Last year, the festival had its Vernon debut. This year, it害羞草研究所檚 bigger and better than ever.
The 18th annual kicked off at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Monday, drawing in more than 360 students from 20 schools across the Interior for professional workshops centred around theatre, film and TV.
害羞草研究所淚 think the magic of this festival is some of the kids only see each other once every year and look forward to making new friends every year,害羞草研究所� said festival coordinator and Seaton Secondary drama instructor Lana O害羞草研究所橞rien.
Now in it害羞草研究所檚 second year in Vernon, O害羞草研究所橞rien and fellow organizer and Summerland drama instructor Linda Beaven said Vernon is the perfect town for the festival to flourish.
Beaven originally kickstarted the festival in 1999 in Summerland alongside fellow instructors Sandra Richardson and Mike Robinson to provide a hands-on program for Interior students interested in pursuing a career in the arts.
害羞草研究所淚 think in their own schools, art students tend to be outsiders,害羞草研究所� Beaven said. 害羞草研究所淗ere they think, 害羞草研究所極ther kids are just like me.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
O害羞草研究所橞rien agreed.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a fellowship. They kind of already all speak the same language,害羞草研究所� O害羞草研究所橞rien said. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 an understanding of how you work in a theatre.害羞草研究所�
Unlike in the Lower Mainland, Beaven said, students in the Interior don害羞草研究所檛 have the same access to careers in the arts. To mitigate that shortfall, the Goodwill Shakespeare festival brings in industry professionals to teach the students the ropes. And, in that aspect, Beaven said the festival excels.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not just sitting at your desk. I think, at the end of it, they think, 害羞草研究所業 can do that,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Beaven said.
害羞草研究所淚t kind of opens the world to them. That害羞草研究所檚 why this was started,害羞草研究所� O害羞草研究所橞rien added. 害羞草研究所淭his is a way of bringing it to our rural kids. Any education in the arts is critical for the development of young humans.害羞草研究所�
Students value the opportunity so much that they start banging on their doors as early as September, they said.
In addition to a growing crowd, this year害羞草研究所檚 festivities also offer two new intensives: photography and tech.
害羞草研究所淲e also put out opportunities for kids who don害羞草研究所檛 enjoy the performance aspect of theatre,害羞草研究所� O害羞草研究所橞rien said.
Separated into two groups 害羞草研究所� the drama groups and intensive groups 害羞草研究所� students in the drama strand rotate through a sampling of workshops in a variety of fields. Intensive students focus on workshops surrounding one specific sector and must have attended two previous festivals and/or have a strong interest in their chosen field.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 just something magical about getting these art students together in one place,害羞草研究所� O害羞草研究所橞rien said.
After relocating from Summerland, the festival lost its primary sponsor and is searching for community support. O害羞草研究所橞rien has started a page with the goal of raising $10,000.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a very expensive endeavour,害羞草研究所� O害羞草研究所橞rien said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檇 love to help keep the festival growing.害羞草研究所�
Eight schools will showcase performances from their schools Monday and Tuesday evening from 5-7 p.m., and on Wednesday from 1-3:30 p.m., the acting, choral, writing and photography students will be showcasing the work they have done over the three days of the festival at the Gala.
All of these performances are open to the public by donation, at the Performing Arts Centre, with donations going toward future festivals.
