Summer is just around the corner, which means that the Souris Valley Theatre board is getting ready for the season.
They still won't be able to have a traditional theatre season due to pandemic restrictions, but after a one-year break, they are bringing back their summer camps.
"We're really excited this year to be returning our summer theatre camp to the Souris Valley Theater," said theatre board president Robert Godfrey.
Last year, due to the pandemic, the Souris Valley Theatre wasn't able to have either a theatre season or camps. This time with restrictions easing up, the board was able to go ahead with the camps.
"This year, while we won't be having our traditional theatre entertainment, we are excited to be having our theatre camp back, and to be having the youth out learning from theatre professionals and learning from theatre students more about professional acting and professional theatre in all forms, including the work behind the scenes, backstage, costuming, design, lighting, and all of those pieces of the theatre experience we have them learn in our program," Godfrey said.
The theatre will have four camps this summer, which is one more than they've had in the past. The Act I camp will take place July 5-9 and it is for children ages six to eight. The Act II camp is slated for July 12-16 and is designed for kids ages nine to 12. The Act III camp is going to have participants ages 10-16 and will take place on July 19-30. Aug. 3-6 will see a new addition to the Souris Valley Theatre camp program.
"What we have as a new offering this year, which we haven't had in the past, is we're going to be offering an Improv camp. This is for ages six to 16," said Godfrey.
"We had a lot of people ask for this type of programming in the past. And so we were really excited that we could bring that this year."
He added that when the board was planning the new season, they specifically focused on something they could offer to their students, while also keeping in mind their families. And they decided that it was a great time to introduce the long-planned improvization program.
"We figured what better time to bring in some more programming and provide opportunities for families to have that avenue to do something this summer. And that was really important to our board, when we were making the decision whether or not to have camps, we put a lot of consideration into making sure that we can provide something for both our students and their families so that they have something exciting to do, something to look forward to this summer, and something that they could do, have a lot of fun and get to learn something that we think is really awesome," Godfrey said.
The board is wrapping up the hiring process for the camp instructors. The instructors will start right away with developing a program and planning for all four camps.
"Typically when we do hire, we always get students that are in university to lead these courses. We're looking for people that have some type of connection to theatre and dramatic art performances. And we're excited because we have had some people that check those boxes, and we're looking forward to having those people in place," Godfrey shared.
Local play writer and author Maureen Ulrich of Lampman will once again be helping with drama camps.
"We're really excited once again to be working alongside the local author, Maureen Ulrich," Godfrey said. "She has played a huge role in the success of the Souris Valley Theatre. She is a past-president of the theatre. And we're excited to be working with her, as we have for all of the years of our theatre camps since inception, on the actual play that we'll be working on this year. And she provides a lot of help to our instructors, in helping them put together the show and giving them a lot of that knowledge as well."
The registration for the summer camps will be opening soon. For the latest updates and for a link to the registration form, check the Souris Valley Theatre's social media pages.
"We are doing online registration. So it's very easy. You'll just follow the link and find the online registration form that will ask for the information about your child. And once you're finished, submit that, and we'll have a link to all of your information. And we'll send a confirmation back just to let you know that we've received it and confirming the date that will have your child with us. So it's a really easy process," Godfrey explained.
The theatre puts the safety of their performers and patrons first. Like other theatres across Canada, the Souris Valley Theatre won't have professional programming for the second consecutive year due to COVID-19, but Godfrey said that this mandated break allowed them to do a lot of work in the theatre.
"We are very busy this summer. We'll be taking on a number of capital improvements and working on bringing our facility into tip-top shape for 2022," Godfrey said.
He added that they're working with theatre consultants to help them further define what their programming will look like in the future. They also want to make sure that when they do return after two years off, they have incredible, better than ever shows, as Godfrey put it, for everyone to see and that their facility is in the best shape.
"We're working on improvements that will enhance the entire performance and also how comfortable people are in the show. While we're not having our regular programming, we want to focus on growing and getting better, and ensuring that our program can be successful for many years to come … And when we return, I can only guarantee to everyone that it'll be not just as good, but it'll be better than what we've had in the beginning," Godfrey promised.
He encouraged anyone who has any ideas or things that they're looking for from the Souris Valley Theatre, to reach out to the board.
"There's a lot of interest from our board to have our community's input on these changes. And also if anyone is looking to help our theatre in more ways, we're always looking for new board members and fresh perspectives to come on our board and help us make these decisions and put on the programming when we return," Godfrey said.
He also thanked the community for the support the theatre has been receiving throughout the years.
"Just a big thank you to everyone who has supported our theatre in the past and supports us through this year. And we can't wait to get back to performing once again in 2022."
