The Theatre Arts Festival
Begins
The Provincial High School Theatre Festival gets
underway in Gander this evening, as students from 10 schools converge on
the town to showcase their thespian talents. The Honourable Darin King,
Minister of Education, will be on hand to officially open the festival.
"I had the pleasure of attending previous theatre
festivals and know the audiences are in for a real treat," said Minister
King. "These students and their teachers have put in countless hours
preparing for the regional competitions and ultimately for the
provincial showcase. The talent that will be displayed over the coming
days is not to be missed and I encourage everyone in the Gander area to
make every effort to take in a show."
This is the 33rd year for the Provincial
Theatre Arts Festival. Students compete at regional or district
competitions to win a spot at the provincial festival. This is not a
competitive event, but rather an opportunity for students to demonstrate
to audiences their acting talents and abilities. Students will also
participate in a number of workshops delivered by professional artists.
For example, Ira Crummey will present Blocking and Stage Movement,
and Jocelyn Ivany will introduce students to Blood and Stage Make-Up.
At the end of the festival, students will benefit from the knowledge and
expertise of actor and comedian John Sheehan, adjudicator of this year�s
festival.
"The festival provides an opportunity for young people
to discover, develop and showcase their theatrical talents," said the
Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.
"It is important we recognize that the high school actors and backstage
support of today are very often the theatre professionals of the
future."
Thomas Kendell, Chair of the Nova Central School Board
said the district is very pleased to host this year�s Theatre Arts
Festival. "This is an exciting time of year for students interested in
theatre arts, and the provincial festival provides an opportunity for
their hard work, dedication and talents to be recognized," said Mr.
Kendell.
The Provincial Government is providing just over
$46,000 to support the festival. This funding is part of government�s
$11 million Cultural Connections � a sustainable fine arts and
cultural strategy, which provides additional teachers, new curriculum
materials, more local resources, enrichment opportunities, purchase of
musical equipment and support for arts festivals.
"Each year, students and teachers spend a great deal
of time preparing for the festival � from designing sets to practising
lines," said Minister King. "It takes a lot of work to pull off a
successful stage production, and I commend everyone for their dedication
and commitment to this event. I also applaud the volunteers for their
help in making this year�s event a success, and thank John Sheehan for
committing his time and efforts in helping these young people improve
their acting skills."
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