Published Research
Elm Tree Theatre is a reseach company whos uses theatre to explore ways of developing meaningful, immersive, and engaging experiences for young children ages 1-5.
Elm Tree’s senior leaders and theatre practitioners have been involved in a variety of research and academic publications, interviews, and workshop and we invite you to explore them below!
Our Publications
Fitzsimmons Frey, H. (2026). “Meaningful Relationships, Meaning-Making, and Care in Performance for Early Years in Canada.” In Performing Arts in Early Childhood Education: Aesthetics and Meaning (v. 47). Manon van de Water, ed. Springer, available October 2026.
Fitzsimmons Frey, H. and J. Leach (2025). "Co-imagining Early Years' Theatrical Experiences through Abundance, Respectful Relationships and Making Magic." Voices of a New World: Legacy and Innovation in TYA. Manon van de Water, Nora Lia Sormani, and Paulo Merisio, eds. Faperj and Cândido, 153-166.
Fitzsimmons Frey, H. (2024). "A Reflection on Canadian Theatre Review and Recognizing Innovation and Integrity in Theatre for/by/with Young People." Canadian Theatre Review, 199/200, 94-108.
Ayles, R., H. Fitzsimmons Frey, and J. Leach. (2023). "Creative Process and Co-Research with the Early Years through Flight,” Performance Matters 9.1-2: 278-315.
Ayles, R., H. Fitzsimmons Frey, & M. Mykietyshyn. (2022). Harnessing the Power of Flight: Devising Responsive Theatre for the Very Young. Routledge Companion to Drama in Education. Eds Mary McAvoy and Peter O’Connor. Co-authors Robyn Ayles and Margaret Mykietyshyn. 269-280.
Our Podcasts & Interviews
Fitzsimmons Frey, H. and Emily Rubiyata (interviewer). Edmonton program offers aquatic experience for kids. Edmonton AM. July 6, 2026.
Ayles, R., H. Fitzsimmons Frey, & T. Hatt. with M. Miskiman and R. Schabert (hosts). Imagining chickadees, squirrels, rabbits and magpies through children’s interactive theatre. Research Recast(ed) MacEwan Podcast, July 15, 2023.
Ayles, R. & H. Fitzsimmons Frey with B. Ekelund and D. Cave (hosts). Who they are, not who they will be”, Research Recast(ed) MacEwan podcast. October 27, 2022.
Our Podcasts & Interviews
Fitzsimmons Frey, H. and J. Leach. (2025) "Play-Full Leadership and Meaningful Relationships" Association of Early Childhood Educators and Alberta, Essential Pieces. May 23 2025
Fitzsimmons Frey, H. and J. Leach. (2024) “Co-imagining with Respectful Relationships, Meaningful Materials, and Abundance.” ITYARN, ASSITEJ World Congress, Cuba. | May 2024
Fitzsimmons Frey, H., T. Hatt, P. Amyotte, C. Arguetta. (2024) An Exploration of Process: Respectful Relationships, Meaningful Materials, Aiming for Abundance, Brown Bag FFAC Lunchtime Research Presentations. Roundhouse, MacEwan. 7 February, 2024.
Fitzsimmons Frey, H. (2023) Co-researching and Co-imagining Possibilities with the very young: The Urban Wildlife Project | WeeFestival, Toronto | June 2023
Fitzsimmons Frey, H. &J. Leach. (2023) Exploration of Process: Respectful Relationships, Meaningful Materials, Aiming for Abundance. WeeFestival | June 2023
Ayles, R. & H Fitzsimmons Frey. (2022)Creating for Early Years Audiences with Flight and Creative Dance. With Robyn Ayles Dance and the Child International, York University. Online| July 2022
Fitzsimmons Frey, H. (2021)Play-full Dramaturgy with Early Years Audiences. Snapshot. Children, Youth, and Performance Conference, Toronto. | June 2021
Fitzsimmons Frey, H. & R. Ayles.(2021) Play-full Dramaturgy (Theatrical Co-Inquiry with Early Years Audiences). International Theatre for Young Audiences Research Network (ITYARN) at ASSITEJ in Tokyo, Japan | Online| March 2021