The new drama teacher at Duchess Park Secondary, Jackie Friesen, is taking on a comedic challenge with co-director Shelby Meaney to present Game of Tiaras by Don Zolidis as the high school's first production in many years.
“The show is a comedy and is basically King Lear meets Game of Thrones meets the Disney princesses as the princesses try to kill each other to be the next queen,” Friesen explained.
“Rehearsals have been going really good and it’s been a labour of love for everyone.”
Combining the gut-wrenching plot twists of Game of Thrones and the soul-numbing despair of Shakespearean tragedy, this adaptation of King Lear will leave you dying with laughter as the body count mounts.
The comedy is an after-school volunteer club project with 35 actors, 15 crew members and 12 teachers as part of the production team.
“This has been a huge collaborative effort, we’ve got a production team who has taken on roles as seamstress, lighting and sound booth, makeup, box office,” Friesen said. “I have been so blessed to have 11 other staff members on the team to lessen the load for Shelbey and myself and the community support has been great.”
Friesen reached out for sponsorship to help offset the costs to make this production as professional as possible.
“I have found in the past if you offer students a professional opportunity sometimes they go off and actually do this as their career,” Friesen said. “The theatre for Shelby and I was always our safe space growing up. It is the same here – everyone is welcome. There is a place for you here.”
The show goes April 26 to 29 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students. Doors open at 6:30, curtain rises at 7 p.m.
