The Souris Valley Theatre’s summer musical theatre camps remain a popular option for young people to not only learn more about being on stage, but to showcase all they have learned during the camps.
The theatre offered the camps in three different age groups. Act 1 was for ages six to eight, and ran from July 10 to 14. It had around 14 participants. Act 2 was the following week for children ages nine to 12, and proved to be the most popular, with 19 kids.
Each of those camps wrapped up with a brief performance for family and friends to enjoy.
“The kids … gave us ideas, and (camp assistant) Kelsey Potoma wrote the script,” said Josh Wade, who was in charge of the summer theatre camps this year.
The summer theatre camps wrapped up with Act 3 for children ages 13 to 16. It ran from July 31 to Aug. 11, and concluded with the performance of Game of Phones: The Canadian Edition, on Friday afternoon and evening at the theatre’s Frehlick Hall.
“Game of Phones is, by far, the most work we’ve put in on a show this summer, but it’s really paying off, and the kids are having a great time,” Wade said on Thursday afternoon.
Fifteen children were registered for the Act 3 camp.
“I love the show. I think the kids are doing great. It’s going to be such a great show, and I can’t wait to show people this, because I’m really, really proud of what these kids have accomplished,” he said.
The kids love the music, the dancing and the opportunity to act, he said.
“They have great futures ahead, whether it be in theatre or anything else they choose to do,” said Wade. “They’re going to face it with passion and excitement, because that’s what they’ve shown me this year.”
The production was the sequel to the Game of Phones show performed by the Act 3 kids at last year’s camp. In this year’s show, Pearl and her grandchildren Sarah, Jessie and Nelson are going to Ottawa to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday when Nelson downloads a strange app on Jessie’s phone.
“That app sends them back in time where they meet a bunch of historical Canadian figures such as Nellie McClung and John A. Macdonald and Anne of Green Gables, and they try to get back to their own time,” said Wade.
He believes that some of the participants might not have had the chance to perform in a full-length show before, and Wade believes it’s important to give them that chance.
“Performing is an opportunity for you to shine, and for everyone to watch you and your talent and your glory,” said Wade. “Kids get a chance to feel important and special, and like they’re a star.”
Kimi Allan of Brandon, Man., was at the camp for the fifth time. Her aunt, Anne McLaughlin, lives in Estevan, and she encouraged Allan to attend the camp in one of its first years.
“I loved it so much that I came back, and I keep coming back,” said Allan. “It’s just such a great experience, being with kids that are younger than you, because you learn so much from them and they learn so much from you.”
The actors from the main stage shows, including Amanda Trapp, came and helped out with the choreography, while musical director Ben Redant played the piano and taught the music, helping the youths understand what it’s like to be in the real shows.
“I’ve been doing musical theatre since I was five or six, so it’s my thing,” said Allan.
Wade believes the camps went really well this past summer. The kids had a lot of fun learning new skills and performing in front of their parents.
“If nothing else, I think they learned how to be more comfortable around their peers, and how to express themselves through theatre,” said Wade. “They also learn how to express themselves on stage, and express certain ideas and characters.
“They also learned basic theatric skills in terms of projection and facing forward and smiling at the audience, and all of that good stuff,” said Wade.
