Last year, the festival had its Vernon debut. This year, it香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚 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,香蕉视频直播� said festival coordinator and Seaton Secondary drama instructor Lana O香蕉视频直播橞rien.
Now in it香蕉视频直播檚 second year in Vernon, O香蕉视频直播橞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.
香蕉视频直播淚 think in their own schools, art students tend to be outsiders,香蕉视频直播� Beaven said. 香蕉视频直播淗ere they think, 香蕉视频直播極ther kids are just like me.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
O香蕉视频直播橞rien agreed.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a fellowship. They kind of already all speak the same language,香蕉视频直播� O香蕉视频直播橞rien said. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 an understanding of how you work in a theatre.香蕉视频直播�
Unlike in the Lower Mainland, Beaven said, students in the Interior don香蕉视频直播檛 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.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not just sitting at your desk. I think, at the end of it, they think, 香蕉视频直播業 can do that,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 Beaven said.
香蕉视频直播淚t kind of opens the world to them. That香蕉视频直播檚 why this was started,香蕉视频直播� O香蕉视频直播橞rien added. 香蕉视频直播淭his is a way of bringing it to our rural kids. Any education in the arts is critical for the development of young humans.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播檚 festivities also offer two new intensives: photography and tech.
香蕉视频直播淲e also put out opportunities for kids who don香蕉视频直播檛 enjoy the performance aspect of theatre,香蕉视频直播� O香蕉视频直播橞rien said.
Separated into two groups 香蕉视频直播� the drama groups and intensive groups 香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 just something magical about getting these art students together in one place,香蕉视频直播� O香蕉视频直播橞rien said.
After relocating from Summerland, the festival lost its primary sponsor and is searching for community support. O香蕉视频直播橞rien has started a page with the goal of raising $10,000.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a very expensive endeavour,香蕉视频直播� O香蕉视频直播橞rien said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檇 love to help keep the festival growing.香蕉视频直播�
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.
