Darrell Yates, front right, of Battlefords Community Players, won the best actor award for his performance in the show True West in the 2019 TheatreFest competition. (submitted photo/Battlefords Community Players)

By Angela Brown

Awarding the best

BCP cast member wins Best Actor award in provincial competition

May 9, 2019 | 2:53 PM

On Saturday one of Battlefords Community Players’ (BCP) own was honoured with the Best Actor award at Theatre Saskatchewan’s TheatreFest 2019 long-play competition.

Darrell Yates who lives in North Battleford said he was thrilled to be recognized for his role in the BCP production of True West, by award-winning playwright Sam Shepard, performed on May 3.

Theatre Saskatchewan announced the winners in a special ceremony in Regina May 4.

“It’s very nice to receive recognition from your peers,” Yates said on winning the award. “I think it demonstrates that good theatre is alive and well in the Battlefords.”

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True West is a drama about two brothers in conflict, who ultimately learn they are as similar as they are different in making their life choices.

The BCP was one of seven theatre companies from across the province competing.

Yates said True West had a strong cast, and credited fellow co-star in the play Marno Auchstaetter.

“It’s too bad they couldn’t have given out even more awards,” he added.

Originally from Newfoundland, Yates honed much of his craft in community theatre in Nova Scotia before moving to North Battleford in 2017.

He balances his time volunteering with BCP as well as the North Battleford City Kinsmen Band, while working fulltime as the Lakeland Library Region executive director and CEO.

Yates said volunteering has always been a big part of his life.

Donna Challis, BCP executive producer, said she was proud to see Yates win the Best Actor honour.

“I’m very pleased,” she said. “It’s his first show with us. I thought he did an excellent production. I was not at all surprised when he was awarded the Best Actor.”

“He gave a very fine, careful, thoughtful performance, that brought out the situation in the play so clearly,” Challis added. “I’ve seen a lot of good performances in my life with this club and he certainly was right up there.”

Challis added the BCP will be holding auditions on May 14 and 15 starting at 7:30 p.m. each night at the Clubhouse for individuals aged 17 and up interested in taking part in the group’s next season.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW