Image Credit: Anthony Corea/CFJC Today
Outdoor Theatre

Theatre Under the Trees returns to Kamloops

Jul 7, 2025 | 7:29 AM

KAMLOOPS — It’s a family-friendly homage to the outdoor performances of ancient Rome and Greece. Theatre Under the Trees returns to Kamloops this summer with two classic stories.

The Project X Theatre group will present Thumbelina and The Emperor’s New Threads under the foliage of Prince Charles Park.

It’ll get underway Monday (July 7) and run until July 26.

“So Thumbelina is an action packed adventure,” explains Thumbelina director Pat Rundell, “It’s full of sword fighting and jokes and slapstick. It never stops moving. It’s very exciting, and very fun. There’s music and there’s over 100 sound cues for a two hour show. So it’s a huge, action packed, campy adventure.”

These adaptations of ‘Thumbelina’ and ‘The Emperor’s New Threads’ are designed for children and families, which make for a unique kind of audience for the cast.

“It’s always so special to get the reactions from the kids because they won’t lie. If they love something, they’ll let you know, if they hate something, they’re let you know,” says Jakob Kopytko, who plays Felix Saggenbottom in ‘The Emperor’s New Threads’, “So it’s always fun to play off them and get their energy, and to feel like a kid again as well in the park.”

It’s a small crew, with Kopytko also delving into the writing side of theatre production for this year’s adaptation of ‘Thumbelina’.

“So it’s a very surreal It’s been like a crazy experience,” he explains, “Seeing things that you write or what you imagine in your head come to the stage. It’s crazy.”

There are ample opportunities to take in the fresh air, and experience this storied art form, with Theatre Under the Trees running from July 7 to 26.

“It’s also so rewarding to return to imagination and story telling,” adds Rundell, “Especially in a time that is just so over ridden with digital screentime for kids, and TV and smartphones. Being able to return to this world of imagination and play is so rewarding.”