Local Talent Shines
- kc dyer
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Rockridge students brings Little Shop of Horrors to life
What happens when a people-eating plant tries to take over the world?
The students at Rockridge Secondary School have the answer. This year's production of 'Little Shop of Horrors' has just successfully capped a run of performances at Kay Meek Theatre in West Vancouver.
Drama teacher and director Lindsay Corbett has been teaching at Rockridge for five years, and she calls this year's production the biggest and most memorable of her tenure.
She says a lot of thought goes into choosing productions each year, including polling the students for their opinions. "We carefully considered the cast size, the talents of the students likely to audition, and what would both challenge and inspire our performers and audiences."
Lions Bay residents Jackson Klas and Harry Bradbury both took part in this year's production. Among his many roles, Harry played villainous Orin Scrivello, the Evil Dentist who romances Audrey, the namesake of the man-eating plant. He says that this was his first major production on the Kay Meek stage, having first caught the acting bug playing Lord Farquaard in 'Shrek 'when he was in Grade 7.
Bradbury's favourite part of the production was a precisely-timed scene during one of the numbers. "In one of the songs Jackson and one of our other co-stars are singing, then my scene partner and I have to enter and cross the stage, act and deliver dialogue and perform a choreographed slap in a brief window in time with the music," he says. "It needed a lot of rehearsal but it paid off."
Rockridge student Lucy Hille took on the role of Assistant Director for the production, which meant fundraising, sponsorship, and social media jobs, along with directing duties. She has been a member of the Rockridge Theatre Company since Grade 9, until now always taking on an acting role. "This year I was given a new opportunity," she says. "It really pushed me and helped me improve my leadership skills."
She says she very much enjoyed making short videos to share on social media. "It was so fun to get the whole cast and crew involved. It was something we hadn’t done in years previous, and I think it worked as both an advertisement strategy and a way for us to bond as a cast."
Corbett says she firmly believes theatre teaches students essential teamwork, dependability, communication, and empathy—skills that will continue to serve them for the rest of their lives.
"Drama is such an important part of education because it celebrates diversity and builds community," says Corbett. "I feel very lucky to create a space where students feel safe to take creative risks."
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