Left to right, BCP actors Kali Weber, Holly Briant and Tom Claxton during rehearsal. (submitted photo/Battlefords Community Players)

By Angela Brown

TheatreFest

Battlefords Community Players to host provincial theatre festival

Feb 14, 2024 | 5:21 PM

Battlefords Community Players (BCP) have the honour of hosting the 87th Saskatchewan TheatreFest.

The provincial competition that will bring community theatre groups from across the province to the Battlefords to perform runs from April 21 to 27 at the Dekker Centre in North Battleford. Theatre groups from about seven communities are scheduled to take part over seven evenings. Seven workshops are also planned.

“It’s exciting for all of us,” said Donna Challis, BCP executive producer and chair of the festival committee. “The audience or community members can also come to the workshops as well. They can see the play, and come the next morning to hear what the facilitator has to say. It’s a real opportunity for anyone interested in theatre to learn. We’re certainly trying to use the festival as a learning experience as well as for a real enjoyment of theatre.”

Tickets for the event for individual shows or a package for the full week will go on sale Feb. 29 at the Dekker Centre.

The Battlefords Community Players will perform the drama, An Inspector Calls on April 21 for its part during the competition.

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BCP is partnering with Theatre Saskatchewan for the festival. The event will also serve as a fundraiser for the Battlefords Community Players.

The last time the BCP held the festival here was in 2017, so Challis is looking forward to having it back.

“We worked really hard to get a full week of theatre here,” she said, adding that BCP made a bid to host the event here almost a year ago.

At the end of the week, awards will be announced in about 13 categories for the various productions.

Information about which plays will be performed during the week will be available shortly.

Bringing TheatreFest to the Battlefords will be a boon for the community, and also help promote community theatre in the area.

“We’ll be showcasing the Battlefords,” Challis said. “There’ll be groups here from six other communities. Plus [visitors from] other communities will be here. They may not be in the shows, but they’ll be coming to see the festival and to see friends. We’re very proud to be doing it. We’re bringing economic opportunities here too. People will spend money while they’re here.”

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsNOW