Ottawa’s 16th annual Youth Infringement Theatre Festival came and went quicker than you can probably pronounce its name. This year’s festival ran May 13-17 and featured six one-act plays all written, directed, stage-managed, acted in, and produced by local artists.
At the end of each night, audience members are encouraged to vote on their favourite show. On the last night of the festival, the organizers announce the winning play and the lucky cast gets to perform in Ottawa’s largest theatre festival–Fringe–near the end of June. This year The Anomaly by Ryan Nadon was picked as the ‘Best of Fest.’
This event is different than many other theatre festivals around the city as only individuals between 15 and 25 years of age are encouraged to submit work, audition, and/or sign up to direct and produce.
It provides a unique creative outlet for students looking to showcase their artistic talents without having any prior theatre experience, according to Matt Hertendy, Carleton student and co-artistic director of Sock ‘n’ Buskin’s upcoming season.
“When I was in grade 11, my drama teacher brought in two producers of the festival at that time to come in and talk about the festival. There was a sign-up sheet with an opportunity to direct a show, and that sounded really interesting to me so I applied. They liked me I guess, so I was put on as an assistant director. I had a great time and learned a lot that year and then I just stuck with it.”
Hertendy said he has tried his hand at nearly every production level of the festival.
“This year I only acted in one, but my second year I stage-managed and wrote a show. The year after that I wrote two and directed one. I’m just trying to do everything really.”
Producers will put out a call for submissions in the fall and hold auditions in February, according to the festival’s website.
