Hitting the national stage

By Melissa Piche Times Contributor

nce again proving its creative strength, this time on the national stage. 

Under the guidance of drama teacher Deanne Bertsch, students travelled to Ottawa to take part in the National STAR Fest East May 16-18.

Student performed Last Chance Texaco and New Blood at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and returned home with awards, scholarships, and memories.

From performing in the iconic Grand Hall of the Canadian Museum of History to earning national recognition for their talents, the experience was both inspiring and unforgettable.

“We couldn’t have done any of this without the incredible support from our community,” said Bertsch. “So many people donated to make this trip possible and we’re just so grateful.”

The road to nationals started when they performed three original and emotionally powerful one-act plays at the Zone Festival in Okotoks, walking away with multiple awards and a ticket to provincials at the University of Lethbridge.

One of the standout performances was The Stories We Carry, an original student-written piece that delves into the unseen struggles people face in their everyday lives. Told through shadow work and symbolic visuals, the piece explored the hidden weight of personal experiences and emotional pain.

“We performed it all with shadows,” explained Bertsch. “(It’s about) the stories that people go through but no one knows that they’ve gone through hard things because we don’t see it.” 

The play was recognized with the Best Technical Ensemble Group award at the Zone Festival.

Another entry, Frank Slide: 100 Seconds, offered a dramatic portrayal that captivated judges and earned the Best Drama Ensemble award. 

However, the show that represented Strathmore High at provincials was Last Chance Texaco, a moving story centered around three women – played by Melissa Turner, Sarah Taylor, and Ella Peterson – who meet in a small-town garage after car trouble brings them together.

“It’s a fabulous play,” said Bertsch. “It’s about three women, a mother and daughter who own a garage and a stranger whose tire goes flat and ends up at the garage and all the stories they share.”

Last Chance Texaco tackle’s mature themes, including abortion and relationship struggles. Bertsch, who first saw the play 20 years ago, said she’s waited a long time for the right students to bring it to life.

“Ella plays a 40-year-old woman,” she said. “That’s tough for a teenager, but all three are very gifted actors. They pulled it off beautifully.”

Ella Peterson played the role of Verna, the mother.

“When I was told I was playing this character, I was like, ‘uh, I don’t know if I can do this,’” said Peterson. 

She was a bit unsure of the mature subject matter of the play, but felt confident that Mrs. Bertsch wouldn’t set them up for failure. 

“Mrs. Bertsch, she believes in me and I think just knowing that she wanted us to do this and thought that we were capable of putting on this play was very special,” said Peterson. “Some lines were very tough to say, because I’m yelling at Melissa (plays the role of Cissy, Verna’s daughter), who is my friend, but I have to play this character who is just not who I am.”

Peterson emphasized how this play in particular opened her eyes as to how actors have to sometimes disassociate in order to portray not so favourable roles. 

Peterson also noted that this play and the stories that are shared are so powerful, “they all hold so much truth in their stories and it needs to be shared.”

The production was directed by student Alyssa, who, according to Bertsch, handled the complex material and layered metaphors of the script with maturity and skill. 

“There’s a lot of metaphor in the play, and Alyssa did a fantastic job helping the cast and crew understand and represent the relationships and themes,” said Bertsch. “She was amazing.”

Being selected for provincials is no small feat. Only 25 plays from across the region are chosen to compete, and Bertsch wanted the experience will be as inspiring as it is rewarding for her students.

“I hope they (got) to see other plays and be inspired,” she said. “(I was hoping) the adjudicator is really good with them and inspires them and their future endeavours with performing arts.” 

With more performances on the horizon, including a performance of New Blood at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary on June 22, the legacy of this year’s drama season is one of dedication, cultural celebration, and the transformative power of storytelling.