Skip to content

A milestone year for the Souris Valley Theatre

The Souris Valley Theatre is going to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion, it’s going to bring back one of the most popular shows in its history.
Souris Valley Theatre

The Souris Valley Theatre is going to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion, it’s going to bring back one of the most popular shows in its history.

Ranchers and Rustlers, written by Randy Apostle, will be the main stage show this summer. Theatre board president Robert Godfrey said they are excited to have the show return.

“We’re working with a great crew, and a great team of actors. We’re actually looking at some actors right now who were part of some of the original performances of Ranchers and Rustlers, back when it first came to the Souris Valley Theatre,” Godfrey said in an interview with the Mercury.

The musical will be making its first appearance at the theatre’s Frehlick Hall since 2004. It was performed for the first time in 1994, when the theatre still had a tent.

“Over the past couple of years, we have been really working with our patrons, doing some surveys and getting them to fill out suggestions,” said Godfrey. “With that, we keep seeing a recurring theme, and that’s ‘Bring back Ranchers and Rustlers.’”

Since this year marks theatre’s 30th anniversary, they thought this was the perfect time to bring the show back.

Ranchers and Rustlers will be performed July 2-6 and 9-13. There will be matinee performances on July 4 and 13.

A big 30th anniversary celebration will be held on July 6, prior to that night’s performance.

“We’re still working out the fine details of what that will look like, but it’s going to be a free day for people to come out and enjoy and learn about the theatre, and have some fun, and celebrate with us 30 years of live, great theatre,” said Godfrey.

He has not seen Ranchers and Rustlers previously, since he was a child the last time the show was in Estevan.

Apostle will be serving as artistic director in a part-time capacity, and Godfrey said he’s working to bring in the crew needed for the show.

Also this year, the theatre will host a season kickoff concert on June 13 with Saskatchewan country music singer Codie Prevost providing the entertainment.

“He just won awards at the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards ceremony not too long ago,” said Godfrey. “He’s an excellent entertainer, and we’re really excited to have him come in and perform for our theatre with a couple of his band members.”

Prevost has been in Estevan before, and Godfrey is looking forward to hearing him perform. Godfrey noted that it will be similar to a show that Prevost did a couple of years ago with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils that earned rave reviews.

Kipling’s Alex Runions will entertain at a season-ending concert in August.

“Everything we’re doing this year, we really want to have a great energy and have a lot of fun, because it’s a great birthday year,” said Godfrey.

While the theatre has not confirmed any further shows, Godfrey predicted it will be one of their busiest seasons yet.

“We are still working on the details for a couple more drop-in shows,” said Godfrey.

The theatre will also have its annual summer theatre camps for youths. Act 1 for kids ages six to eight, Act 2 will be for those nine to 12, and Act 3 is for students ages 10 and up.

Abby Hanna and Kelsey Driedger will be the camp directors this year.

“They’re very great people,” said Godfrey. “They both have experience in theatre and education, and so we’re excited to have them put on this program for the kids."

Lampman’s Maureen Ulrich will be writing a play for the Act 3 students that will wrap up that particular camp.

Registration is going well, as they have a healthy number of first-time campers this year.

Godfrey encourages people to get their registrations in as soon as possible, so that they can accommodate everyone who wants to be part of the camps.

“This camp is really unique to the area. It provides a lot of knowledge. It’s an opportunity to work in a professional theatre setting, and to get to work with our camp directors, but also with some of our professional cast and crew that join in on the camps and provide some guidance as well.”

Breanne Van de Woestyne will be the marketing person this summer. She’s familiar with the theatre, as she was a summer student when going to university.