Student theatre club premieres never before seen plays during annual festival.
The Satyr Players one-act play festival runs the gambit of emotions this year, offering satirical comedy, high-energy slapstick and some serious moments.
“There is something for everyone in this year’s one acts. All the plays are very different,” says Ariel Pretty, President of VIU’s Satyr Players Theatre Club. “We wanted to expose people to different types of theatre that they might not normally get to see and it’s also a great chance for our actors to learn different types of theatre and figure out what they like.”
The Satyr Players annual festival runs January 21, 22 and 23. Doors open at 7 pm and the show starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door or on Eventbrite.
Original plays are selected from submissions received from across North America each year. This year’s lineup includes Art Gallery by Alicia Shalapata, The Mobster’s Wife by Castor Richard Angus, Hidden Gemsby Chase Nelson, To Grandma’s House We Go by Caliegh Broatch, Kitchen Murder by Christopher Carter and 20 Questions by Taryn Wesley.
The theatre club is also adding a twist to this year’s festival. The performance will begin in the Mike Taugher Studio, located in Building 330 Room 109, and then move to different locations in VIU’s Malaspina Theatre, such as the lobby and one of the dressing rooms.
“Instead of doing all the shows in the studio, we’re actually doing it like a studio tour. We’re changing locations for every play,” says Pretty. “We have tour guides giving you a rough preview of what to expect next and just joking and engaging more with the audience.”
VIU Theatre student Icarus Skelly is performing in four of the six plays during the festival. He says the shows are a bit of a “mixed bag.”
“If you are here to have a fun-filled night this is definitely it,” says Skelly. “They are all different and interesting in their own way.”
Skelly plays Max in the first play of the evening, Art Gallery. He says Max is always willing to try new things, which he relates to.
“It was really just kind of finding myself in the role and finding what I would do in the situation,” says Skelly, adding that last year he was a bit nervous about performing but he is more comfortable now.
“It’s going to be fun and it’s going to be crazy, so I really hope that I bring uniqueness to all the characters this year,” he says.
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