New theatre group planned for town

The curtain may rise on a new adult theatre group in Penhold in 2016.

Director Rick Flikkema wants to bring adult one-act productions to the stage.

“I thought let's give it a try and see what happens,” said Flikkema. “I'm trying to find out if there's any interest here in town to start a theatre group.”

Flikkema spent close to 20 years with a theatre in Drayton Valley and has contributed to the Red Deer Players Community Theatre Society.

“For years I was part of the Alberta Drama Festival Association,” he said, noting that adult one-act productions include genres such as comedy and drama.

“You can do all sorts of different genres of theatre,” said Flikkema, noting that adult one-act productions can have as little as two or as many as 20 actors. “I have a couple of plays in mind. One called the glass onion that I'd like to do and it has five or six characters in it.”

There is currently no name for the group but it will be a non-profit, he noted, with all money raised going back into the theatre group.

Adult one-act productions are often short and provide entertainment for theatre-goers of all ages.

“For some people it's a hobby,” said Flikkema. “Adult one-acts are less than an hour long so you can put in a lot of rehearsal time and they're a really good starting base for people that have never done theatre before,” he added.

Flikkema said he is hoping the possible theatre group could meet at the Memorial Hall in Penhold, but needs to discuss the option with the town to confirm the location.

“I'm thinking the Memorial Hall here in town,” said Flikkema. “There's a nice little stage in there, especially for one acts.”

Over the next few months Flikkema will respond to inquiries and gauge the interest for such a theatre and may move forward with the idea this spring.

“If I can get half a dozen people interested then we can probably do something,” Flikkema concluded.

For more information contact Rick Flikemma at 403-304-9094.

[email protected]