When the Nose Creek Players (NCP) last trod the boards and brought story to life for the community, no one could have predicted that the world would grind to a halt.
Although the Airdrie-based theatre group usually puts on many drama productions a year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to turn their attention from bringing theatre to the community in a traditional sense to educating the next generation about art on the stage.
Established in 2011, NCP is run by local community members and is an advocate for community theatre in Airdrie.
“We have taken this time to reflect and to consider Nose Creek Players’ role in the community,” says Robin Mckittrick, president of Nose Creek Players.
“We are passionate proponents of theatre arts and community theatre. We feel very strongly about the importance of art in building community. The group strives to provide individuals a creative outlet to embrace differences and build community through theatre.”
Alice in Waiting
The pandemic forced the group to postpone their production of Alice in Wonderland to an unknown date. The play was originally set for April and then moved to November before the NCP board members decided they would postpone it until they feel they can effectively produce the show.
“We feel very strongly about creating safe spaces for individuals to explore their own creativity and presently, we are unable to do so due to the pandemic,” says Mckittrick.
“We are excited about eventually presenting this wonderful tale and will be working on new projects to keep theatre arts thriving in Airdrie.”
Promoting the Arts
The pandemic has forced NCP to consider innovative ways to promote the arts including theatre art lessons.
“We will be bringing theatre arts lessons to Airdrie as a means of providing our community members with a creative outlet,” he says.
“Initially, we will be offering classes digitally and to youth. As we build momentum, we will open digital classes for adults.”
NCP offered online summer camps for children ages eight to 10 in August and plan to offer virtual classes for adults as well.
NCP classes are designed to provide theatre enthusiasts a creative outlet where they can express themselves in a safe space while gaining knowledge and skills in the world of performing arts.
“We would encourage people to remember the value of art during this time of crisis,” says Mckittrick.
“We would encourage people to consider how they can nurture and sustain their own creative spark while also helping to support others that are passionately creating and innovating.”
For more information on the upcoming classes, click here.
