SUNDRE – The first-ever theatre camp hosted by The Den – Sundre Youth Centre under the auspices of Greenwood Neighbourhood Place recently wrapped up with a final performance of a skit about diversity and collaboration – as opposed to uniformity and competition – being a source of strength.
The short play, titled A Treacherous Treasure Hunt, was an original skit written by Lilyann Saunders, GNP’s summer youth programming coordinator, specifically for the camp.
“I made sure that it would be something that could be put together in the five afternoons that we had to rehearse the script,” Saunders told the Albertan.
“The kids were in charge of creating their own original characters, and so they had some input into the script as well,” she said, adding there were seven talented young actors between the ages of 10 and 14 involved.
“They were all very dedicated and have been great to work on this skit with.”
Describing the camp as “a great creative opportunity for me to write and direct,” Saunders said, “it was great to watch them become more confident onstage, work as a team and approach every new song or scene with enthusiasm.”
The Rising Stars theatre camp culminated in a final performance for friends and family that was held on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 20.
“The skit is about friendship and how two competing groups that have different strengths find out that they are stronger when they set their differences aside and work together,” she said.
Longtime rival pirate groups called the Red Bandits and the Blue Buccaneers are both on the hunt for a rare treasure with each crew keen to prove they’re the best by being the first to discover and claim the loot for themselves.
“They each have their separate struggles until a sea monster attack forces them to work together,” she said. “After that, they realize that they are stronger as one crew and their differences/abilities complement each other.”
There were also three songs that Saunders selected, with the lyrics slightly changed to fit the story. The kids learned and performed: I Am the Pirate King, Give my Regards to Broadway and In the Good Old Summertime.
The performance marked not only the end of the theatre camp but also Saunders’ time as the summer youth program coordinator for GNP as she prepared to move back to Lethbridge to continue pursuing post-secondary studies in music and education at the University of Lethbridge.
Yet she is no stranger to the theatre scene in Sundre, having been involved with B.S. Productions since 2019 primarily as a performer but also lending a hand backstage management. That non-profit group has previously produced plays including a musical adaptation of Anne of Green Gables and Mary Poppins, with an upcoming workshop for a Broadway show called Newsies.
“I know a few of the kids in the camp are planning on auditioning for Newsies, and I strongly encourage them to keep pursing musical theatre opportunities.”
While Rising Stars offered more of an introduction to theatre, B.S. Productions will be able to provide a more comprehensive musical theatre experience on a larger scale, she said.
“It’s nice to see the performing arts growing in Sundre and how the people in the arts community support each other.”
