Students at Senator Myles Venne School are preparing for a drama festival next month. (submitted photo/Lacey Eninew)

By Derek Cornet

Drama competition

SMVS among schools preparing for Northern Drama Festival

Mar 19, 2019 | 2:02 PM

A live-performance by Senator Myles Venne School (SMVS) students using shadow movements will be part of the Northern Drama Festival next month in Buffalo Narrows.

The annual festival is made possible through a partnership between the Northern Sport, Culture and Recreation District (NSCRD) and the Saskatchewan Drama Association. According to NSRCD Program Manager Harmony Johnson-Harder, schools in Green Lake, Hall Lake and Pinehouse Lake will also be participating in the competition. The winning performance will be eligible to compete at the Saskatchewan Drama Festival in Regina in May.

“The Northern Drama Project and Festival is an opportunity for northern schools to develop a production of their own,” Johnson-Harder said. “Once they sign up for our program, they receive mentorship through the Saskatchewan Drama Association. A mentor will go into their communities and work with the students and the teacher on their production.”

The drama performance at SMVS is called Pasakwapīsimowin, which is a Woodland Cree word translated to ‘dancing with your eyes closed,’ in English. Teacher Lacey Eninew noted the idea for the play is inspired by a student at the school, previously took a traditional legend and adapted it into a puppet show. They decided to do a live performance of the puppet show for the festival because Eninew noted the script was written and English terms was already translated into Cree.

Badminton Provincials

Nipawin locals claim hardware during badminton provincials on home court

11h ago

Sports

Bedard's three-point effort leads Canada past Denmark 5-1 at hockey worlds

15h ago

Honouring a local legend

Prince Albert Arts Centre renamed to honour Margo Fournier during ceremony

May 11, 2024

A drama mentor assisted SMVS students with their production last weekend. (submitted photo/Lacey Eninew)

Eninew also stated the play at SMVS will be led by a group of Grade 7 girls, who have been preparing for the festival at least once per week. She noted a mentor visited the school April 9 and 10, adding he was able to bring more energy and liveliness to the production.

“It’s important for the community to know what happening in the classrooms,” Eninew said. “What these kids are doing is just really positive stuff.”

At Minahik Waskahigan High School in Pinehouse Lake, students will perform a play called I Don’t Want to Talk About It by Saskatchewan playwriter Bradley Hayward. The drama club at the school is led by social worker Kelly Miller who said students have been practicing two or three times per week. She also added students will be visited by a mentor this weekend, who will help them fine-tune the play.

“I don’t have any formal training in drama or coaching drama, so they offer the skills I wouldn’t be able to pass on to the kids,” Miller said. “Usually, they do a series of different drama activities introducing them to improv games, and working on projection and pronunciation. They also really help us with figuring out what the final vision of the play will be.”

The Northern Drama Festival will be held April 12 at 6 p.m. at Twin Lakes Community School in Buffalo Narrows. The public is invited to attend the festival and watch the plays.

–

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @Saskjourno