From writing plays to designing sets and all aspects of theatre in between, high school students from across Canada were recently given a chance to hone their stage skills.
By Gillian Minaker | The Brock News
May 21, 2025
From writing plays to designing sets and all aspects of theatre in between, high school students from across Canada were recently given a chance to hone their stage skills.
Hosted by Brock’s Department of Dramatic Arts (DART), the 2025 National STAR (School Theatrical Arts Recognition) Festival welcomed 200 students to the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA) from May 8 to 10 for a packed schedule of workshops and opportunities to showcase their talents through friendly competition.
“Dramatic Arts at Brock is fortunate to have our University’s support in making an equitable and inclusive space for all voices to grow,” said DART Chair Jennifer Roberts-Smith. “We were delighted to welcome the new perspectives of this year’s STAR Festival participants to our beautiful facilities at the Marilyn I. Walker School.”
Dramatic Arts graduate James McCoy (BA ’14), left, Head Technician at the Roselawn Theatre and DART Head of Scenic Construction and Instructor Ed Harris demonstrated stagecraft skills to students of Laura Secord Secondary School, A.N. Myer Secondary School and Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School during the Technical Theatre Olympics Challenge.
David Vivian, DART Associate Professor and Scenographer, said engaging workshops led by acclaimed industry professionals and post-secondary educators provided a powerful platform for students to shine.
“From musical theatre to playwriting, and technical design — including costume, sound, lighting, set design, and stage management — participants gained valuable insight from influential theatre artists,” he said.
Vivian co-organized the festival with Tracy Garratt, Program Leader for the Arts with the District School Board of Niagara and a teacher at A.N. Myer Secondary School in Niagara Falls.
Garratt, a champion of STAR Festival programming in Niagara, said opportunities to engage with diverse narratives and characters help students develop empathy and critical thinking skills, fostering a deeper understanding of the world around them and inspiring change in their communities.
“As a passionate teacher in the arts, I believe in the transformative power of theatre and the joy of participating in festivals that celebrate creativity,” she said. “Theatre not only nurtures artistic voices but also serves as a vital educational tool that helps students explore complex social issues and inequities.”
Adjudicators of the event represented a diverse cast of theatre professionals in the region, including current and past Shaw Festival ensemble members.
Vivian said DART’s close relationship with the Shaw Festival’s performing, production and administrative teams is an important component of learning for the Brock community.
“The DART Shaw Festival Internship has been a life-changing experience for our senior and graduating students,” he said.
DART graduates also returned to lend their expertise to the next generation, including theatre artist James McCoy (BA ’14), Head Technician at the Roselawn Theatre with Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Colborne.
McCoy shared his skills and career experience in a workshop in the Dramatic Arts Scene Shop where students learned new stagecraft skills and put them to the test in the “Olympic”-style program in collaboration with Vivian and Ed Harris, Head of Stage Construction for Dramatic Arts.
Emmett Carter, an A.N. Myer Secondary School student, said the festival gave him a feel for friendly competition, much like an audition process, while learning what other theatre artists across the country are creating.
Students from DSBN Academy in St. Catharines performed an original new play “Dogs Smell Blood” written by student Alaster Nikolic (front). The students polished the play in two sessions with renowned Canadian playwright John Lazarus and Canadian actor, screenwriter and sound designer Sean Meldrum. The play was selected in the national competition for the STAR Short Play program and will be published by TRW Plays (New York).
“Being here together gave me the opportunity to learn what is important to students from other provinces,” he said.
Fellow A. N. Myer student Matt Niddrie said the festival was building community.
“At the awards ceremony, we cheered each other on and celebrated our accomplishments reflecting our shared passion for theatre arts,” he said.
During the festival, a DART Creative Citizenship Scholarship award was launched by the department, with the inaugural award presented to a Saint Paul Catholic High School student.
“Whether these emerging young artists pursue studies in music theatre, dramatic arts, teacher education or other subjects such as the pre-med sciences, nursing, maths and business, I am very enthusiastic about their developing capacity to drive original and meaningful change,” Vivian said.
The third Niagara Regional STAR Festival is planned for December 2025 at the MIWSFPA.
