The final show of the year for advanced acting students at the University of Winnipeg’s Department of Theatre and Film sends six troublesome teenagers into space to figure life out for themselves on a new planet.
On the surface, the premise of All the Bad Kids Go to Mars is good enough to draw audiences to the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film this weekend. “It’s a very cheeky, fun play that’ll be a good time if you come see it,” smiles actor Michael Beaupre.
However, the play has meant so much more to these students as they use it to hone their skills on and off the stage as they prepare for the next chapter of their artistry.
Developing well-rounded theatre artists
The first thing that director Hope McIntyre notes about the play is that it is a great challenge for the actors. “I think the exciting thing about the piece is because we see these characters trapped in one space, it really becomes about character development, their journey, what they learn from each other, the conflict between these six characters,” she explains.
“This show is great experience,” says Beaupre. “I’ll have to draw upon this experience in the future for when I have to really let all the feelings from the other characters land in my character.”
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Alongside the onstage learning comes the offstage learning that the students have taken on for the show – the behind-the-scenes roles that range from marketing to set-building to sound design that McIntyre notes are crucial for emerging theatre artists to have experience in. “It’s a great way for them to learn not only about how to be an actor, but how to self-produce, how to do a fringe show, how to be a teacher who might have to do everything when they’re teaching drama.”
Learning about theatre in a constantly changing landscape
Developing all these skills is a necessity for artists trying to make a career in the theatre arts as the industry constantly evolves around them. For the university’s part, McIntyre says that the faculty and instructors in the theatre department are also always learning to ensure that they can prepare students the best they can, including in the preparations for this show.
“Even the choice of play, we used a collaborative method where the students read pieces and we discussed them, and the choice was based on everyone’s consent and desire to do a show,” she says. “I think we’ve moved away from, you know, director as authoritative figure in the industry right now, and I get to be a facilitator and work collaboratively with a cast who has such amazing ideas, and I think it’s about getting out of their way and allowing them to shine.”
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All the Bad Kids Go to Mars is being shown on April 11 at 7:30 p.m. and on April 12 at 4 p.m. at the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film. Admission is free with tickets available at the door. More information can be found at the University of Winnipeg’s website.