Drama is a class in school more than a little bit unlike the others. It isn't a purely academic course of studies, yet it incorporates elements of all those core fundamentals. And then it also takes things to another level.
Watching any Grade 12 theatre production by one of the city's high schools is an opportunity to witness high-grade youth performance art. It's where local audiences got to see people like Ashley Ford before she turned pro on New York City stages, Demitri Goritsas before he went on to stage and screen in London and L.A., Dave Rosin before he became a rock star with the band Hedley, or most recently Grace Dove and her prominent role in the blockbuster The Revenant.
They all had to start somewhere. PGSS drama teacher Shannon Schinkel is part of that somewhere. She is working now with a group of Grade 9/10 students right now as they prepare for their curtain to rise next week.
"This level is where we get them used to working in Vanier Hall, where they learn how to memorize lines and think about who a character is, how to make the props and the costumes, how everyone is busy and involved because if you don't have a lot of time on the stage you have to help out behind the scenes, and doing all that hopefully inspires them to want to take more theatre in higher grades," said Schinkel.
It seems to be working. PGSS had to add an entire extra drama class at the 9/10 level this year, and there is a pattern over the last few years of larger numbers moving on to drama classes in the senior grades.
"I've got some kids who are scared to death, but they can't wait to get out there and do the performances," Schinkel said.
The current play is called UnMurdered. It is a one-act mystery with lots of laughs. The cast is excited to show off their characters.
"I hit people with my old-lady purse. I'm a cranky old woman," said Grade 9 actor Emily Basha.
"I'm a rude, sarcastic butler. He's Eore-like," said Ryder Anderson, Grade 10.
"I'm usually picking fights with my younger sister," said Oceana Seguin, Grade 9.
Basha said she wasn't initially supposed to be in the class, but when faced with some scheduling difficulties, opted to give it a try, and now she's hooked.
Contrast that with Anderson who tried to get into it a year earlier, couldn't, and now is relishing his chance.
Seguin said her path to UnMurdered started as a kid. She gravitated to the spotlight, as a child singer, and this was the next step, one wholeheartedly supported by her parents and grandparents.
"I've hardly written anything down in this class," said Basha, because the interactivity is so engaging she soaks it up.
"I feel more connected to people in this class than any other class I've got," said Seguin.
Anderson added that "I don't want to stop, now, I want to do this all through high school."
What might seem surprising, though, is the indifferent shrugs when asked if this was something they wanted to do for a living. They weren't taking the class for that reason, they all said with mutual nods to one another.
"It'll help us in real-life situations, no matter what we do," said Seguin. "You'll be more used to working with people, handling projects together, more confident."
"Mrs. Schinkel is really good at teaching this, too. She makes us want to be good at it and work hard," said Basha.
"She has a confident spirit and that rubs off on everyone else," Anderson agreed.
"I have some students in this group who didn't even want to ever go on the stage but now they are even doing improv activities," said Schinkel, turning the praise back onto the young thespians. "One student just told me that his other classes are going better for him, and he has more self-esteem, because of the drama class, so I like to think we are growing better young people in here. That's the power of theatre."
UnMurdered happens Wednesday night at Vanier Hall at 7pm. The PGSS Band will also perform, making it a full night of performing arts by the students.
It is also a fundraiser for a cause that struck a chord with the drama class. There is no admission fee to see the show, but donations will be accepted for a local boy named Noah Jancicka, 7, who is fighting through Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which requires many trips to Vancouver for specialized research and treatments, plus an ongoing medical regimen here at home.
