NEWS RELEASE UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Students from Norwell District Secondary School are celebrating a major achievement after their production of Darklight earned top honours at the National Theatre School Drama Festival District Competition held Friday, March 6 at John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute in Guelph.
The Norwell production received several awards during the festival, including Distinctive Merit for Innovative Choreography and Movement, Outstanding Design (recognizing excellence in lighting, sound, costumes, set, and props), and the festival’s top honour, Outstanding Production.
In addition, Norwell student Abby S. was awarded the Spirit of the Festival Award, which recognizes a student who demonstrates exceptional leadership, collaboration, and dedication throughout the festival experience.
With the Outstanding Production award, darklight was selected as one of the top three productions out of eleven competing schools to advance to the Regional level of the National Theatre School Drama Festival, which will take place this April in Gravenhurst, Ontario.
The play, performed by members of Theatre Norwell, explores themes of anxiety, depression, and resilience, using movement, design, and ensemble storytelling to depict the inner struggles many young people face while searching for hope and connection.
“This remarkable achievement showcases the creativity, collaboration, and dedication of our students,” said teacher advisor Dillon Bernier. “The cast and crew poured an incredible amount of time and energy into this production, and it’s wonderful to see their work recognized at such a high level.”
The National Theatre School Drama Festival is one of the longest-running youth theatre festivals in Canada, providing secondary school students with the opportunity to perform, receive professional adjudication, and participate in workshops that develop their theatrical skills.
One adjudicator at the festival praised the Norwell production simply as “ART,” highlighting the creativity and emotional impact of the performance.
Norwell students will now continue refining the production as they prepare to represent their school and community at the regional festival in April.
The success of darklight reflects the growing strength of the Arts at Norwell District Secondary School and the dedication of students who continue to bring powerful and meaningful stories to the stage.
