Knightwatch

Interview With the Children’s Theatre Shrek Directors

By: Romey Karovitch

 

This year’s Children's Theatre production of Shrek was run by student directors and casted with students, all from Nepean High School. For one evening, the cast presented the play to everyone’s families, but the production also toured for four days, visited six schools and presented Shrek to many elementary students. Our directors this year were Emma Boyes and Gwen Marty. Knightwatch sat down with them to have a little Q & A session about the play.

 

Q: What inspired you two to choose Shrek for this years Children’s Theatre production?

 

A: Emma Boyes:  Well, Gwen and I, we were looking at many different options, and we thought that Shrek was enjoyable and fun for all ages. The kids would like it, but also our friends and family members.

 

Gwen Marty:  Yeah, Emma and I were talking, and we wanted to do something that was kind of different than everybody else, and really hip and fun. So we were thinking about maybe Ice Age and other stuff. Then we were like, wait, Shrek! Then once we decided on Shrek, it was like, the only choice because it’s pretty awesome.

 

Q: Is this your first times directing?

 

A: E.B.: At school it’s my first time directing, but this one time I started a drama club for some kids in my neighbourhood, and then directed The Wizard of Oz.

 

G.M.: It is, yes.

 

Q: Are there other theatre productions that you have been involved in?

 

A: E.B.: Yes. I’ve been in Children’s Theatre every year that I’ve been at Nepean, as well as the bigger productions, like Les Misréables and The Drowsy Chaperone.

 

G.M.: Yep, I’ve also been in Children’s Theatre all four years of high school; so The Lion King, 101 Dalmations and Madagascar. I’ve also been in the big musicals, as well as a fridge in grade four!   

 

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you two have faced so far?

 

A: E.B.: Well, in directing Shrek, we found that the audition process was very hard because there were so many kids that were eager to do it, and we didn’t want to leave anyone out, but we also couldn’t have a cast of fifty people. So that was definitely hard to cut people. It’s also hard because it’s a really big commitment, like we’re rehearsing about eight times a week, so that’s tough.

 

G.M.: Yeah, casting was a huge challenge. With doing the auditions and stuff, we had to cut people that were good, like cut our friends, and it was hard. Also, seeing how the scenes work, like how to make movement happen and stuff; it’s not easy.

 

Q: How were you two chosen to direct this year's play?

 

A: E.B.: Well, Gwen and I wrote a little proposal summary thing, of the play. Then we wrote a script, and a few other groups of directors wrote scripts as well, and then Mr. Kanter chose our script!

 

G.M.: So yeah, we submitted a script, but I don’t think we were chosen, but that our script was chosen.

 

Q: Who are some of the directors that you admire?

 

A: E.B.:  Well, definitely when we were in grade nine, we did The Lion King, which had student directors as well. So when we saw them directing, we were like, “Wow, we wanna do that when we’re in grade twelve.”

 

G.M.: Like Emma said, our grade nine, ten and eleven directors.

 

Q: What are some other productions you would like to be involved in?

 

A: E.B.: I’ve never been in a “real” play before, other then like, Children’s Theatre. So I think it’d be cool to be in a play, because I’m not that good at singing, so I don’t really shine in the musicals. Maybe next year, sometime, I’ll be in a play.

 

G.M.: Well, I think that my drama career will probably stop once high school ends. Which is kind of sad, but maybe one day I’ll be in a community play, when I’m, like, sixty-five. I kind of want to be in Mamma Mia at that age.