Last season, Braiden Houle starred in MTYP’s home and touring production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Here’s what he had to say, in his own words, about the experience.

“I was about 11 years old when I started the Aboriginal Arts Training and Mentorship program. I stayed with this program until I turned 18 and then went outwards to Studio 58 in Vancouver.

I wanted to attend this program because I knew at a young age that I wanted to be an actor and had a commitment to being one. It was also a great environment to be myself and to make life long friends.

Some highlights for me were 24/7. It was great to meet other students in different classes that weren’t Ab Arts. Another highlight was when I did a production of The Moving Gallery on the Mainstage around 2009. This would have been my first onstage theatre experience.

MTYP has changed me in a huge way. I was a very quiet kid growing up and when I entered the building, I grew out of that. I was energetic, loud and excited. Everyone from the students to the employees were great to be around. It was an inspiration to be around other actors who have done work outside of MTYP and to learn from them.

Now as a professional actor, it felt almost unreal to be back in the building of MTYP. I remember watching tons of productions on the MainStage and remembering that I want to do that some day, and now its happening.”