After two years of hiatus because of Covid-19, we are so excited to announce that the Okanagan Zone Theatre Festival is back again; and even more excited that SOAP Theatre is the host club for this year’s event. There will be six different plays presented at the Venables Theatre in Oliver during the week of May 22 to May 27, followed by a public awards banquet at the Oliver Senior Centre on Saturday May 28.
Five of the participating performances will be competing for a range of awards and recognition, to be announced and presented at the awards banquet at the end of the week. The May 25 performance is not part of the competition. It is a new play workshopped with the playwright and the actors. Anyone with a ticket to any one of the competing performances will be able to attend the workshop play free of charge.
The adjudicator for this year’s Okanagan Zone Festival is Nicolle Nattrass. She is an actress (CAEA / UBCP), playwright (Playwrights Guild of Canada) and a Director/Dramaturg. She is a graduate from the University of Victoria (1991) with a BFA in Theatre, Acting Specialization. As an actress, Nicolle has performed for many regional theatres across Canada and worked in film, tv and radio.
Each adjudication will include a “coffee critique” held in the lobby of the Venables Theatre the morning following each competing performance. Ticket holders to each of these competing shows can attend its coffee critique the following morning, free of charge.
Remember, if you buy a show ticket, you can attend its critique by the adjudicator the following morning at no cost. Also, the workshop play scheduled for May 25 is free to anyone who holds a ticket for any of the other plays.
Six Dramatic Days of Live Theatre, plus a banquet are scheduled as follows. All performances are at Venables Theatre (6100 Gala St. Oliver). The Awards Banquet will be at the Oliver Senior Centre (5876 Airport St. Oliver).
- Sunday, May 22: SOAP Theatre (Oliver and Osoyoos): When The Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs
- Monday, May 23: Crimson Tine Theatre (Princeton): Above and Beyond by Robert Scott
- Tuesday, May 24: Theatre Kelowna: Wit by Margaret Edson
- Wednesday, May 25: Workshop Play: Gift from the Sea by Cara Nunn of Vernon (Note that this short play is free for anyone holding a ticket to any of the other performances.)
- Thursday, May 26: Shuswap Theatre (Salmon Arm): The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble by Beth Graham
- Friday, May 27: Powerhouse Theatre (Vernon): Ben Hur by Patrick Barlow
- Saturday, May 28: Awards Banquet: Dinner, followed by dancing to the music of popular, local duo, Rebel Luv.
Ticket pricing will be similar to what local theater patrons are used to paying for SOAP Theatre productions:
- Single Show Adult Tickets on the day of the show: $25.00/person
- Single Show Adult Advance Tickets: $22.50
- Multi-Show Adult Tickets for 3 or more shows: $20.00/person/show
- Student Tickets, with valid student ID: $15.00/person
- Banquet Tickets: $45.00/person (Banquet ticket sales end on Thursday, May 26 at 12:00 noon)
The above ticket prices include all fees and taxes.
Remember, if you buy a show ticket, you can attend its critique by the adjudicator the following morning at no cost. Also, the workshop play scheduled for May 25 is free to anyone who holds a ticket for any of the other plays.
