The award winning Battlefords Community Players is about to host the longest running competitive theatre festival in Canada.
"In this, the centennial year of the City of North Battleford, we are so pleased to be able to host TheatreFest," says Donna Challis, 2013 co-chair of the event. "In addition we can't wait to show the province our brand new Dekker Centre."
The Battlefords Community Players are not strangers to hosting the festival as they have on eight previous occasions and Challis encourages everyone to get involved.
"Volunteers are needed to put on such a big event and of course we need a wonderful, enthusiastic audience," says Challis. "We are thrilled, it's going to be a great week. Come on out and play with us."
TheatreFest 2013 will be held at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts March 31 to April 6, with 150 participants from theatre groups in the Battlefords, Regina, Saskatoon, Cochin, Kerrobert, Moose Jaw and Swift Current converging on and spending the entire week in the community.
"Battlefords Community Players and Theatre Saskatchewan are very proud of the long history of promoting and producing live theatre," said Challis. "It is another unique achievement in which Saskatchewan leads the way. We hope to fill every seat on every night."
Off stage, 20 apprentices will also participate in lighting and sound workshops, public adjudications and a public voice and characterization workshop.
The event begins Sunday, March 31 with the Battlefords Community Players entry, Transit of Venusby Maureen Hunter. Directed by Challis, the play is set in France in 1760, spanning 11 years as astronomer Le Gentil attempts to chart the course of Venus across the sky. The author, who was raised near Indian Head and now lives in Winnipeg, has written eightfull-length plays and has co-written a one-act children's play.
Transit of Venus will have just finished as the March dinner theatre production by the Battlefords Community Players, also at the Dekker Centre, as part of their annual local performance season.
Monday, April 1, Kerrobert's Prairieland Playerswill perform You've Got Hate Mailby Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore.
Tuesday, April 2, Saskatoon Ageless Playerswill present Romantic Fools,a comic vaudeville by Rich Orloff.
Wednesday, April 3, Swift Current Little Theatrewill present Old Loveby Norm Foster.
Thursday, April 4, Moose Jaw Community Playerswill present Roses In Novemberby Neville J Bryant.
Friday, April 5, Cochin Community Players will present Jenny's House of Joy by Norm Foster.
Saturday, April 6, Regina Little Theatrewill present Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydeby Jeffrey Hatcher.
The doors at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts will open at 7:30 p.m. and show times on Gordon Tootoosis Memorial Stage will begin at 8 p.m. Ticket holders will be entered into a draw to win BCP season tickets and upcoming concert tickets.
TheatreFest 2013 is Theatre Saskatchewan's 79th full length festival. Theatre Saskatchewan Inc.
This is the first season for BCP in its new performance venue, the Dekker Centre. BCP, which has existed in its current form since 1952, also has a new rehearsal and meeting hall it can call home, having purchased the former Battleford Grace Community Church at 102 - 26th St. in Battleford.
