Theatre with emphasis on ‘community’

By Lethbridge Herald on May 14, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Since 2017, the Coulee Players have been taking their amateur community theatre show of short skits to dozens of senior communities all over Lethbridge. 

The historical definition of the word “amateur” is “someone engaged in an activity out of passion or love and not for financial gain.” And it’s that love of performing and entertaining that keeps the all-volunteer troupe going season after season.

“We love it when the crowd gets interactive and when there’s lots of laughing and clapping…..we’ve done places where you can hear some in the crowd speculating what’s going to happen next,” says member Kathleen Klemen. “Some venues have more frail elderly who can’t always join in the same way, but we understand and hope that still on some level they are still enjoying the performances and it makes them happy.”

Community theatre is a type of performance art that unites individuals to produce and present original plays, songs, and dances. It’s a distinctive kind of theater that champions inclusion, diversity, and the power of narrative. The troupe endeavors to perform 10 skits during each one-hour show during their season. 

“I like performing with the group as I think it brings joy and laughter to the seniors we perform for,” says founding member Marie Gomez, who has the distinction of having been in a 1989 Gregory Peck movie called “The Old Gringo.”

The Coulee Players write their own original material, or adapt previously published works. During their inaugural performance at the Good Samaritan West Highland Estates on May 9, the troupe performed nine short skits, seven of which were original material.

In addition to amateur theatre, community theatre can include drama, musical theater, opera, ballet, physical theater, performance art, and puppetry. The venues (or stages) can range from community rooms in senior communities, churches, school auditoriums, to purpose-built community venues. Because of the nomadic nature of their productions, the Coulee Players operate on a minimalist level.

“I think we do a really great job of dragging around our minimal set/props, sound system, do our skits with quick changes in between, have quite an assortment of skits we do and keep writing more, and do this each time at a different venue, “ says Klemen.

The Coulee Players operate entirely on donations, which go towards costumes, props and equipment. The most recent, and arguably most useful, major investment was a portable sound system with wireless microphones for each player.

The players come from different ages and backgrounds, from mid-career professionals in their 40s to retirees in their 80s, and the troupe is always looking to diversify their ranks. Before their performance at the Good Samaritan West Highland Estates, they announced that they were seeking “a few good men” to join them. The newest player, Sheila Matson, who joined in 2024, echoes that sentiment.

“This is a most worthwhile endeavour, as the responses from the people for whom we perform are compelling. We do a real service to our seniors, and they (and we) love it,” says Matson. “We are so lucky to have the opportunities in this City. We are always looking for more players to join us…we need some more men!  Come and have fun.”