New Brunswick Drama Festival Explained

New Brunswick Drama Festival
Nickname:NB DramaFest
Genre:performing arts festival
Frequency:Annually
Venue:St. Thomas University
Location:Fredericton, New Brunswick
Country:Canada
Years Active:1953 – present
Founded:Moncton, New Brunswick
Last: (middle school)
(high school)[1]
Organised:Suzanne Doyle Yerxa
Jeff Lloyd
Jared Mallard
Chris Matheson

The New Brunswick Drama Festival, also known as the New Brunswick Provincial Drama Festival and Conference,[2] the NBTA Drama Festival,[3] or simply referred to as NB DramaFest, is an annual event held at the St. Thomas University campus in Fredericton, New Brunswick.[4] [5] Taking place every May,[4] the event serves as a scholastic drama festival and competition for middle and high school students in New Brunswick.[6]

The festival is divided into two segments, with middle school participants attending from Monday to Wednesday, and high school participants attending from Wednesday to Saturday. Throughout the festival, students have the chance to participate in evening workshops, allowing them to improve their skills through participating in evening workshops focused on areas like stage combat, improvisation, vocal training, and Shakespearean tutorials.[6] The festival's performances adhere to guidelines that require durations between 25 and 60 minutes long.[6] [7] Professionals in theater from across the country attend the event to provide critiques of the students' work.[8] Additionally, the festival's final evening features a dance, concluded by an awards ceremony and closing presentations.[6]

History

The first New Brunswick High School Drama Festival was held on May 23, 1953, in the Moncton High School auditorium. The first festival featured Salisbury High School, Port Elgin Memorial Regional High School, Petitcodiac Regional High School, and Rothesay Regional High School.[9] [10] The Dominion Drama Festival's governor was the event's adjudicator, and the trophies presented at the time were the Times-Transcript Trophy for the winning play, as well as CKCW trophies for the best individual actor and actress.[9] Port Elgin Memorial Regional High School emerged as the winning school, with an actor from Petitcodiac and actress from Rothesay receiving the individual awards.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Schedule . NB Drama Fest . 10 May 2024 . en.
  2. Web site: NB DramaFest - Home . 7 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110207170245/https://www.nbdramafest.com/ . 2011-02-07 .
  3. News: Performers . 6 July 2023 . da.tj.news . Daily Gleaner . December 28, 1993 . 10.
  4. News: Clow . Tara . Drama students take to the stage in Fredericton . 91.9 The Bend . en.
  5. Web site: Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Theatre St. Thomas . www.canadiantheatre.com.
  6. News: Dramafest provides a great opportunity for local students . 5 July 2023 . da.tj.news . Times & Transcript . May 1, 2010 . 60.
  7. Web site: Rules & Regulations NB Drama Fest New Brunswick . NB Drama Fest . en.
  8. Web site: New Brunswick Drama Fest - About The New Brunswick Provincial Drama Festival . 15 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130115113849/http://nbdramafest.com/about.html . 2013-01-15 .
  9. News: School Drama Festival Today . 6 July 2023 . da.tj.news . Moncton Transcript . May 23, 1953 . 3.
  10. News: DEFEATS THREE OTHER SCHOOLS TO WIN CUP; TO EXPAND FESTIVAL . 6 July 2023 . da.tj.news . The Moncton Daily Times . May 25, 1953 . 3.