Backyard Theatre opens play to public

For the first time in its history, Steinbach Arts Council’s Backyard Theatre Company is opening up their performance to the general public with their production of In Search of TreasARRG!

“It’s never been closed to the public, but it’s been more marketed towards parents. So, this year we’re like let’s try and see what will happen and it’s done very well. We’re definitely going to sell out the show,” said playwright and instructor Jeremy Plett.

The Backyard Theatre Company consists of children from kindergarten to high school. Every year there is between 30 to 60 children in the program and this year that number has come in the middle with just under 40.

“I love pirates they’re fun. We thought pirate crews are nice to do because you can have a whole bunch of people who are working together for the same goal. It’s a nice way of writing where you can have a lot of kids who each have a part that is unique and fun, and they’re all working together as a crew to accomplish a task,” said Plett.

The comedy is a story of two groups of pirates, an admiral and his troops that are trying to catch the pirates, and a group of girl scouts who are all looking for the treasure. Each face obstacles such as sea serpents, mysterious doors, and a sinking ship.

Plett said the play will show at the SRSS Theatre in Steinbach and if successful SAC will decide if it will add more shows for next year’s production.

“We’re kind of trying to see if there’s a market for something like this and I guess there is,” he said with a smile.

The goal of the theatre development program is to create confidence in children and get them interested in theatre. “There’s no auditions. It’s very inclusive. The idea is we can have the first half of the season we can give kids the skills and give them the lessons and teach them, and the second half of the year is them being able to put those to use and experience what it’s like to be in a play,” said Plett, who has been running the program for 12 years.

Plett said the theatre program at SAC is important in that it develops talent and it builds confidence and social development in children.

Tickets to the play are $10 and can be purchased by calling SAC at 204-346-1077. The curtain rises on April 15 at 6:30 p.m.