Opening Nite Theatre Debuts Writers’ Festival

Submitted. Mission’s Opening Nite Theatre Festival is bringing its first annual Writers’ Festival to the Opening Nite stage on Railway Ave.

Cover Photo: Mahara Sinclaire director of the hit Proof

The brainchild of ONTS Board member Tony Loyer, the Writers’ Festival was conceived as an outlet for local talent and fresh new plays. This year works were commissioned from three established local writer/actor/directors; Camille Atebe, Randy Holmes and Mahara Sinclaire.

The guidelines were: the play should run about 30 minutes, be simple to stage, and be character driven with no more than 4 characters. All three writers rose to the task, and the three plays developed for this year are : Plan B, The Gift, and Effective Tomorrow.

Plan B is the offering from Mahara Sinclaire (director of the hit Proof). It is the heart wrenching tale of the hard decisions a family must make when terminal illness hits.

Randy Holmes (award-winning actor and director) presents The Gift, the poignant tale of a woman in prison who receives a surprise visit from a stranger, and a request that seems simple but carries a lot of weight.

Camille Atebe (ONTS President and writer of the annual Panto) brings her new comedy Effective Tomorrow to the stage. The story of three strangers in a group therapy session for depressives, Effective Tomorrow will have you laughing out loud while cheering on this band of misfits.

The Writers’ Fest runs June 20-29, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm. Each performance will feature all three shows, each of which runs approximately 30 min. Tickets are on sale now, details are at www.openingnitetheatre.com/box-office

Rehearsals are underway, and with casts of stellar actors, this is a theatrical event you won’t want to miss. Are you a writer? Come on out and see the shows, and submit your plays for next year. Opening Nite Theatre Society wants to be THE showcase for new and exciting plays in the Fraser Valley, and beyond!