ARTIST PROFILE
Soothfest is coming -William Slingsby
Since its creation in 1989, Soothfest has been offering local youth the opportunity to compete in a full fledge theatre competition not unlike Quonta or the Sears Festival. To participate, competitors must be a young company with actors 25 years of age or younger. As a result, Soothfest has had participation from many area high schools, Stage 1, Sault Youth Theatre, Algoma University, The Indian Friendship Centre, and others; even groups brought together specifically to perform at Soothfest.
Participants must not only perform their play, they must also design and build the set, select/make costumes, create lighting, sound, and special effects, direct, produce, and even promote their play. In more cases every year, competitors even write their own script.
Restricted to a one-act play running an hour or less, the competitors must be able to setup their stage in less than 10 minutes, complete with all props and backgrounds. They must also tear it down again and be off the stage in 5 minutes after their performance. They are judged not only on the performance, but also on their professionalism, ingenuity, and creativity.
As with any competition, there are awards, and bursaries up for grabs. As part of the process, each performance is adjudicated on their stage performance. Afterward, competitors are provided with both public and private critiques of their work.
Soothfest has been very fortunate to be able to enlist the help of some of the most recognized theatre professionals in the area as our adjudicators. These same people also provide professional development workshops for all of the participants.
With the support of the Algoma District School Board and groups like the Lions Club of Sault Ste. Marie, and Canadian Idol Eh!, Soothfest has been able to keep entry and admission fees to a minimum, so more groups can enter, and more people can enjoy the performances. With admission as low as $5 per evening, or $10 for a full pass, a person would be hard-pressed to find a better entertainment experience for the money.
Running April 21, 22, and 23rd in the Korah Collegiate Theatre, this year’s festival presents 7 plays over 3 evenings, with different plays each night. On the final night, there is also the awards presentation, and the audience gets to watch the competitors take part in “Theatre Games”, sponsored by the Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie and District.
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