The internship at Brantford Collegiate Insitute is home this week to the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Oxford District Showcase of the National Theater School’s DramaFest.
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Schools from across the region are taking part in the three-day theater competition that concludes Thursday evening.
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Audiences on Wednesday evening can take in At the Frog Fountain by Cayuga Secondary School at 6 pm, Blues by St. John’s College at 7 pm, followed by The Scarlet Heart by Brantford Collegiate Institute at 8 pm
On Thursday evening Hagersville Secondary School will present Bad Dates at 6 pm
“The Scarlet Heart is an example of commedia dell’arte, an Italian style of slapstick comedy with archetypical characters, and it’s a really fun show to stage,” said Grade 12 student Katrina Davis who portrays Arlecchino in the production. “A lot of times in previous years, the themes of plays in the festival have been dark and painful, but it’s a good time to be laughing.”
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BCI technical crew member Aidan de Resendes noted that theater offers a sense of belonging for high school students involved in productions.
“The arts allow you to develop your soul and really figure out who you are,” he explained. “Most importantly, I think the arts is a place for people who don’t always feel like they belong. It’s home for anyone and everyone.”
Production manager Kai Kennedy, in her final year at BCI, wanted to get involved after seeing a DramaFest presentation when she was in Grade 4.
“It’s about bringing people together and giving them a reason to be happy,” she observed. “After COVID, we saw a big shift in the content of plays at the festival, which helped get us back in the swing of things with something more uplifting.”
All performances are at BCI located at 120 Brant Avenue in Brantford. Tickets are available at the door.
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