Middle Years Festival

Middle Years Festivals Schedule | May 3, 2023

***SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE***

May 3, 2023 – Admission – General Public – $6.00 – Riddell Centre, Main Stage, University of Regina

Performances begin at 1:00 PM. Doors open at 12:45.

Tickets may be purchased at the Riddell Centre prior to the performances only.

1. King George Elementary School, Moose Jaw – “My Invisible Backpack”

2. Balgonie Elementary School – “The Day The Internet Died”

Do you and your students want to perform at Middle Years Festival (Performing Group)?

You must complete an Intent to Enter Festival Application: Click on Middle Years Festival Intent to Enter Application to access the form
An invoice will be e-mailed as indicated on your completed Intent to Enter Middle Years Festival Application.
You are also required to complete a Registration Form no later than 5 weeks prior to Middle Years Festival. Click on Middle Years Festival Registration to access the form.

Is there a time limit for my performance?

Yes, performances cannot be longer than 30 minutes.
Contact the Provincial Office for more information

Do you and your students want to attend a performance (not any workshops) at Middle Years Festival as an Observing Group?

Complete a SDA’s Middle Years Festival Observer Application. Click on Middle Years Festival Observer Application
There is no cost for school observing groups that are attending performances only, however, you must register your group as indicated above.

Are there any forms my students must complete before attending Middle Years Festival?

Yes, if you are a performing group, each of your students must complete a SDA Student Participant Form prior to the beginning of the Festival.
Yes, if you and your students are attending morning workshops, each student must complete a SDA Student Participant form.
No, if you and your students are only attending performances, there are no other forms required other than the initial Observer Application for the class.

Is there a Festival Pass that will allow entry to performances on all days of the Festival?

Performing Groups are eligible to attend performances on any day. There is no extra cost.
When registering as an Observing Group, please check the appropriate boxes to indicate your preference.
Registered Observing Groups wanting to participate in morning workshops – The cost is $200.00 per class. This cost is subject to change without notice.
When your application form is received in the Provincial Office, an invoice will be
e-mailed as indicated on your completed Performing of Observing Application.
There is no cost to attend Middle Years Festival for School Observing Groups who are not participating in morning drama workshops.
No. There is not a Middle Years Festival Pass available.

Are there morning drama workshops my students can attend even if they are not performing?

Yes. However, availability is limited and are made available to Performing Groups first.
Performing Groups – When completing your Intent to Enter Festival Application, please check the appropriate boxes to indicate that you would like to attend morning drama workshops. There is no additional cost for Performing Groups.
For Registered Observing Groups wanting to attend morning drama workshops – When you complete your Observer Application, you will be placed on a waiting list and notified when and if space becomes available in the drama workshops.
When attending morning workshops with your students, there must be at least one SDA Adult Member registered and supervising your students. Complete an Adult Membership Application.
Note: If there is not a Registered Adult Member present, your students will not be permitted to attend workshops or performances.

For more information contact the Provincial Office:

Saskatchewan Drama Association

Box 17, 1 Mack Street, Regina Beach, SK S0G 4C0

306-525-0151 dramainfo@sasktel.net

What methods can I use to pay my invoice?

SDA accepts School or School Division cheques, money orders, or Direct Deposit from your School Division. SDA is unable to accept e-transfers or credit cards payments.
Late payment fees will be applied to unpaid invoices at a rate of $5.00 per month.
Invoices are due when you receive them.
Contact SDA’s Provincial Office to make payment arrangements: 306-525-0151 or dramainfo@sasktel.net

How long are the performances each day?

Each play session begins at 1:00 p.m. If there is an evening session, the play session will begin at 7:00 p.m. The plays are usually over between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m. each afternoon or 9:30 and 10:00 p.m. each evening.
After the performances are complete, there is a public production workshop held in the Theatre.
Following the workshop, a private meeting with the Clinicians and Adult Directors is held in the Theatre. Audience and students are required to leave the Theatre at this time.
Note: Exact performance times vary from day to day and will not be known until closer to the beginning of festival. The time for the public production workshop and directors meeting will vary depending on the number of plays scheduled to perform.
Refer to SDA’s Middle Years Performance Schedule available on our website.

What time do the morning workshops begin?

Workshops begin between 9:30 to 9:45 each day. There are 2 time spaces each morning with several workshops running concurrently. Each workshop is approximately 45 minutes. There is a break between workshops of approximately 15 minutes.
A schedule will be sent as soon as possible prior to the beginning of the Middle Years Festival.

What can me and my students do for lunch and/or other food needs?

You have the following options:

You and your students may bring a bag lunch and eat it in an appropriate area at the University.
You can purchase a lunch at the various venues available at the University of Regina or elsewhere.
You can contact the University of Regina, Food Services to arrange meals for your students. http://www.dineoncampus.ca/uofregina
You can contact Luther College, University of Regina, to arrange for meals for your students. https://www.luthercollege.edu/university/residence-food-services/conference-services/food-services
You can contact Campion College, University of Regina, to arrange for meals for your students. https://campioncollege.ca/student-services/food/

Is there parking available at the University?

This information is subject to change without notice.

You must make arrangements in order to park a bus, large van, etc. prior to arriving at festival by contacting Parking Services at the University. Parking Services is located at Room 108, College West, University of Regina. Phone: 306-585-5555.
There is also meter parking and other paid parking available.

Can tickets be purchased at the door for performances?

Yes, tickets are available at the door only. It is a per person, per play session charge. There is not an individual charge to see each play.
The tickets may be purchased any time during the day at the Festival site only.
The doors open fifteen (15) minutes prior to each play session.
We can only accept cash for tickets at the door.

Mission Statement

SDA's Middle Years Drama Festival will celebrate drama in our schools and offer opportunities for growth and development for both students and teachers in a non-competitive environment.

Middle Years Objectives

To enhance and support Saskatchewan Arts Education Curriculum.
To build a greater understanding about the relationship between drama, life and community.
To create an appreciation of theatre through a variety of approaches and styles.
To develop technical theatre skills and improve the quality of elementary school productions in a non-competitive environment.
To promote greater public awareness of drama in our schools.
To provide professional development opportunities for teachers working in drama and arts education.

Middle Years Festival Focus

Showcase grade 5 – 9 drama productions of Thirty (30) minutes or less.
Provide professional development by working with theatre professionals.
An opportunity to view and respond to plays, to discuss theatre techniques with peers and theatre professionals through workshops.
Model good audience etiquette and build appreciation for other productions.
Respond to the festival challenge and learn how to use rehearsal techniques effectively.
Meet other students and teachers in drama and share experiences in the world of theatre.
Learn more about technical theatre skills.
Students will receive Certificates of Merit to recognize creativity and achievement in theatre.

Middle Years Drama Festival

Date: Refer to Festivals Dates and Locations information for current dates.

Location: Main Stage, Theatre Department, Riddell Centre, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan.

Cost: The cost is a per play amount for Performing Groups (subject to change without notice). Please check with the Provincial Office. Your Intent to Enter Application includes performance space, dressing room space, morning drama workshops, and clinicians’ workshops.

All adult directors and or Supervising Teachers (not Chaperones) must have a current SDA Adult Membership. The adult membership application is available on sda’s website.

Middle Years Application

Deadline for Middle Years Intent to Enter Festival Application (Performing Groups) is January 31st annually.

Deadline for Middle Years Observing Groups attending morning drama workshops is March 31st annually.

Deadline for Middle Years Observing Groups attending performances only is April 15th annually.

We will accept a maximum of 4 plays for each play session. (1 play/school, on a first come first served basis.)

Performing Groups must complete a Middle Years Play Registration form no later than five (5) weeks prior to attending the festival. The Play Registration form is used to produce the Festival program, provide information to Clinicians, University staff, and arrange the drama workshops.