A group of performers at Sechelt’s Chatelech Secondary School discovered that the road to self-realization runs through creative collaboration.
The school’s senior theatre students and music theatre ensemble are readying a dramatic double bill for three performances next weekend. Murder in the Knife Room is a comedic whodunnit by American playwright Jonathan Rand (whose scripts have been performed in more than 70 countries). An all-ages music theatre ensemble will also sample selections from five Broadway hits. The earliest (West Side Story) debuted in 1957. The most recent show — Newsies — opened on Broadway in the same year this year’s Grade 8s were born.
“I was really excited when I found out we were doing Joseph [and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat],” said Mia Espinoza. Joseph is one of two productions by Andrew Lloyd Webber on the playbill (the other is 1981’s Cats). “It’s one of my favorite musicals just because it’s so random. And it’s such a good team. I love all the people in it — they’re all so fun and it’s just such a fun, supportive environment to work in.”
The shows are directed by School District 46 instructor Sara Douglas, who is simultaneously preparing a full-length community production of Joseph for staging early in 2025.
“We had a lot of problems getting people,” said Alexis Proust. “But now that we’re here, we’ve been working endlessly, three times a week.” Rehearsals include weekly practices at 7:30 a.m.
Malina Leskie is one of several senior students revisiting their sixth-grade production of Newsies. “It’s very different because we have bigger voices and bigger personalities and we play the characters completely differently than we did the first time around,” Leskie observed.
For Riley Butler, rehearsing the shows (including 7:30 a.m. practices each week) provided an opportunity to discover new skills while connecting with legendary material. “I really resonate with West Side Story, and it was one of my favorites growing up,” said Butler, “but I’ve never actually been a lead or a strong vocalist whenever I’ve done something before. This is the first time I’m going for it, and I really hope it builds my confidence.”
Mason Gurney, who appears in the number “We Go Together” from Grease, noticed that adrenaline in the room surges whenever he and fellow actors blend their voices. “I never knew anything about Grease, but the energy in the room and the environment is amazing,” he said. “It’s enticing, all-embracing and even comforting.”
“This group really works as an ensemble,” explained Douglas. “That’s huge.”
Lucy McCulloch, currently in her first year at Chatelech, built friendships with “all of the scary older kids.” Olivia Rose agreed: “We’re building new relationships and it’s such an inclusive environment.”
Riven Dupuis, who has been a four-year fixture of the Synergy at Play summer musical theatre intensives at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons, pointed out that vulnerability onstage translates easily into a facility with making new friends.
Before his involvement, Xavier Kraukamp was skeptical about the social benefits of the performing arts. “Everyone was like: the weird kids at school are the band kids, the musical theatre kids,” he recalled. “Now I realize that they’re the coolest group of people in school, and we all show them so when the play starts.” Kraukamp is among several Chatelech performers who are also members of the Choralations Children’s Choir.
Sara Margueratt, one of five backstage technicians for the shows, navigates crowded school hallways with newfound confidence. “It’s felt very connecting to be part of a community like this,” she emphasized.
“It’s made me a better person outside of this space,” agreed Butler. “I don’t need to pretend to be somebody else — I can just be comfortable and free as who I am.”
Trini Costa once experienced bullying because of how she expressed herself at school through creative clothing choices. “But then musical theatre came along,” she exclaimed, “and it started to motivate me.”
The Chatelech performances take place in the school’s auditorium on Nov. 29 and 30 (7 p.m. both nights) and Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. Admission is by donation.
