Palmerston, Guelph students win top honours at DramaFest

GUELPH – Drama students from Palmerston and Guelph have qualified for the regional National Theatre School competition (NTS) in Gravenhurst next month. 

Waterloo-Wellington NTS DramaFest took place at John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute from March 3 to 6, with student productions from Wellington County, Guelph, Orangeville and Waterloo Region.

DramaFest is one of the longest-running youth theatre festivals in Canada, providing teens the opportunity to perform, receive professional adjudication and participate in workshops that develop their theatical skills.

Student actors receive feedback from professional adjudicators.

Students from Erin District High School, Norwell District Secondary School,  John F. Ross and Westside Secondary School won awards  for playwriting, performance, design, directing and production.

Norwell District Secondary School

Norwell students’ production of darklight  received awards for outstanding production, distinctive merit for innovative choreography and movement and outstanding design (lighting, sound, costumes, set and props). 

And Norwell student Abby Seadon was awarded the spirit of the festival award, which recognizes a student who demonstrates exceptional leadership, collaboration and dedication. 

“The success of darklight reflects the growing strength of the arts at Norwell District Secondary School and the dedication of students who continue to bring powerful and meaningful stories to the stage,” said teacher advisor Dillon Bernier.

“This remarkable achievement showcases the creativity, collaboration, and dedication of our students,” Bernier said.

Darklight explores themes of anxiety, depression and resilience, using movement, design and ensemble storytelling to depict the inner struggles many young people face while searching for hope and connection.

One adjudicator praised the Norwell production simply as “art,” highlighting the creativity and emotional impact of the performance.

Erin District High School

Erin’s Galen Armbruster won a merit award for original creative concept for the production of A Story About A Man Named Richard. 

Lucille Weeden, also from Erin, won a merit award for emerging playwright for Delusions.  

Erin students also won awards of excellence: most effective and playable set for A Story About a Man Named Richard and commitment to character integrity for Delusions.

Adjudicator Alexandra Lent said both Erin plays were “very sophisticated” and that she was amazed both plays were written and directed by students. 

Guelph, Orangeville

John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute won outstanding production and  merit awards for excellence in script interpretation for their play Here’s What You Missed and play directors Quincy Kavanagh and Grace McGinnis won outstanding direction. 

Westside Secondary School  won outstanding stage management (Lucas Smith), a merit award for use of play and an award of excellence for adaptability to a new space for They’re The Only Ones We’ve Got. 

Regionals

With their outstanding production awards, which are the festival’s top honours, both John F. Ross and Norwell qualify for the NTS regional festival, where they will compete for a spot at provincials. 

John F. Ross will perform on April 15 and Norwell on April 16.