Close-up of Gillian Wells and Raine Mynott in Star Trek spoof Star Trak. Photo: Brian Lawrence.
30 Seasons and Counting
by Brian Lawrence
Since 1995, Footlighters Theatre Society has transported audiences to places that they can only dream of visiting: An enchanted castle in France. A house made of gingerbread in a murky forest. The bridge of a starship in interstellar space.
It’s the kind of journey best appreciated from a theatre seat, and something patrons expect from the Creston theatre troupe that launched its first season in October 1995 with the thriller Deathtrap.
“Theatre is ever-changing and always presents new challenges and new ideas,” says Jason Smith, a director, writer and performer, and vice-president of Footlighters Theatre Society. “We’re fortunate to have an audience that appreciates all of it.”
The society’s volunteers feel the same way, and Footlighters has challenged its creative teams with different genres throughout its 30 seasons and nearly 100 productions, including comedies, dramas, musicals and melodramas, and even some Shakespeare.
The productions vary from large-scale musicals such as South Pacific, White Christmas and Beauty and the Beast—which may see over 60 people working onstage and backstage—to small-scale productions, including such plays as ‘Night Mother, Last of the Red Hot Lovers and Deathtrap, which may involve as few as six or seven people.
Footlighters was born out of artistic differences, when the six original Footlighters board members broke away from the now-defunct Creston Valley Drama Club to develop their own vision. “Our group wanted to do musicals, comedies and children’s shows,” says Frank Goodsir, 79, a retired elementary schoolteacher, and the only original board member still involved. “And the occasional drama, of course.”
Both of the first season’s shows, Deathtrap and the musical Hello, Dolly, were well received, but left the group $3,000 in debt. A more successful second season followed in 1996–97, allowing the group to cover its debt and turn a profit.
Robin Clegg, Tom Greentree, Gillian Wells and Raine Mynott in the 2024 production of Star Trak, a Star Trek spoof written by Jason Smith and Suzanne Chubb. Photo: Brian Lawrence
In 2007, the group added a new dimension when it began producing locally written plays, starting with Barging Down the Nile, a melodramatic Indiana Jones spoof by Colin Hardwick, Susan Jorgenson and Brian Lawrence. That was immediately followed by Goodsir’s own Jack and the Beanstalk, which led to his adaptations of Aladdin, Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel.
Goodsir earned TheatreBC’s Kootenay Zone award in 2002 for his direction of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, a heavy drama named best play at the provincial Mainstage festival. It was a particular thrill to receive TheatreBC’s Eric Hamber Award in 2009, recognizing his long-standing contribution to community theatre. He’s directed about 50 shows, many giving children their first chance to perform. “To me, success is working with people and watching them develop through different productions,” he says. “Kids I had in a play years ago will come back with their own kids. I find that very exciting.”
The troupe held a party in the spring during its 30th season. As part of the festivities, Footlighters announced four recipients of the inaugural Award for an Outstanding Achievement, acknowledging their contributions and an enduring commitment. One award was given to Goodsir, who, in addition to writing and directing, has produced and performed in numerous shows and been the driving force behind the society’s continued operation.
Awards were also presented to Jennifer Dewald, who organized the wardrobe department for more than a decade, and Ann Deatherage, for over a decade of contributions to the prop department and backstage work. Both were board members and often involved in backstage tasks while also performing challenging roles onstage.
A posthumous award went to the late Gail Kitt, a founding member of the society who died in 2021. She dedicated herself to serving in many capacities, including acting and directing, as a board member and working on most shows in the makeup department.
Footlighters launched its 31st season in late November with It’s a Wonderful Creston Life, a homegrown twist on the classic film, written by Smith and co-writer Suzanne Chubb, and directed by Smith and Gillian Wells. The writing duo has created several comedies and dramas for Footlighters, beginning with Almost Golden, the story of a family dealing with the onset of dementia, which was named best production at TheatreBC’s Kootenay Zone festival in 2014, and later named Outstanding Community Play at the Mainstage provincial competition.
The season continues in March 2026 with the classic Noël Coward comedy Blithe Spirit, directed by Jordana Evans, and will conclude in June with a play to be announced, directed by Michael McIntyre.
Smith is proud of the troupe’s track record and notes that for those involved in a production, whether onstage or backstage, it’s a means to personal growth and satisfaction. “It’s the greatest experience in your life to put yourself out there and take a chance,” says Smith. “It’s a unique risk, unlike any other you’ll ever take.”
