Film project showing love for theatre

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on January 21, 2025.

Submitted photo - The cast and crew of Lethbridge Musical Theatre's production of 9to5 is seen on stage. A Lethbridge man is showing his love for theatre in a new short film funded by Telus Storyhive.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Allen Gibson is a theatre lifer. And the Lethbridge resident who first became hooked on live theatre at the age of five while living in White Rock, B.C. Is showing his love for theatre in a new short film funded by Telus Storyhive.

Gibson received $20,000 in funding from Storyhive for the project that looks into the history of Playgoers of Lethbridge and why people become hooked on live theatre.

The 65-year-old Gibson, who has lived in Lethbridge since 2008 and been involved in four western Canada theatre troupes, took a light-hearted approach to his endeavour, filming it in a mockumentary style.

In August of 2022, Gibson was selected for the Storyhive program and landed production funding to create his project, along with training, professional mentorship provided by the National Screen Institute) and distribution support.

His work, called “Lifers: A Century of Addiction to Amateur Theatre,” and 34 other projects premiered last week and can found on Telus Optic TV channel 9, Stream+ and Storyhive’S YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@storyhive<https://www.youtube.com/@storyhive><https://www.youtube.com/@storyhive<https://www.youtube.com/@storyhive

“Lifers: A Century of Addiction to Amateur Theatre” looks at Playgoers which is Canada’s oldest continually operating amateur theatre begun in 1923. Nearly two years ago, Playgoers celebrated its 100th anniversary at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre and Gibson was there for the event.

In the production which has among its interview subjects renowned local thespian Sheila Matson, Gibson takes viewers on a quest to learn why so many become hooked on theatre.

“The inspiration was Playgoers’ 100th but that story’s been told. When I started doing the research and the thinking about how to tell a story about amateur and community theatre that would resonate with a broader audience than just Lethbridge, as I talked to people, I started to see this theme emerge. Once somebody does a play they’re hooked,” said Gibson at the Yates Centre recently.

“They’re in for life. That’s why it’s called ‘Lifers.’ You can do that when you’re four years old, you can do it when you’re 40 years old. It doesn’t matter – once you’re hooked, you’re hooked,” said Gibson.

Gibson recalls how longtime local actor Lee Prindle told him he had his first theatre audition when he was in 40s and he never looked back.

Gibson also met a 40-something fellow who was in Playgoers’ 100th anniversary production called “The Play That Goes Wrong” who was making his first stage appearance – and as one of the leads.

“He loved it and he was hooked. He was in the next three plays so he becomes sort of the central part of the story because he’s the everyman.”

That person is Dan Pottage, a landscape business owner who is seen working on a project before the film cuts to an interview with his wife about her husband’s new arts “addiction.” Pottage is then featured in a segment at a “thespians anonymous” meeting which is also attended by fellow actors Jeff Graham, Jocelyn Steinborn, Matson and others.

Allen narrates the film from behind the news desk of a fictional television program called “50 Minutes.”

Gibson got hooked when his sisters were in a little theatre back in Little Rock. He remembers the electricity going out and he had to hold a flashlight so they could apply their makeup.

The reason people get hooked on theatre, Gibson says, “is it’s just so damn rewarding. You have some creativity, you have a lot of laughs, you get to be part of a group in a community,” said Gibson.

He made the film in a way to encourage people to get out of their homes and have some fun.

“There’s a crisis of isolation and loneliness” going on and community theatre is a great place “to come and play.”

Even if people don’t want to be on stage, theatre groups are always looking for help behind the scenes, he noted.

“Everybody who gets involved just finds it so rewarding.”

The project has been 18 months in the making with Gibson gathering footage first to document Playgoers’ anniversary. Then he applied for the Telus grant, noting Storyhive offers great programs.

The project has two parts including the 28-minute tongue-in-cheek documentary about getting addicted to amateur theatre and bonus content which consists of a 30-minute look at Playgoers’ history which includes an interview with club historian George Mann who started with the company in 1962, That story also showcases some of the Galt Museum’s theatre content.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate the premiere of 33 incredible documentaries from the Telus Storyhive All Access Documentary Edition. These projects reflect the depth and diversity of storytelling in our communities, and we’re proud to support new and emerging filmmakers in sharing their unique perspectives. Allen Gibson’s “Lifers: A Century of Addiction to Amateur Theatre” is a standout example-beautifully capturing the passion and perseverance of those who keep community theatre alive. Congratulations to all the filmmakers on this remarkable achievement,” said Shaun Cathcart, Southern Alberta Territory Manager of Telus Storyhive in a statement to The Herald.