Local high school students will take the stage in Chatham this week for the National Theatre School (NTS) Drama Festival.
Over the course of three nights, from Tuesday, March 10 to Thursday, March 11, seven high schools will present one-act plays at the Chatham Capitol Theatre.
"There are roughly 100 staff and students involved in the local festival," said Steve Mitchell, Drama Teacher at JMSS. "Some of the pieces are student-written, and some are chosen and written by professional playwrights. Staff members can also contribute to the writing process."
There are several rules the schools must follow.
"Some of the main ones are time: 15-50 minutes in length, you must have a director and a stage manager along with a cast and crew," said Mitchell.
The plays will be adjudicated by J.C. Wright, and awards will be handed out on Thursday night after the final play.
Two finalists will move on to perform at the South Regional Festival in Hamilton in April. From there, two productions will advance to the Provincial Showcase at York University in May.
Tickets are $20, and $15 for students, or a three-day student pass is available for $20. They can be purchased online at www.cktickets.com.
The schedule is below, and shows begin at 6 p.m. each night.
Tuesday, March 10
Lambton Kent Composite School (LKCS) - "Better Than The Movie"
Chatham Kent Secondary School (CKSS) - "She Wrote, Died, Then Wrote Some More"
John McGregor Secondary School (JMSS) - "The Blossom Canyon Fire"
Wednesday, March 11
Ursuline College Chatham (UCC) - "Symphony of The Heart"
Wallaceburg District Secondary School (WDSS) - "The Way Home"
Thursday, March 12
Ridgetown District High School (RDHS) - "Double Double"
Blenheim District High School (BDHS) - "Play, right?"
