A contest by the South Island Musical Theatre Society (SIMTS) is aimed at getting elementary-aged children in the Valley’s public schools to learn more about Anne of Green Gables.
The famous novel was long ago turned into a popular musical and the SIMTS is presenting that musical at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre in the spring.
The offer that went out to the area’s public school children offered the chance to win tickets to the April 2016 production of Anne of Green Gables.
Write a short essay explaining what you like about the novel or musical Anne of Green Gables.
This essay must be 75 words or less and must be handed in to the school office anytime before Dec. 11.
The winner will be announced the second week of January and will receive tickets to one of the performances.
“The idea of the contest is to encourage children to read and to come out and see theatre. I think this is also a good way to give children the chance to be creative, to write and then to experience live musical theatre,” said SIMTS president Irwin Killam.
“People will be hearing about this now at their schools. It’s for Grades 1-7,” she said.
The judges will take note of the different ages of the students when writing.
It’s interesting, she said, to discover that many children have not read the Anne of Green Gables stories.
“But they’re reading Harry Potter and things like that. It’s fantastic that they’re reading, of course, but this is a beautiful and famous Canadian story,” she said.
The SIMTS is trying to get more of the community involved, she said.
The show itself has been cast and the players of the major roles will be out and about in the Cowichan Valley fairly soon to start spreading the word that Anne is coming to the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre.
So, if you have kids in elementary school, get them reading Anne of Green Gables and then putting their thoughts to paper. The result could be some great entertainment come spring.