Back in England my parents have many pictures.
One of them is a picture of the cast of a children’s pantomime.
Standing in the centre is my father, aged 12, who had been playing the lead role of Jack in “The house that Jack built”. The cast are all members of a pantomime society in my home town of Oxford.
There in the background, playing a much more minor role is a familiar face - Hugh Laurie, now one of the world’s most famous actors having starred first in comedies like “Blackadder” and more recently in the much acclaimed “House”.
In fact that pantomime society produced a number of stars, including the very well known English actress Maggie Smith.
Last week I saw a rehearsal of the Vanderhoof Children’s Theatre’s “A Music Man”. It was most impressive. I thought back to that picture and wondered if our drama society here might produce some stars of the future. Anything is possible. You never know where the person standing next to you might end up.
It also got me thinking about the need here for more adult drama or a community drama group for all ages. Being part of a play or some musical theatre is a fantastic experience. It is a great way to develop friendships, discover talent, develop community and promote teamwork - and also a good way to provide entertainment through the dark winters.