One act, many themes

for over 30 years the Pumphouse Theatre Society‘s One Act Play Festival has been providing local

emerging artists with an opportunity to get exposure on the Calgary scene. On each night of the festival, recent graduates

and community theatres put on multiple oneact plays with different styles and themes.

So whether you’re looking for something

heady and dramatic, light- hearted and feel- good, or something in between, each night has something for everyone.

“I would say with every piece, there’s something I’m looking forward to,” says Kelly Reay, Pumphouse’s Artistic Associate. “There’s

something about being in those early stages of a career and really hungry for an opportunity to show what you can do. And that desire and passion is infectious.

Coordinating all this, I can’t help but be affected by that passion, and it’s a really tangible feeling that translates to the audience.”

Performances will be reviewed by an adjudicator, who will give constructive feedback to the artists so

they can hone their craft. This year the adjudicator

is Valerie Planche, a Calgary- based actor/ director and recent recipient of the Gina Wilkinson Award, a national award

given to an emerging female director. “Every year we want to bring someone in who has a fair bit of experience,” says

Reay. “But also someone who— in addition to offering that critical feedback— can maybe help people springboard their career, too. Valerie works all

over the province, and there could be opportunities with her down the road.” — Craig R. Palmer