A new youth theatre company is set to put on their first play this weekend at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre.
Flying Arrow Productions, a youth theatre group run by Anita Hallewas, is performing Heritage by Dafydd James on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Oct 24–26.
The play takes place at a school on May Day. As the a group of misfit students prepare to close off the day's festivities, things go awry. Tubbsy's hiding a cat in his bag; Deirdre-May's grieving her Nanna and Mark's turned up as Stegosaurus. As the rehearsal breaks down, they soon begin to suspect that they've been chosen for a far darker purpose.
The play is a black comedy with music that explores a darker side of nationalism.
The Revelstoke production features local youth, aged 12 and up, at all levels, from production to the stage. The play was mutually cast, wrote Hallewas in an e-mail. There was no audition process — instead, everyone who wanted an acting role got one.
They also took on production roles, designing the costumes, sound and lighting. Alice Dunkerson, a grade eight student, created the poster, including the image on it.
"The project has a mentor focus where the youth are mentored by professionals in theatre skills that interest them," said Hallewas.
Each student was required to take on two or more roles, such as actor, marketing, director, stage manager, producer and more.
"There are many roles within producing a theatre show and we wanted the youth to see that," said Hallewas.
The project was funded by the Columbia Basin Trust Youth Initiatives program and was a combined project between Flying Arrow Productions, a youth-focused theatre non-profit, and the Revelstoke Theatre Company.
Students also get one high school credit for taking part in the play.
Heritage takes place at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre. Show times are Friday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. They are available in advance at Big Mountain Kitchen & Linen.
For more information about Flying Arrow Productions, visit their website at www.flyingarrowproductions.ca.