Ardmore School put a twist on some fairytale classics when Trickster Theatre descended upon their classrooms.
“I think it’s a fun experience for the kids to have and enjoy. I like acting and being able to show off what we’ve come up with with Trickster Theatre,” expressed Grade 6 student Taylor Ballard.
Ballard was among dozens of youth taking part in the Trickster Theatre experience, where they learn hands-on skills in a fun way.
“(Trickster Theatre) is a physical theatre company. We do artist in residency programs. We go into schools around Alberta, and for a week we build an original play based off of the theme that the school has chosen, and then we create that throughout the week using physical vocabulary with different styles of props,” Carolyn Ruether, leader, tech director, and parent liaison for Trickster Theatre said.
Ardmore decided to go with the theme “In the Magical Kingdom of Old,” where they took classic fairytales and put their own spin on them.
The older students, like Ballard, decided to recreate Jack and the Beanstalk.
Ballard was excited about taking part and showing off his acting skills and their creativity.
“I think one thing Trickster has figured out is active learning and trying to learn different ideas, whether it’s storytelling or moral values... Not necessarily sitting in a desk, but up and moving around, adding theatrical stuff to give kids self confidence,” expressed Ruether.
Colette Primeau, teacher and student support team coordinator for the school, noted they were able to bring Trickster Theatre to Ardmore thanks to a provincial grant and their parent council.
According to Primeau, this isn’t their first time hosting the program.
“We’ve worked with Trickster before. This is the third or fourth time they’ve come here. They’re wonderful. They’re so creative and inventive, and it brings out such creativity with the kids. They’re really excited they get to learn something new, and it’s great for that music component and the arts.”
She explained how the program “fits so well with our curriculum.”
“This is completely hands-on. You learn things better. We’re a 4-H school, and the motto for 4-H is to learn by doing. This is exactly what they do, they get a hands-on experience for the whole week, get to incorporate their ideas, and it’s really a lot of fun,” continued Primeau.
The theatre group travels across Alberta to schools looking to bring-in “some kind of arts association.”
Ruether said, “It’s a really cool way to see the province and see these smaller communities that we normally wouldn’t. So far, Ardmore has been one of the most supportive and welcoming communities we’ve been welcomed into.”
At the end of the week, the students put on a show using the skills they’ve learned.
For Primeau, the program is a great way for those who learn better hands-on to gain some new experiences.
“It’s so they can dream,” she stressed, adding they also get a glimpse into potential career paths.
“It may make a connection for someone or it may be something they think about long-term. It gets them moving and public speaking, which is something even adults are terrified to do. This is a great way to perform and get a little experience doing that.”
