Matilda hits the stage

By Melissa Piche Times Contributor

The Strathmore High School (SHS) Drama 20 and 30 students are set to hit the stage with a family favourite, Matilda from Dec. 16-20.

SHS drama teacher Deanne Bertsch explained that the show will be double cast, meaning multiple students will get to play different roles including lead roles. This gives everyone an opportunity to play a part they are eager to play.

There are about 45 students in the cast, making it a larger production, but still manageable. 

“It’s a good number,” she said. “It’s a children’s story for the Christmas season.” 

Bertsch said that Matilda isn’t necessarily considered a Christmas production, however the whimsical aspect of the production is sure to delight families for the holiday season. 

“They (SHS) started a tech theatre class for us a couple years ago and so we have tech kids in almost every class I teach,” she said. 

Bertsch said that having the tech kids in her class support her with the production aspect as they help in almost all of the productions she puts on. The tech students work on everything from set design, lighting, makeup, sound and costumes. She said that “every one of them does a different job.”  

Bertsch is also the teacher for the tech class and said that not everyone in the tech class participates in her drama classes. 

“I get a lot of kids who aren’t interested in performing, but do come to be a part of the production end, so it’s really exciting,” she said. “I think what’s been exciting for me in this show, we didn’t have any outside people come in to help. The kids, in the last few years, have really shown a lot of initiative in wanting to do some directing, do choreography, help with the music – so that’s been really fun to see. We’ve had a lot of newer kids step up to choreograph some of the dances and kids that showed a big interest in directing this year so it’s very much their (the students) production. It’s always very exciting for me to see them take on leadership roles.” 

Another fun aspect of Matilda is some fun acrobatics. There is a specific sequence in Matilda that called for an acrobatic performance. Without giving too much away, Bertsch describes the role as a very dramatic story that the audience will love. 

“Something else that’s exciting for me is that there are some brand new kids to the theatre department this year. They saw Grease last year and said it looked like a lot of fun so they took the class. That always makes me happy when kids are brave enough to try something new even if they’re in Grade 12,” said Bertsch. 

She has also noticed an increase in the international students joining drama.

“I’m always really proud of them,” she said.

The show runs Dec. 16-20 nightly at 7 p.m. with matinees at 2 p.m. on Dec. 16-17. Tickets can be reserved in advance by calling 403-821-3203 or purchased at the door. Tickets are $10 each.