An original play by the Chilliwack Players Guild is off to a provincial theatre festival after winning best production, plus six other awards, at regional competition earlier this month.
The play Hector, written and directed by Chilliwack's Clint Hames, will represent the Fraser Valley at Theatre BC’s Mainstage Festival in Fort St. John in July.
The piece was presented at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre from May 9 to 11 before competing at Theatre BC's Fraser Valley Zone Festival in Tsawwassen on May 23. Theatre BC is a provincial organization representing community theatre groups across B.C. and hosts regional festivals in various zones throughout the province.
“It was an honour to be selected to represent the Fraser Valley Zone, given the quality of the other productions,” Hames said. “We’re excited to go and spend the week performing and watching other productions.”
In addition to Outstanding Production, Hector also won a group award for Backstage Co-operation. Individual awards went to to Graham Archer for Outstanding Male Actor in the title role of Hector, Clint Hames for Outstanding Director, Jessica Peters for Outstanding Set Decoration, a “Spark” award to Constance Coffey for Outstanding New Tech, and Judy Hill for her original music.
Hames stated it will be somewhat challenging to bring the entire team, set, props and costumes to Fort St. John.
“It is a bit of a logistical and financial challenge for a non-profit, community group, but we have had tremendous support from the community this season and some very imaginative folks working on the show. We’ll figure it out,” he said.
The Chilliwack Players Guild will open the provincial festival with Hector on July 6. It'll be followed by: Portal Players Dramatic Society on July 7 with their production of Blackbird; Mercury Players Society on July 8 presenting Brontë: The World Without; Powerhouse Theatre on July 9 with Radium Girls; Stage North Theatre Society on July 10 presenting Bluebirds; and North Vancouver Community Players on July 11 with Marjorie Prime.
The awards for Theatre BC’s Mainstage Festival will be handed out on July 12.
The Chilliwack Players Guild has been presenting theatre to Chilliwack audiences since 1932 and remains one of the oldest non-profit theatre groups in the Province. Its 2025/26 season will start with the mystery/comedy Murdered to Death by Peter Gordon.
