Rural theatre stages ‘Mary Poppins’ to celebrate 10th anniversary

A non-profit theatre group is getting ready for their latest performance as they celebrate a major milestone.

What started as two sisters with a passion for theatre has evolved into a decade of celebrating local talent.

Studio 410 is marking its 10^th anniversary by putting on a production of Mary Poppins Jr.

The theatre company is about much more than just a love of performing, it’s about making those experiences accessible to people in rural Ontario.

“When we were growing up, our parents drove us to the city for music lessons, for dance lessons,” Devan Ballagh, Studio 410 co-director, said. “We grew up in Teeswater, Ont., so a very small town, and as we got older, we realized there was a gap for programming in the area.”

“We always say that singing, dancing and acting are just the vehicle we use to teach self-confidence and teamwork, personal growth and learning that you can do things you didn’t know you could,” Paige Ballagh, Studio 410 co-director, said.

Devan and Paige direct, produce and choreograph the company’s annual showcases.

The name is derived from one of the sisters’ favourite scriptures: 1 Peter 4:10. “Each of you must use whatever gift you received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

For the sisters, when they watch the young stars hit the stage, they are reminded of their younger days.

“We would put on shows [at home] and make fake tickets. Our poor family and friends would have to sit through all of our two-woman productions,” Paige said.

“To flash forward here and see how we’re doing the exact same thing, there’s just a team now and an audience, it’s really special.”

Practically perfect

The cast and crew at Studio 410 have been hard at work over the last six months to mount their production of Mary Poppins Jr., a musical based on the Disney film.

The cast and chorus are made up of 32 young thespians between the ages of 10 and 18.

Sixteen-year-old Ashley Ready will be portraying the titular character after spending years with the theatre company. She said the experience has helped her overcome her shyness.

“I always have these pre-show nerves, but then the second I get on stage, muscle memory kicks in and I’m like, ‘I’ve been rehearsing this. I love doing this. I’m confident. I’m Mary Poppins,’” she said.

Students from more than 35 schools got to see the show before it opens to the public.

“There’s something so magical when you see the little kindergarten kids here looking up at their peers, in some cases, just thinking, ‘Maybe I can do that too,’” Devan said.

“You put so much into it and it’s like, I wonder what it’s going to look like when we get onto the big stage and we can pull out all the stops,” 14-year-old Declan Pothier, who plays Bert, said.

The show opens to the public at the Drayton Festival Theatre on April 11 and runs on weekends until the curtain falls on April 19.