Theatre Magic

Mar 26, 2026

This March, I had the great good fortune of having a piece selected for the Sylvan Lake Theatre’s 10-Minute New Play Festival. What an experience! The festival travelled through three communities, playing to packed houses in Sylvan Lake, Red Deer, and Lacombe. Each audience brought its own energy and special way of leaning in.

As a playwright, you spend so much time alone with the work. Then suddenly, a group of actors and a director step in and the whole thing clicks to life. They don’t just “perform” the piece, they inhabit it. They bring instincts, nuance, and emotional truth that you could never quite conjure on your own. It’s both humbling and exhilarating to watch.

I was especially struck by the generosity of the process. In a short rehearsal period, these artists pour themselves fully into the work, building something cohesive, alive, and immediate. Theatre at its best feels like a kind of collective leap of faith, and this festival captured that beautifully.

And then there’s the form itself. Ten minutes doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a terrific writing challenge. It demands compression, clarity, and a strong turn. With no room to wander, every line has to earn its place. When it works, it really works.

I came away from this whole experience feeling so grateful.  Grateful to be included, grateful for the collaborators who brought the play to life, and grateful for audiences who showed up so enthusiastically. It’s been a gift in every sense, and a reminder of why I love theatre so much.  

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