Theatre 5 was founded in 1967 by five people -Valerie and Gordon Robertson, Keith and Jacquie Bradley; and Barrie Chamberlain -the first post-war theatre company to use the newly renovated Grand Theatre.

In the beginning, the company concentrated on performing the works of major playrights like Shakespeare, Shaw and Ibsen offering a short season of plays each year at the Grand Theatre. Financial limitations kept the sets and costumes to a minimum and for several years the group preferred to work with a relatively bare stage, placing the onus on the actor to carry the show.

Slowly the company started to grow and expand on its areas of expertise. By 1972, Theatre 5 had established a reputation as a children's drama company, performing in schools, hospitals and community halls all over Eastern Ontario.

In 1973 Theatre 5 became incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization known as Holiday Theatre (Theatre 5).

By the spring of 1974 the company had evolved a new style, with the production of documentary drama of both local and national interest. With time the company increased its critical acclaim and visibility. The Book, The Bush and the Dove, a historic tribute to the United Church on its 50th Anniversary, toured for a year throughout Ontario. Sections of the show were broadcast by C.B.C. coast to coast.

In 1975 they performed an original comic revue, Canadian Odds and American Ends at the Leacock Festival of Humour. In 1978 they successfully competed for critica1 attention and audience appreciation at the Edinburgh festival with The Seasons of Dennis T. Patrick Sears. In 1979, Theatre 5 was the only Canadian participant at the 1st National Showcase for performing arts for young people in Evanston, lllinois.

From 1975 till 2008, Theatre 5 has operated from its Brewery lane Theatre on King Street, used as a rehearsal hall and studio.
The theatre will, as of May 2006, take up residence at The Baiden Street Theatre at 57 Baiden Street.

At its peak as a school touring company Theatre 5 was performing 100 shows per year in Toronto, and 50 outside Toronto. The slow erosion of school budgets and busing, together with the downsizing of Arts co-ordination activities throughout the education system has rendered these rich and deserving programs no longer functionally feasible. Therefore, in 1978 Theatre 5 began.a series of musical fairy-tale productions for public school children to be performed in large, well.equipped theatres, to which children would be bused. This extremely successful venture took the place of the in-school shows, and allowed the children to see theatre complete with music, dance, song, colourful costumes, and technical wizardry.

In the last 20 years, Theatre 5 has maintained a more local focus. Diversification of activities has also taken place. Theatre 5 now operates a theatre school year round for students from 7 to 70 years of age and a costume rental service.

In the future Theatre 5 hopes to continue bringing vibrant and living theatre to Kingston and indeed to all of Eastern Ontario. With the help of all our supporters we hope to see the increased growth of theatre in Eastern Ontario.