Themes will range from The Brothers Grimm to a lockdown to a debate over genius at the Halton District Sears Drama Festival.
“There’s every mix of ideas,” said Amanda Raposo, the festival’s media volunteer. “There’s everything from social issues to the use of technology to the acceptance of individuals.”
Performances for the 2014 festival run from Feb. 26-28 at Central High School. Nine high schools are entered.
“Everything is student driven,” said Raposo. “The plays are student directed, performed and crewed.”
The geography teacher at Oakville’s St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School is overseeing its festival entry, Lockdown.
“It’s bigger than a school play,” said Raposo. “My students are taking it a little more seriously.
School plays are for entertainment, while there are workshops at the Sears Drama Festival.”
While Lockdown is a comedy, Raposo noted the topic is a fear for students.
Burlington entries include Frank Hayden Secondary School’s The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, a wild and comic mix of fairy tales.
Central H.S. students will perform movie actor Steve Martin’s play, Picasso at the Lapin Agile. It’s about physicist Albert Einstein and artist Pablo Picasso discussing the question “What defines a genius?”
The Nelson H.S. entry, Removing the Glove, is about prejudice faced by gay and lesbian students.
The final Burlington school, Pearson H.S., will stage Dancing Solo. It’s about a troubled young woman trying to audition for dance school.
The top Halton schools will advance to the regional showcase (The time and place is to be determined).
With the festival workshop and adjudication, students benefit greatly, said Raposo.
“They can strengthen their skills and talents and work on issues,” she said. “It’s not just getting up and performing, you get feedback.”
Raposo added festival scholarships help students moving towards theatre careers.
Here’s the current schedule. Each night’s performances start at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 26 – St. Thomas Aquinas (Lockdown), Holy Trinity (The Cell Phone Rings for Thee), Bishop Redding (Seven Stories).
Thursday, Feb. 27 – Frank Hayden (The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon), T.A. Blakelock (A Ruthless Undertaking), Pearson (Dancing Solo).
Friday, Feb. 28 – Central (Picasso at the Lapin Agile) White Oaks (The Government Inspector), Nelson (Removing the Glove).
Festival tickets cost $10 at the door each night. Central H.S. is at 1433 Baldwin St. Call 905-634-7768.
