In 2005, Kate Twa and Ronan Reinart formed Cucumber Satellite, a community for tenacious young artists to develop their craft as actors, writers and creators. Iris Macgregor-Bannerman rounded out the team with an unbeatable voice regime that she continues to teach at the studio to this day. The quality of work created there drew immediate attention and the stage presentations became so popular that the studio was soon bursting at the seams.

During the fall of 2009, Cucumber Satellite moved to the Railway District and in 2012, Kate Twa partnered with John Cassini to create Railtown Actors Studio, in part an homage to The Actors Studio in NYC and LA of which John is a Lifetime Member. John brings his dynamic personality and superb skills in acting and directing to Railtown’s Film Classes, Scene Study, Ensembles and Intensives.

Since its inception, the artists at work at Railtown Actors Studio quickly earned a significant reputation for excellence in the craft of storytelling. With classes for film, theatre, voice, movement and writing, the work here is dedicated, raw, visceral and intelligent, with no-holds-barred presentations for sold out audiences.

Railtown has hosted dozens of industry heavy hitters from actors to directors, and agents to writers. Some highlighted guest speakers include Neil Labute, Jennifer Beals and Jon Noble. The Guest Speaker series is now hosted by the Railtown Lab, an initiative begun in early 2016 with the purpose to provide space for and inspire artists to develop new content. The Railtown Lab has also been behind the development of award-winning films and other creations. Supporting our community from the roots up is at the core of our purpose.

In 2017, we moved a few blocks from the Railway District to East Pender just off Main Street, in the heart of Vancouver’s bustling and historic Chinatown. Kate and Ronan then felt a calling to move to the Okanagan to create Tempest Theatre & Film Society in Penticton. Towards the end of 2020, Railtown relocated to Broadway just a few steps west of Oak Street. We're thrilled with our new home, which includes two separate and dedicated spaces: an intimate black box theatre for scene study, and another studio space for film classes, tapings and coachings.

We invite you to join us on our creative journey and be a part of our history.