Canadian author and performer Edward Willett writes to tell us that his newest science-fiction comedy play, Circle the Crops, will be produced in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, next summer to mark the city’s centennial.
The Weyburn Review reports that community theatre group Crocus 80 Theatre will be producing the play. “I don’t want to give away too much about our centennial piece, but I can say the audience will be asking themselves who does that character represent? Or I remember an event similar to that happening here in town,” said Connie Nightingale, president of Crocus 80.
The play is set in the small town of Crocus, Saskatchewan. “There are some mysterious happenings in the community, and a lot of it is based on my experiences in Weyburn as the editor of the Weyburn Review,” said Willett. “A lot of the action in the play is set at the local newspaper.”
Nightingale notes that Willett also wrote the play Crocus 80 presented for the city’s 75th birthday. “So for us to once again, take part in a historical moment here is Weyburn, with Willett as a big contributor to it, seems as appropriate as it can get.”
Willett added that he will not be involved in the production side, but wants to attend readings of the play (he currently lives in Regina).
Nightingale is hoping to find sufficient sponsorship to offer the play as Theatre in The Park, free of charge to attendees. “It’s the one way Crocus 80 Theatre can give back to the community for being so supporting and embracing the revival of community theatre.”
Crocus 80 wants to create partnerships with other community groups for this production, and interested organizations can contact them at crocus80theatre [at] gmail [dot] com.
Weyburn (population about 10,000) is the seventh largest city in the province of Saskatchewan, located about 70 miles south of Regina, and 45 miles north of the US border.