1932
Oct. 29

• The Earl of Bessborough, Governor General of Canada, urged theatre groups to organize and to form Provincial associations. Our organization responded by forming and presenting a festival under the name of Saskatchewan Region of the Dominion Drama Festival. This was a One Act Festival. We continued like this for fifty years. During the war years, all activity was suspended. For more information on the DDF click here.

Fall

• A group of theatre enthusiasts from Regina, Moose Jaw, and Saskatoon were discussing the same concept. A provisional committee was formed:
  Walter T. Read - President, Regina
  Lillian D. Meyers - Vice President & Convenor for Saskatchewan of the National Drama Festival, Saskatoon
  Prof. K.W. Gordon - Secretary, Saskatoon

1933

• First provincial drama festival held at Darke Hall!
• Adjudicated by Dr. Lawrence Mason, drama critic of the Toronto Globe
• 12 plays were entered
• The McIntosh Cup went to Saskatoon Little Theatre Club for their performance of "The Twelve Pound Look"
• Both productions tied for second place exceeded the time limit
  • Outward Bound – Regina Community Players
  • The First and the Last – Saskatoon Little Theatre Club
• The first General Meeting was held during the festival
• Adopted the name Saskatchewan Drama League
• Adopted the objective: to develop the art of the theatre in the province and to promote a right relationship between drama and the life of the community
• The first elected officers were
  • President   J.D. Gunn, Saskatoon
  • Vice Pres.   Walter T. Read, Regina
  • Secretary    Mrs. S. Edwards, Saskatoon
  • Treasurer    J.M. Sinclair, Regina
  • Executive: 
    • Charles Tubb, North Battleford
    • C.M. Chesser, Moose Jaw
    • Mrs. Morley Willoughby, Regina

1936

• TheatreFest was initiated and fully supported by members.

1940

• While the Dominion Drama Festival ceased to function until 1946 (the war years), the SDL continued to flourish and sponsor an annual festival.

1944

• 125 drama clubs and group belonged to the SDL
• SDL festival was the largest ever sponsored in the province

1947

• The Dominion Drama Festival was revived and SDL became the Saskatchewan Region, Dominion Drama Festival.

1970

• We became D.D.F. Theatre Saskatchewan

1974

• Saskatchewan Region of the Dominion Drama Festival Board Members’ expenses consisted solely of mileage recovery.

1982

• Our name was changed to Theatre Saskatchewan Inc., in hopes of building our membership.

1983

• We opened an office on a part-time basis.
• We hired a part-time Executive Director.
• We received funding from Sask Lotteries.

1984

• We published our first Newsletter, the “Curtain Call”.
• We took a full length play to Calgary for the International Festival.
• We provided grants for member clubs to help with their expenses.

1986

• We started the Apprenticeship Program.
• We changed our name to Saskatchewan Community Theatre, Inc.
• We hired a full time Executive Director.
• We assisted fifteen (15) member groups
• We started the Hilda Allen Memorial Library

1987

• With the Hilda Allen Memorial fund, provided by Regina Little Theatre, we bought library shelving.

1988

• We presented a One Act play at the International Festival in Nova Scotia

1989

• Organized a non-competitive One Act Festival.
• Presented a Full Length Play at the International Festival in Victoria.

1990

• We hosted the Full Length and One Act International Festival.
• We established the Nan Reid Musical Library.

1992

• We presented a TheatreFest play at International Festival in Norway

1993

• We Created the Janet-Laine Green Lifetime Achievement Award, which is awarded annually at the ThatreFest.
• We took a Full Length play to Ireland for International Festival.

1995

• Mary Ellen Burgess received the Saskatchewan Arts Board Lifetime Award for Excellence in the Arts. The Burgess family entrusted the award to Saskatchewan Community Theatre, Inc., where it is displayed in the office, and at Festival.
• We assisted seventy-five (75) member groups.

1996

•  “Pub Night”, our annual tribute to the War Vets, premiered.

1997

• Saskatchewan Community Theatre, Inc. established the Initiative Grant.

1998

• The New Play Workshop was instituted at ThatreFest.
• Established our Newest Award, the Margaret Corbett Aspirant Award. It was first presented at TheatreFest in 1999.

2000

• Retired the George Porteous Memorial Plaque for Excellence or Meritorious Enterprise and created the William R. Hubbard Plaque for Excellence or Meritorious Enterprise.
• Initiated Aboriginal and Special Needs Workshops.
• Initiated the One Act Apprenticeship Program, with ten participants.
• Announced the creation of the Margaret Woodward Theatre Hall of Fame.
• Proclaimed our first Provincial Community Theatre Week (October 29 – November 4)
• Initiated first television productions with Access Communications in Regina.

2001

• First Advisory Committee meeting for the Hall of Fame May 16, 2001
• First Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony October 28, 2001
• Membership approved name change to Theatre Saskatchewan Inc. November 3, 2002

2002

• Official name changed to Theatre Saskatchewan Inc., effective as of March 6, 2002.
• Assisted eighty-six (86) member clubs.

2003

• Implemented the Executive Travel Program to promote program awareness to membership and non-members.
• Established TheatreWorks – a weekend workshop with two (2) 13-hour workshops.
• Online Library Database with ordering capabilities was established on our website.
• Declared the Full-Length Festival will be officially known as TheatreFest (year) for name recognition and consistency.
• Theatre Saskatchewan partnered with Theatre BC to showcase Canadian plays at the first annual Canada West Play Fest in Nanaimo, BC.

2004

• Declared the One Act Festival will be officially known as TheatreOne (year) for name recognition and consistency.

2020

• Created the Verna Alonzo Award for Stage Management in conjunction with Moose Jaw Community Players, who donated the trophy.
• Had to cancel TheatreFest due to the worldwide Covid pandemic.

2000-2004

• Today’s Tech-Knowledgy by L.M. Chalmers
• In Sickness & In Health by L. M. Chalmers
• How Did You Lose Those Fingers adapted by Roy J. Challis from “Mr. Baseball” by Lorne Kulak
• Fundrazor by Roy J. Challis
• Haute Cusine by Jim McLoughlin
• Promises by Guy Michaud