Playgoers to raise curtain on One Act Play Festival tonight

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on April 8, 2023.

Submitted photo Performers pose on stage at the Sterndale during a past year's One Act Play Festival.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Playgoers of Lethbridge will host a One Act Play Festival at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre this evening with the winner having the opportunity to attend the provincial festival here next month.

Rita Peterson with Playgoers said organizers have staged a one act play festival every year, with the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic, since they are part of the Alberta Drama Festival Association – a provincial organization that was launched in 1969 to encourage amateur theatre across the province.

“There are 10 zones in Alberta and each zone has a one act festival every year and then from that festival a winner is chosen to go to the provincial festival. This year we’re kind of lucky because we’re doing our regional festival this weekend in preparation for the provincial festival which will also be held here in Lethbridge,” said Peterson.

She said it means a lot to be able to host the provincial festival in Lethbridge this year since it coincides with Playgoers’ 100th anniversary.

“The one act festivals provide opportunities for members of our community, with a love of theatre, to hone their skills in theatre arts, whether it be in directing, acting, costume design, backstage etc,” said Peterson.

 She said it is a lot of hard work, with very little reward other than the satisfaction of doing something they love with like- minded people and bringing those skills to the stage.

Peterson said people are asked to submit their plays a couple months before and this year they have four plays participating.

“One is an original script by an author here in Lethbridge, and the other three are from the Taber Players, so we’re really excited about them coming and bringing their three plays,” said Peterson.

She said for a one act festival, plays submitted have to be a minimum of 10 minutes and a maximum of 60 minutes and they have to be able to set up their stage in 10 minutes and take it down in 10 minutes.

 “The rules are pretty simple, but it helps keep things under control and it works well,” said Peterson.

 She said this year they have a couple of plays that are almost an hour long and two that are about 25 to 30 minutes in duration.

 “It’s a nice combination and we’ll have free refreshments at the intermission. We’ll have a little longer intermission because it is a long evening, and we’re hoping everybody stays to enjoy the whole show,” said Peterson.

She said Greg MacArthur from the University of Lethbridge will be their adjudicator and following the plays there will be a public adjudication and the awarding of the prices.

“We’ll have a best actor in a male role, best actor in a female role, best play and best director,” said Peterson.

She said the best play will compete in the provincial one act play festival on May 26 and 27, with some people coming from as far as Fort McMurray.

Peterson said that since Friday is Good Friday, they decided not to start the festival that day and therefore the festival will run a bit longer than usual as a one day event.

The One Act Play Festival will run from 5 p.m to 9 p.m at Sterndale Bennet Theatre.

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