The Story Behind the Scenes
Laura Girvan | Community Visionary
"I get a lot of joy out of seeing the show come together...and all the little details that go on in the background, that's where my heart is."
In 2006, the historic “old waterworks building” in Wetaskiwin was destined for the wrecking ball. The Wetaskiwin Theatre society altered that bleak fate when they bought the building from the City of Wetaskiwin for a loonie. It was kismet, the theatre group needed a home and the building needed life breathed back inside of its brick walls. Together, they’re now writing a whole new chapter of history in the Wetaskiwin community.
Laura Girvan became a part of the story when she moved to Wetaskiwin in 2001. Upon her arrival, she began searching out volunteer opportunities. “I’ve always been involved in community. That was just what you did in rural Alberta—you were part of the community and you helped out wherever you could…Community and volunteering were part of our growing up,” she says.
Laura’s daughters were involved in Ukrainian dance, giving her a glimpse into all of the elements involved in bringing together a stage performance. Her youngest daughter went on to participate in theatre in high school and that’s when the seed was planted, says Laura. “When I moved to Wetaskiwin, my children were gone by then; grown up and on their own. And so I thought that theatre would be a good fit for me and a good place to start to find some like-minded folks—here we are almost 20 years later.”
Volunteering with the Wetaskiwin Theatre Society is a perfect fit for Laura, she’s able to be a part of an ever-evolving process. “I like to see things come to fruition,” she says, “I’m kind of a backstage kind of person…I get a lot of joy out of seeing the show come together...When all the stars line up: the sound is right, the lighting is right, the audience has a really good experience, the performers have a really good experience—and all the little details that go on in the background, that’s where my heart is.”
The building and the performances aren’t the only things growing and evolving. Laura understands the positive influence of theatre on individuals, she’s seen it in action. “Theatre changes people…You depend on each other… It’s a huge thing to put yourself out there in front of a bunch of people. For a lot of people, it’s really challenging, and yet the confidence that they gain being able to do it is just astounding. And the friendships that people make during that time are quite amazing,” she says.
In revitalizing a historic building, the Wetaskiwin Theatre Society has given their community access and exposure to a wide variety of performing arts. It has a significant impact on both the performers and the patrons. Even big name performing artists comment on how special the space is, says Laura, “Parts of the building are a hundred years old. And so it’s become a very unique facility and it’s been a very grassroots project… It’s a really neat cultural space in Wetaskiwin that we’re very proud of. We saved this building from the wrecking ball and restored it to a point where it could continue to be used.”
So what’s next for Laura, the Wetaskiwin Theatre Society, and their building? Laura hopes the next chapter will be penned with youthful exuberance: “I’ve found it gratifying, volunteering and being a part of how the theatre has evolved to this point. I’m really quite proud of our accomplishments and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future brings. And seeing what a new generation of folks, that will take up the lead and take up the reigns, where they’ll go with it. There are so many possibilities,” she says. The story of Wetaskiwin’s Manluk Theatre is far from over.
Manluk Theatre:
Wetaskiwin Theatre Society:
