If you had a chance to check out the 2013 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, you may have caught a few local students on stage.
Every year, Green Thumb Theatre runs "The Edge Project," where students from different schools are invited to write and perform a play. This year's Edge Project was performed at the PuSh festival, and Burnaby's Cariboo Hill Secondary was one of the participating schools. In all, 75 students from Cariboo Hill, North Delta and Lord Byng created Good to Go, which chronicled the journey of a troubled hero.
"They wrote and performed the play themselves - 75 students - we did this crazy kind of collective process," said Green Thumb's Shawn Macdonald, who directed the play. "All of the ideas in the play and the story line came from the entire ensemble."
Macdonald presented the students with a classic "hero's journey" story structure, and the students fleshed out the story line.
The play is about a bullied teenager from a rough home, who is killed in the first act. In the second, he finds himself in a world between life and death, and he confronts his demons.
In the third act, he comes back to life and deals with his problems. Macdonald estimates 500 people saw the play over the course of four performances.
"It was great. The students were amazing. They did an amazing, amazing job, both with the writing and performing of this piece," he said. "They really stepped up to the plate and delivered an amazing performance."
Green Thumb Theatre has been around since 1975 and is one of Canada's leading theatre companies for youth. Green Thumb runs The Edge Project to build community, expose youth to a professional theatre company and to create amazing shows, Macdonald said.
For more on the company, go to greenthumb. bc.ca.
ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS
If you're curious about Burnaby's Douglas Road Elementary, one former student has created a book on the local school's history, from 1910 to 1970.
Tom Lowry, who attended Douglas Road in his youth, created a self-published book, which looks a bit like a fanzine, and it's packed full of local history and lore tied to Douglas Road. Lowry, now 67 and living in Surrey, is selling copies of the book for $40. To get a copy, call him at 778-395-7705.
90 CANDLES FOR NORTH
Mark you calendars: Burnaby North Secondary is celebrating its 90 anniversary on Thursday, April 11, and all students, past and present, are invited to the party. The celebration starts at 6 p.m. in the north gym. CTV News anchor Tamara Taggart, a Burnaby North grad, will be MCing the event, and students will be performing Guys and Dolls, the musical.
Tickets are $10 and available by calling Susan Wong at 604-664-8550.
Famous former students from Burnaby North include hockey Hall of Famer Joe Sakic, Edmonton Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, singer Jade Kwan, Italian acting heartthrob Antonio Cupo, punk legend Joey Keithley, Electronic Arts founders Don Mattrick and Jeff Sember, Florida Panthers hockey player Mike Santorelli, NHLer Cliff Ronning, WHLer Brian Sakic, former MP Svend Robinson and Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis.
Do you have an education related item to share with our readers? Send details to Jennifer Moreau at jmoreau@ burnabynow.com.
