Pumphouse Theatre and Alberta Drama Festival Association present The Calgary Region One-Act Play Festival
April 3 - 5, 2025 | 7:30pm Nightly
@ Victor Mitchell Theatre (Pumphouse Theatre 2140 Pumphouse Ave SW)
The Pumphouse Theatre and Alberta Drama Festival Association are at it again for the Annual Calgary Region One-Act Play Festival. Over three evenings, from April 3rd – April 5th, we are thrilled to be presenting eight one-act plays from a diverse array of local artists. From drama to comedy, new work to classics, the One Act Play Festival offers something for everyone.
Thursday April 3rd
SHOW #1: Bambi by Madisson Vermeulen (adapted from the novel by Felix Salten)
presented by Arts and Wellness Elevation
SHOW DESCRIPTION: Bambi – inspired by the novel written by Felix Salten (1922) – is a tale of a young deer growing up in the vast and beautiful forest, discovering its wonders and dangers. He experiences friendship, love, guidance, as well as the ever present threat of man. As seasons change Bambi faces both joy and sorrow as he learns the harsh realities of survival and navigates the complexities of the wild. The story shows the transformation and life of a deer as he finds his place in the world.
Family | Puppetry | 50 min | Bambi is produced with permission by the playwright, with the source material found in the public domain.
SHOW #2 Down the Rabbit Hole – Alice’s Dark Descent by Sya Sen
presented by Sundog Storytellers
SHOW DESCRIPTION: Alice’s surreal adventure in Wonderland takes a darker twist when the whimsical characters she meets begin to turn the tables, casting Alice as the villain in this chaotic adventure. Alice’s actions come under scrutiny in a bizarre interrogation by Wonderland’s inhabitants, blending the absurd with the sinister. The story explores themes of identity, perception, and the consequences of one’s actions. When Alice finally wakes up from her dream, she takes inventory of the curious happenings and there are clues that her adventure may have been more than her imagination.
Comedy | 20 min | Down the Rabbit Hole is produced with permission by the playwright
SHOW #3 Cancelled by AJ Pearce
presented by Erebus Theatre Company
SHOW DESCRIPTION: A young graduate student is vacationing in a small US coastal town. She wanders into a bookstore and recognizes the clerk as a former TV star who was cancelled. What ensues is a tete-a-tete about the nature of cancel culture and what the cancelled actually learn.
Drama | 20 min | Cancelled is produced with permission by the playwright
Friday April 4th
SHOW #1 Just the Mom by Leanne Shannon
presented by Just the Mom
SHOW DESCRIPTION: Just the Mom is an unique, vulnerable, and emotional glimpse into the lived experience of a mom and her journey related to one of her beautiful children diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome; her learning and her hope.
Drama | 57 min | Just the Mom is produced with permission by the playwright
SHOW #2 Hometown by Sya Sen
presented by Daisy Theatre
SHOW DESCRIPTION: Jian is a celebrity who has found success in New York and Los Angeles. Kiran is a solid entrepreneur who started his own company in the next city over. Youngest Tara, a sculptor, still lives close to home. Each of the three siblings took different paths to success. Today, they share breakfast in a hometown cafe, hoping to present a united front before facing their parents at a family event. The brothers and sister struggle to find common ground over steaming cups of coffee. However, despite the best of intentions they struggle to change their delightfully dysfunctional family dynamic.
Comedy | 17 min | Hometown is produced with permission by the playwright
SHOW #3 Falling Down by Trish Clark
presented by Ma-Teresa Productions
SHOW DESCRIPTION: A recently retired nurse experiences a series of strange events involving things falling down. This includes people falling, as well as animals and trees. It all happens in a brief time frame, following her leaving the work she loved. Prompting the question – “what is the universe trying to tell me”?
Comedy | 20 min | Falling Down is produced with permission by the playwright
Saturday April 5th
SHOW #1 Box by Morgan Grau, Cameron Freitas, Hannah Jackson
presented by Family Drama Theatre Club
SHOW DESCRIPTION: A surrealistic world where the desire to possess a box pushes those under its power to do anything in order to possess it.
Comedy | 30 min | Box is produced with permission by the playwright.
SHOW #2 Background by AJ Pearce
presented by Workshop Theatre
SHOW DESCRIPTION: Two actresses, one a teen and one in her 70s, are working background on a feature film. When a lighting issue places the production on hold, they are forced to chat to pass the time. They come to realize that their backgrounds aren’t as different as they first thought.
Comedy | 20 min | ADVISORY: Strong Language & discussions of domestic violence
Background is produced with permission by the playwright