Pigs bring home two provincial awards for risque play
A Maple Ridge troupe competed at Mainstage.
Emerald Pig’s cast from A Particular Class of Women was in Kamloops this weekend for the provincial theatre competition known as Mainstage. They brought home two awards.
Photograph by: Submitted , TIMES
For the first time in the group’s 10 year history, Maple Ridge’s Emerald Pig Theatrical Society qualified to be at Theatre BC’s Mainstage drama competition in Kamloops this past weekend.
Up against what show director John Stuart described as nine other “winning” theatrical groups from around B.C., he was elated that the local team scooped two awards for their daring production of A Particular Class of Women – a story debunking stereotypes about strippers and sex trade workers.
The cast and crew, which came together from all around the Lower Mainland for this production, earned the best ensemble award.
As well, Maple Ridge’s own Charlene Rowley took home the best costume award during Saturday night’s awards ceremony.
A Particular Class Of Women is a timely and also timeless play, which Emerald Pig first presented at The ACT in April.
The team then took the show on the road, first before a standing ovation crowd in New Westminster, then to a regional theatre competition in Langley in late May. There, they won, earning the chance to represent the Fraser Valley region at Mainstage this last week.
“We are thrilled,” Stuart said. “We went to Mainstage with a goal of giving a great show, and we did that. We received many accolades from our audience, other Mainstage participants, and Jeff Hyslop, our adjudicator. To also win these awards puts the icing on the cake.”
This was the first time Emerald Pig earned the opportunity to compete at Mainstage, but Stuart hopes it’s not the last.
Emerald Pig Theatrical Society is in its tenth anniversary season and is based out of Maple Ridge, but the cast and crew of A Particular Class Of Women come from all around the Lower Mainland.
They are:
Producer – Sharon Malone of Maple Ridge
Director – John Stuart of White Rock
Assistant Director – Simon Challenger of Maple Ridge
Stage Manager/Props – Marci Webb of White Rock
Costumes – Charlene Rowley of Maple Ridge
Front of House – Kathleen Hatley of Maple Ridge
“Lil” – Lori Watt of New Westminster
“Marky” – Krista Magnusson of Vancouver
“Petal Rose” – Amy Starkey of North Vancouver
“Luv” – Lauren Campbell of Maple Ridge
“Angel” – Lisa-Marie Marrelli of Maple Ridge
“Glynis” – Emily Wilson of Port Coquitlam
“Georgia” – Angela Bell of Langley
“Pink Champagne” – Kait Busswood of Langley
