The Paper Bag Players (PBP) are bringing a three-day theatre festival to Yorkton next week, hoping to foster a moment of artistic celebration and communal support.
PBP is hosting the TheatreOne festival at the Painted Hand Casino on Nov. 8-10. The festival gathers theatre groups from Yorkton, Moose Jaw, Melfort, Regina, Kamsack, and Indian Head to perform brief one-act plays over three nights.
“We always want to host [the festival] because we enjoy people coming to visit us,” said Bailey Lemcke, secretary for PBP.
PBP will host a party every night after the plays. The theme of the festival is Life’s a Stage. PBP’s parties will echo that theme through high school, college, and graduation-themed parties.
PBP will take to the stage on Nov. 8 to kick off the festival with their production of “I Didn’t Know You Could Cook,” by Richard Orloff. The play follows a tense dinner between two estranged brothers as they try to understand big changes in their lives.
TheatreOne will be offering more than stage plays. On Nov. 9, Judy Wensel is hosting a director’s workshop in the SIGN building on Broadway at 1:30 p.m. It’s free to Theatre Saskatchewan members and costs five dollars for everyone else. Interested participants can register at tsicommunity.wufoo.eu/forms/z9uj7mr1rrhn9a/.
Calyspo Malcolm, vice-president for PBP, is looking forward to seeing the Saskatchewan theatre community’s productions.
“I’m excited to see all the groups and see what they bring,” she said. “It’s a theatre family.”
Lemcke thinks TheatreOne provides an vital platform for local artists.
“I think it’s important to get your community into the arts,” she said. “It’s a fun way to let loose.”
All shows start at 7:30 p.m. every night. Tickets are $20 per night or $45 for three nights. Tickets are available at the H&R Block in Yorkton or online at www.picatic.com/event15266106348676.
