(Photo credit: CFJC Today).

By Stephanie Swensrude

OUTDOOR THEATRE

Project X’s Theatre Under the Trees returns to Prince Charles Park

Jul 4, 2022 | 4:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops summer tradition is back in Prince Charles Park: Project X’s Theatre Under the Trees begins this week with two different plays: Red Riding Hood and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Jessica Buchanan plays Susan in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She hopes the set and costume design will spark the audience’s imagination.

“The costume pieces we have are amazing, but it’s like a jacket or a coat, or we make noises with cymbals or using found objects… and I think it’s really cool because kids can see that and go, ‘Oh, I could go to Narnia!’,” said Buchanan, “or, ‘I could make my own lion,’ or, ‘I could put on my own cape and become a white witch.’ I hope it kind of inspires their imaginations — that you can create worlds with very little things.”

The whimsical play is based on the classic children’s novel and, according to director Catriona Leger, tells a story of unity.

“What I really love about The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the unification of the siblings,” said Leger. “And also how each of them, individually but also together, comes to a place where they can recognize their own power.”

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Though having torrential downpour or blazing heat as an acting partner can be tough, the actors enjoy the natural setting.

“There have been some magical moments where we reference birds, and of course, there’s birds flying around,” said Buchanan. “Those are the gifts that are kind of serendipitous — when the outdoor universe gives you some lovely things like that.”

“Anything can happen. It’s such an uncontrolled environment, so you get these wonderful gifts of the wind and the rain… and it creates an additional great playground for actors to play and explore,” said Leger.

“It creates a really unique opportunity for audiences — it’s like a different show every single night, even though the framework of the production is the same.”

The plays run until July 23, with a special 18-and-over improv night on July 22. The full list of dates can be found on the Project X website.