to be young and unable to learn with the same shared energy and joy as before. We noticed that there was a void to be filled: inspiring children through the joy of theatre. So we shifted our focus to cultivating the good and gaining something wonderful.
We are something Gained Theatre Co. The Co-Founders, Aidan Spila and Abigail LaForest, are lifelong students of theatre and recent graduates of Macewan’s Theatre Arts program. They have a shared passion for theatre creation and are enthusiastic about extending their love for theatre to all audiences. We understand how hard this pandemic has been, especially for young ones. That’s why we are offering virtual theatre camps! Donating $75 pays for a child to attend a fun, week-long theatre education. Our summer camps teach some of the foundational skills for acting in theatre - creating movement, building characters, exploring the voice, and fostering creativity and playfulness, all in a space where children’s ideas are embraced.
Aidan Spila
Co-Artistic Director
Abigail LaForest
Co-Artistic Director
Abigail LaForest is a young soprano, actor, and dancer from Drayton Valley, Alberta. She is a recent graduate of Macewan’s Theatre Arts Diploma and the co-Artistic Director of Something Gained Theatre Co. She is incredibly excited to bring the joy of theatre to young people from across Alberta. She has experience making theatre accessible as a camp counselor and as a support worker to those with special needs and is excited to curate theatre camps that will leave minds inspired. She will be creating a Saturday morning class full of music and crafts.
Emma Abbott
Emma Abbott is a passionate actress and singer who has been involved in theatre for many years, and is thrilled to be a part of Something Gained Theatre Company. Just graduating from the Theatre Arts Program at MacEwan University, Emma hopes to bring all that she has learned in acting, voice, and movement to entertain and inform others. She is especially excited for their most recent project: an online summer theatre camp for kids aged 8-12. Emma has great experience working with children as she has been a camp counsellor for D-Camps for 2 years now. She is very happy to continue being a role model for children this year, and is grateful for the opportunity to work for this company and to make theatre accessible during this unpredictable time.
All the proceeds from this campaign go towards tuition for these camps, allowing us to give away some spots in our classes for free! This money pays our three project artists, and secures any needed materials, allowing them to devote their full attention to delivering these classes.
We recommend our camps to children between the ages of 8-11, but a couple years younger or older is totally fine too!