Centre for Indigenous Theatre

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Founded in 1974 by the late James H. Buller, the Native Theatre School was started with the vision that Aboriginal people could create change in Canada through theatre. Buller, a noted opera and musical comedy singer who also became a popular boxer in the Canadian Navy known as "Gentleman Jim" before founding the school, wanted to see aboriginal actors, playwrights and directors flourish across Canada and create a network of aboriginal theatre companies from coast to coast and saw the Native Theatre School as the way to do it.

In 1994 the Native Theatre School was re-named the Centre for Indigenous Theatre to reflect the organizations greater commitment to the pre-professional training, professional development and promotion of aboriginal theatre in North America and around the world. In 1995, the centre announced the development of its first new program in support of aboriginal theatre, the James Buller Awards for Aboriginal Theatre Excellence.

1998 marked the launch of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre's newest and most ambitious program. Based on the Native Theatre School model, the Centre opened the new Indigenous Theatre School, the first full-time, 3 year theatre training program in North America with a curriculum that integrates training in acting, voice, movement and traditional aboriginal cultural classes in dance, song and oral history.

The Centre for Indigenous Theatre is located in Toronto, Ontario.