since evolved into one of the longest
running cultural traditions in Canada,
and one of the largest student festivals
in the world. In February of each year,
students from all over the province
take part in this event that attracts the
participation of approximately 12,000
students and their teachers, represent-
ing about 350 schools.
festival for a number of years. As a new
participant this year, I can easily say that
it is certainly one of my favourite high
school experiences.
rely on themselves and each other to
direct, act in, rehearse and sometimes
even write their own productions. The
festival serves as an excellent opportu-
nity for new students who are anxious to
get their feet wet in the wonderful pool
of theatre as well as for senior students
who can put their knowledge and train-
ing to use.
Esmée Robinson and Mark Edwards,
was directed by grade 12 student Diana
Wright.
ian Plain, by Don Negro, I learned so
many valuable skills that can be applied
far beyond the walls of an auditorium.
Dedication, cooperation, creativity, hard
work and compromise are all a part of
the Sears process. The bonds formed be-
tween fellow actors and the production
teams during this experience are also
long-lasting and unforgettable. Spend-
ing excessively long hours together six
days a week tends to have that eff ect!
During this time you also really learn just
how important it is to support one an-
other through times of stress, nervous-
ness, excitement and success.
sive awards: an Award of Excellence for
Ensemble (performance) and an Award
of Merit for Production. Although these
awards defi nitely add to the feeling
of accomplishment, the real achieve-
ment comes from a love and passion for
theatre and putting on a great perfor-
mance. [m]
of Our Town, they sat back and enjoyed
an evening of entertainment. What they
didn't consider, though, was the enor-
mous amount of hard work put in by the
production crew and actors who made
the show a success.
rehearsals began right away. The concen-
tration in the early months was on char-
acter building and understanding the
play, but as time went on, scenes were
brought up on their feet, and actors be-
gan working on stage.
set pieces. As rehearsals went on, actors
became more comfortable with their
roles, and the production team began
planning the set and lights.
tors were at school most days of the week