The History of the Organization
We are the oldest continual Theatre organization in Canada. At all Festivals, since 1933, trophies have been awarded. The Late Cameron McIntosh, formerly of North Battleford, donated the first trophy. Others have since been added, bringing the current total to nineteen (19) trophies. Go to our Past Festivals and Awards page to get details of all our awards.
1932
- 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. Durring the war years, all activity was suspended.
1936
- TheatreFest was initiated and fully supported by members.
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 Once Act Festival will be officially known as TheatreOne (year) for name recognition and consistency.
Volunteer of the Year Award
2009 |
Angel Genereux |
- Regina Little Theatre Society, Inc. |
2008 |
Lance Cornwell |
- Last Mountain Theatre Co. |
2007 |
Patrick Pelletier |
- Regina Little Theatre Society, Inc. |
2006 |
Brenda A. Fahselt |
- Prairie Players Drama Club |
2005 |
Pat Wilson |
- Regina Little Theatre |
2004 |
Walter Austman |
- Paper Bag Theatre |
2003 |
Bernadette Tice |
- Regina Lyric Light Opera |
2002 |
David Martodam |
- Meadow Lake Community Theatre, Inc. |
2001 |
Phyllis Henry |
- Mooseberry Acting Company |
2000 |
Ken Johnson |
- Swift Current Little Theatre |
Past Presidents
2018 |
Donna Challis |
1993 |
James Hosking |
1968 |
A. T. Gardiner |
2017 |
Paulette Thompson |
1992 |
Jim Hadfield |
1967 |
A. T. Gardiner |
2016 |
Paulette Thompson |
1991 |
Janet Ewing |
1966 |
A. T. Gardiner |
2015 |
Donna Challis |
1990 |
Ian C. Nelson |
1965 |
A. T. Gardiner |
2014 |
Donna Challis |
1989 |
Margaret H. Woodward |
1964 |
C. D. Abrahamson |
2013 |
Sherry Riess |
1988 |
Betty Woods |
1963 |
C. D. Abrahamson |
2012 |
Sherry Riess |
1987 |
Betty Woods |
1962 |
C. D. Abrahamson |
2011 |
Jarrod Jeanson |
1986 |
Neall Stevens |
1961 |
C. D. Abrahamson |
2010 |
Jarrod Jeanson |
1985 |
William R. Hubbard |
1960 |
Mrs. R. B. Ramsay |
2009 |
Lynn Wagner |
1984 |
Keith Woods |
1959 |
Mrs. R. B. Ramsay |
2008 |
Lynn Wagner |
1983 |
Keith Woods |
1958 |
Mrs. R. B. Ramsay |
2007 |
Ken Johnson |
1982 |
Joan Coggins |
1957 |
Mrs. R. B. Ramsay |
2006 |
Ken Johnson |
1981 |
Joan Coggins |
1956 |
C. E. Lake |
2005 |
Ken Johnson |
1980 |
Donna Challis |
1955 |
Mary Ellen Burgess |
2004 |
Larry Schlosser |
1979 |
Donna Challis |
1954 |
Mary Ellen Burgess |
2003 |
Larry Schlosser |
1978 |
Ian C. Nelson |
1953 |
Mary Ellen Burgess |
2002 |
Suzanne Malo |
1977 |
Ian C. Nelson |
1952 |
Mary Ellen Burgess |
2001 |
Suzanne Malo |
1976 |
Margaret H. Woodward |
1951 |
Mary Ellen Burgess |
2000 |
Lorna Batycki |
1975 |
Margaret H. Woodward |
1950 |
Unknown |
1999 |
Lorna Batycki |
1974 |
Connie Munyard |
1949 |
William Reid |
1998 |
Betty Woods |
1973 |
Connie Munyard |
1948 |
Norman H. Browne |
1997 |
Betty Woods |
1972 |
Jeanne Walters |
1947 |
Unknown |
1996 |
Betty woods |
1971 |
Jeanne Walters |
1946 |
Unknown |
1995 |
Florence Eberle |
1970 |
A. T. Gardiner |
1945 |
K. W. Gordon |
1994 |
Florence Eberle |
1969 |
A. T. Gardiner |
1944 |
Walter T. Read |
Acting for the Camera Productions
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
Dinner Theatres
2005 |
Paper Bag Players |
- You Can’t Get There From Here by Pat Cook |
2004 |
Humboldt Community Players |
- The Men Commandments by Sarah Quick |
2003 |
Last Mountain Theatre Co. |
- The Nunsense Christmas Musical Nuncrackers by Dan Goggin |
2002 |
Battlefords Community Players |
- A Christmas Cactus by Eliot Byerrum |
2001 |
Swift Current Little Theatre |
- Over the River and Through the Woods by Joe Dipietro |
2000 |
Saskatoon Ageless Players |
- The Gift & The G.R.I.N.C.H. by L.M. Chalmers |
1999 |
Saskatoon Ageless Players |
- Scrooge – The Female Version by Caroline Russell-King |
1998 |
Chocolate Moose Theatre, Inc. |
- Not A Creature Was Stirring… Not Even A Moose by Pat cook |
1997 |
Saskatchewan Community Theatre, Inc. |
- There Goes The Bride by Ray Cooney and John Chapman |
1996 |
Saskatchewan Community Theatre, Inc. & Regina Summer Stage |
- Tomb With A View by Norman Robbins |
1995 |
Saskatchewan Community Theatre, Inc. & Regina Summer Stage |
- Key For Two by J. Chapman and D. Freeman |