A youth production is set to debut this weekend in Yellowknife as the first program from Diamond Dramatics, a recently launched theatre company.
Kyle Rogers, one of the founders, said the company was formed to provide theatre experiences for children. He said the idea had been developing for about five years before finally being brought to life following his university graduation and move to Yellowknife, where he now works at the Legislative Assembly.
The group will stage Summer Camp, the Musical on Sunday, June 14 from 4pm at École St Joseph School.
The show follows Bonnie Blogger, a reluctant camper who would rather spend her summer gaming and hanging out with friends.
After being sent to summer camp by her parents, she slowly adjusts, makes new friends and comes to enjoy the experience. There are musical numbers, comedic moments, and a message aimed at young audiences about friendship and personal growth.
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“I think it has a great message for the kids,” Rogers said.
Rogers said the team spent more than a year handling planning and logistics, including naming the program, designing branding, securing a venue and setting audition timelines.
The project was announced in March and auditions were held in April. The cast includes 22 children between the ages of eight and 13.
Rehearsals began on May 10 and have been under way for just over a month. Rogers said the process has involved a significant amount of work but praised the young performers for their enthusiasm and commitment.
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“It was only a month and a bit ago, and this one month has felt like six months at the same time,” he said, adding that fellow organizers Vivianne Pauzé, Kassandra Rolles and Aisling Dunn helped bring the production together through their work on props, costumes and other behind-the-scenes preparations.
“I’m really impressed by the amount of work the kids have done. We’ve really pushed them a bit – in a good way – and I’m very excited that they’ve just been absorbing it all, and I’m really proud of them,” he said.
Rogers said the team aimed to give participants a full theatre experience rather than simply memorizing lines and learning choreography.
Although early plans included involving children in backstage crew roles, logistical challenges during rehearsals made that difficult. The focus shifted to preparing the cast for performance, with plans to introduce backstage operations during final rehearsals.
“We really want to get them involved in the theatre space,” Rogers said.
“All the theatre etiquette that I’ve learned, and that my team has learned over the years, we’re going to do a full deep dive into it.
“When we also do things like sound cues, or lighting cues, or moving set pieces, we’re going to get the kids involved if they’re interested, so they can understand, ‘OK, how does the lighting board work? How does the sound board work? Why is it doing this?’ … so that they can also feel like they’ve learned something that’s not just their lines.”
The production will feature skits created by the children themselves, allowing them to contribute their own ideas to the show.
Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased online or at the door by cash or e-transfer. Doors open at 3:30pm.
