Festivals
Elizabeth Boardmore One Act Play Festival
The Boardmore Theatre gathers yearly for the annual festival of one-act plays. The festival offers the community an opportunity to celebrate live theatre and to share the talents of actors, directors, writers and technicians. In 2004, the festival lost one of its greatest supporters and the Dramagroup one of its co-founders, Elizabeth “Liz” Boardmore.
Liz came to Cape Breton with her then husband Harry Boardmore in 1966. Together they developed a thriving live theatre culture on Cape Breton Island. Their earliest works, done under the auspices of Xavier College and produced on the Lyceum stage, won national acclaim and inspired a generation of talented artists to create classics like The Rise and Follies of Cape Breton Island and the Cape Breton Summertime Revue. From these roots the one-act festival was born in 1971; and in 1990 the CBU Theatre was formally named the Boardmore Playhouse to commemorate the contributions of Harry and Liz.
Reflecting on the work Liz did, despite its scope, and listing her accomplishments, though there were many, seems hollow tribute to the force she was. Liz was the heart of the Dramagroup. Her passion for theatre (which was boundless), her love for her family and friends (whose number remain legion) and her unfailing directness (which was the stuff of which legends are made) found fertile ground at CBU. As her reputation grew, so to did her commitment to the university, to her colleagues and especially to her students. As an educator, Liz had no equal. Ready with criticism, which was always well deserved, and even more ready with praise, Liz taught all who studied with her how to think critically, act morally, and live vibrantly.
Under her firm, yet loving guidance, thousands of students and Dramagroup members gained the self-confidence needed to strive for the loftiest goals imaginable while never losing faith should success prove elusive. Liz, quoting Beckett, encouraged all with, “No Matter. Try Again. Fail Again. Fail Better.” Liz recognized talent but she respected hard work more. Her legacy to those who follow behind is her personal example. She continues to encourage us to reach for the stars with our feet firmly planted on the earth. The memory of her standing to lead an ovation, the echo of her “Bravo”, and the reflection of her kerchiefed profile backstage will sustain us as her work remains a shining example of everything to which we aspire.
2024 TICKET INFORMATION
Admission Fees
General Admission: $20
Students & Seniors: $10
CBU Students: Free
General Seating for all plays.
Evening shows begin at 7:00pm.
Box Office
The CBU Playhouse Box Office is open from 1:00pm to 5:00pm Monday to Friday and one hour before show time.
The box office will open one week prior to performances and during the week of performances.
Box Office phone no.: 902-563-1652
For more info visit cbu.ca/boardmore
2024 SCHEDULE OF PLAYS
You can review the Elizabeth Boardmore One Act Play Festival schedule here, or review the listings below.
THURSDAY, MARCH 14
Darcy, Darkcy
Written and Directed by Andrew Tsogo
As his mind is slipping, piece by piece, second by second, his lifelong war between his inner good and bad continues. Darcy lives isolated from the world, alone with his thoughts and faces his worst enemy, himself. Darkcy, the epitome of his dark emotions and feelings, plans to take over his body and continue a wrath of darkness and violence. Can Darcy be saved? Can he be returned to normal?
Return to Sender
Written and Directed by Daniel Farrow
A group of friends gather for a party at an unfamiliar apartment after receiving an unaddressed letter promising them a part that they’ll never forget.
FRIDAY, MARCH 15
The Bonfire, Part One of Wildfire
Translated by Leanna Brodie
From Le Brasier by David Paquet
Directed by Holly Schaller
The Bonfire is part one of three in the play, Wildfire. It is not a play unto itself. David Paquet’s Le Brasier was a creation of the company L’homme allumette, first presented on the Jean-Claude Germain stage of the Centre du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui, Montreal, in the Fall of 2016.
“Doomed to the flames by their very nature, Paquet’s seemingly ordinary characters nevertheless choose to struggle against their solitude in extraordinary ways, always managing to remain both relatable and amazing”. (Via leannabrodie.com)
Eliza
By Sarah Munro
Directed by Maverick McDougall
In searching for an investor for her passion project, Carly is eager to show off Eliza, an advanced AI, lifelike, human woman. Ethical lines are blurred and Carly is forced to come to terms with what she has created.
SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Cheaper Than Therapy
By Caroline Haroldson
Directed by Kate Devoe
A newly engaged couple’s family will only give their blessing if the two can pass a relationship test -pitching a tent.
Rosie in the Shadow of Melrose
By Craig Fols
Directed by Kate Devoe
An unlikely friendship blooms between Frances– a chatty girl with an exceptional personality, and a reserved boy whose family has just shut him out in the wake of his coming out. Rosie in the Shadow of Melrose is a story of self acceptance, and it reminds us that home is ours to define.
SUNDAY, MARCH 17
Killer’s Head
By Sam Shepard
Directed by Bryan Nash
A man in an electric chair contemplates his nonexistent future.
Evanesence, or Shakespeare in the Alley
By Sam Shepard
Directed by Mike McPhee
A woman questions reality and existence after sudden changes in her life.
Best Fin Forward
By Scott Sharplin
Presented by DRAM 3104, Stagecraft Class
Directed by Shashwat Trivedi
Back by natural selection! A self-contained sub-aquatic scene from Good Animals (Highland Arts Theatre, 2019), this tale of primordial fish on the threshold splashes onto the Boardmore stage. Take the plunge and witness the evolution of comedy!
FESTIVAL ADJUDICATOR
Ron Jenkins
Ron Jenkins is a Sydney based freelance director and playwright and former student of CBU.
Selected credits include:
The Woman in Black (SJTC),ELF, Dear Rita, GREASE( SAVOY) Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, The Happy Prince,Silence,GBMM, Spelling Bee, Sucker, Next to Normal (HAT); Playing With Fire (Persephone/Citadel/PTE/ATP); The 39 Steps, Turn of the Screw (Vertigo); Julius Caesar, Richard III, Romeo & Juliet, Othello (TSC); Chasing Champions (Ship’s Theatre Company); High Life (GZT); ENRON (NAC); Métis Mutt (Theatre Network); Good Night Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet (Belfry Theatre); 1984 (Saint John Theatre Company); Next to Normal (Theatre Calgary/Citadel); Chicago (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); The Forbidden Phoenix, Extinction Song (Citadel Theatre); The Trespassers (Belfry/Vancouver Playhouse); Bash’d (ZIPPER FACTORY/Off Broadway); Mary’s Wedding, Mesa (Workshop West); Respectable, Confessions of a Paper Boy (Ghost River Theatre); The Black Rider (November Theatre Co.); The Red Priest (Eight Ways to Say Goodbye); The Blue Light (Alberta Theatre Projects); Steel Kiss, Eureka, The Horror, The Horror (Skid).
Ron has won ten Sterling Awards as a director and playwright and two Betty Mitchell Awards for Direction for The Black Rider and Playing With Fire. In 2013 he was honored with a CCA Award in Ottawa for his direction of ENRON. Ron is also the winner of the 2004 Syncrude Award for Artistic Innovation and a Critter Award Winner for Playing with Fire. Ron was shortlisted for the 2007 and 2010 Siminovitch Prize in theatre for Direction.
