There was no shortage of people attending TheatreFest 2017 at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts in North Battleford.
The only shortage was in empty seats, because most were filled all week for the performances April 24 to 29.
According to festival committee chair Donna Challis, the event “broke all sorts of records.” Challis says that for attendance, they averaged about 290 people a night.
“Provincial-wide, we haven’t had one like that for probably a good 20 years,” said Challis.
About 165 people had bought a package for the whole week, which provided a good base of support for the entire week.
There were also records set for participation. There were 80 competitors on hand, some of who were there the whole week. As well, there were 20 participants in the Apprenticeship Program who were there all week from across the province, and that was the largest number in about 20 years as well.
“They went home just flying,” said Challis, “because they learned so much throughout the week to take back.”
In all, Challis was happy with the way it all turned out.
“In all honesty, I could say ‘great, great, great, great’ because we were really pleased.”
She also was excited with the high caliber of the performances seen by all the competitors.
“Quite often, when you have a festival there’s definitely some way up here and some down here,” said Challis. Instead, it was more a level field.
Still, there was no doubt that the Regina Little Theatre had the strongest performance with Vimy, by Verne Thiessen, which was awarded the McIntosh Memorial Cup.
But Challis also noted that Melfort placed second for The Love List, which showed that anyone from anywhere in the province could do well.
“It just shows it doesn’t matter the size of the community,” said Challis. “Everybody’s got the ability to bring a really good product, and I think overall it’s improving. There used to be bigger spreads between Regina and the bigger community, and the smaller communities. It’s not the way anymore.”
North Battleford councillor Len Taylor was at TheatreFest and had nothing but good things to say about what transpired there in remarks at city council last Monday night. He said of the winning entry Vimy that it “brought tears to the eyes of almost all of us in the theatre” because it was such an outstanding performance.
“Just as the Sportsnet Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling wants to come back to the Battlefords because it was the best organized and best attended event that they’ve had, also, TheatreFest wants to come back to the Battlefords because it was the best organized and best attended event that they’ve had,” said Taylor.
Here is a list of the winners from TheatreFest 2017:
Stan Danbrook Technical Merit Award: Regina Little Theatre, for Vimy.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Tyler Toppings, Regina Little Theatre, Vimy.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Abbey Thiessen, Regina Little Theatre, Vimy.
Best Actor: Emery Nelson, Melfort Amateur Dramatics, The Love List.
Best Lighting Design: Derek Klassen, Regina Little Theatre, Vimy.
Best Actress: Linda Jacobson, Cochin Community Players, Hilda’s Yard.
Best Characterization: Bernie Cardin, Battlefords Community Players, Of The Fields, Lately.
Runner-up Director: Ardath Salen, Melfort Amateur Dramatics, The Love List.
Best Director: Mark Claxton, Regina Little Theatre, Vimy.
Best Visual Presentation: Regina Little Theatre, Vimy.
The Margaret Corbett Aspirant Award: Angele Poirer, for Sound Design, Regina Little Theatre, Vimy.
Runner-up to the Winning Entry: Melfort Amateur Dramatics, The Love List, by Norm Foster.
Winning Entry - The McIntosh Memorial Cup: Regina Little Theatre, Vimy, by Verne Thiessen.
