A trip to the Theatre!

I went to a play this evening at Theatre North West, and though it was a comedy set on a farm, I could not help but be reminded of teaching. The play is called "Letter from Wingfield Farms", starring Rod Beatie as Walt Wingfield and everyone else.

As a one man show, it fell upon one actor to keep an entire theatre entertained for almost two hours. He used a multitude of voices, postures tones and facial expressions to portray many characters of different ages, genders and backgrounds. Rod Beatie talked, telling stories, relaying experiences, and the crowd hung on his every word. It was rather like watching a teacher holding the attention of a class. I suppose that in a way all good teachers are part actors, using their dramatic skills of entertainment to snare students' attention in order to teach them. It would certainly explain why I have both a penchant for the theatre as well as the drive to become a teacher. Now all I have to do is prevent my natural inclination for overacting from interfering with teaching the students.

Something else of note that I saw while at Theatre North West was the TrueNorth New Works project. 2015 will mark several important events here in good old Prince George, including the city's 100th anniversary, the Canada Winter Games and Theatre North West's 20th anniversary. As such, Theatre North West has arranged TrueNorth New Works, an initiative that will offer play development opportunities to local playwrights, with one lucky finalist presenting their work as an opening act in TNW's February 2015 during the Canada Winter Games. For those with the theatre skills this could be a great opportunity.

For those of us without such skills, do not fret, for there are yet more things that are being offered this month by TNW to foster interest in the dramatic arts. Theatre talks, tours and even a Vlog (that is video blog for you non-digital natives).

 

And just for fun, the first episode of the TNW Vlog. Let's meet the team!