Image caption: High school students from Ontario and New Brunswick made puppets in a workshop led by Dramatic Arts instructor and local designer for theatre Alexa Fraser as part of the 2025 National STAR Festival hosted at the MIWSFPA.
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | by Gillian Minaker
Teens learn tricks of theatre trade from industry pros
Secondary school theatre students and creative professionals from across the country recently gathered for a dynamic celebration of creativity and excellence in youth theatre.
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.
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 production participants gained valuable insight from influential theatre artists,” he said. The festival is unique for its focus on story telling and performance without design elements such as sets and costumes.
Vivian co-organized the festival with lead 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.
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.
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.”
DART Chair Jennifer Roberts-Smith’s delivered a keynote welcome and remarked that now — more than ever — the world needs theatre made by diverse new voices.
“Dramatic Arts at Brock is fortunate to have our University’s support in making an equitable and inclusive space for all voices to grow,” she said. “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.”
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 the STARfest Technical Theatre Olympics, a program of learning and fun competitive collaboration in stagecraft. Students learned news skills and put them to the test in a program adapted for the festival by McCoy, Vivian, and Head of Stage Construction for Dramatic Arts, Ed Harris.
The opportunity to meet colleague theatre artists from across the country was at the foundation of the community-building event. Emmett Carter, a student from A.N. Myer Secondary School emphasized that the opportunity to learn and create with new friends, and then witness their performances and presentations was the highpoint of their experience.
“Meeting people from across Canada was cool. …. Being all here, together at the festival, allows me to see what people are doing across the country and gives me the opportunity to learn what is important to kids from other provinces,” he said.
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).
Matt Niddrie, a student from A.N. Myer Secondary School, highlighted the joy of experiencing the final moments of the festival.
“We were all cheering each other on and celebrating each other and our respective accomplishments. This festival builds community. The workshops bring us all together; we all share the same ideals. The festival is a great time for us to be together supporting each other’s 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.
Watch the video report below by YourTV Niagara featuring an interview with the lead organizer, Tracy Garratt. (4:13)
