Actors from the Airdrie-based theatre company Nose Creek Players are preparing to take to the stage at a one-act play festival in Okotoks on April 1 and 2 at the Rotary Performing Arts Centre.
The Foothills Regional One-Act Festival, hosted by Dewdney Players Okotoks – an Okotoks-based non-profit theatre company – will include performances from local theatre companies in the region, according to Chelsea Restall, a local Airdrie actor.
Restall will be performing alongside fellow player Mandi Fusaro in a one-act play writted by Canadian playwright Hope MacIntyre called “Trauma.” The actors will perform the play on April 1, and will be directed by Robin McKittrick, president of Nose Creek Players.
According to Restall, the play is about the effects of a school shooting, and it’s examined through the eyes of two mothers.
“One is coping with the death of her son, who was a victim, and the other is coping with her child, who was the shooter,” she said.
“It’s a pretty heavy piece that does a really nice job of juxtaposing the two perspectives and bringing some brevity to it, but also some seriousness.”
She added the two-woman play is a very impactful piece that will be sure to make a statement among other contenders at the festival.
Following the performances on each day of the festival, an industry professional adjudicator will provide relevant advice and constructive critiques, and will divvy up awards to performers in various categories.
Restall added that, although the organizers of the event haven’t yet announced who the adjudicator is this year, she is eager for a chance to garner some professional feedback following her participation in the festival.
“It’s really cool because [they] can go into more specific details about your performance and then at the end of it all, they issue [awards],” she said.
Another perk is that performers get a public and private session with the adjudicator, she added.
According to Restall, the adjudicator will also announce a winning performance that will go on to compete at a provincial competition.
She added prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nose Creek Players participated in the festival and took home the top prize, which meant they went on to compete at a provincial level.
Both Restall and Fusaro are eager to get back on stage after two years of public health restrictions, and Restall admitted the actors have had to “shake off the rust a bit” in order to get back into the swing of things.
Additionally, she is looking forward to performing in front of a live audience once again, which she said will help bring people a sense of hope and togetherness after two years of separation.
“It was really impressive how [theatre companies] came up with creative ideas to go online, but for me, theatre is people in an audience, people on stage together,” she said.
“You lose something when it’s not done in person and so having this opportunity to finally come back together and to rehearse in a space with other actors and being able to go as a group and perform it for an audience who’s laughing together, crying together – it's invigorating.”
Those interested in attending the festival are encouraged to purchase a ticket at the door. For additional information, please visit adfa.ca/
