Former Squamish residents with theatrical leanings are set to return home on Saturday (April 18) for a special reunion of the Howe Sound Drama Club at the Eagle Eye Theatre from 2 to 5 p.m.
“We have people coming from all over,” said Louisa Jardine-Ourom, a former president of the drama club who’s helping to organize the reunion. “There are former members coming from Singapore, Alberta and many outlying regions of Vancouver and B.C.”
Formed in 1965 by Doreen Ramus – who apparently passed around a plate to neighbours at a dinner to solicit $2 from each to kick-start the group – the Howe Sound Drama Club eventually folded in 2000.
“It was getting hard for the community to support two drama groups,” said Jardine-Ourom. “We also had the Between Shifts Theatre group in town, and many of our members were in both groups. It was even some of the same people building the sets for both groups, so it was almost a full-time job for them. There were also struggles around finding locations to perform and places to rehearse, so the Howe Sound club was just phased out. We still had theatre here with Between Shifts, so it was okay.”
During the 35 years the drama club was active, Jardin-Ourom said the troupe became a community institution and produced some 90 plays. Now, along with a few former local members, she’s working on an historical scrapbook project to immortalize those theatre memories.
“We’ve been working on this since last year,” she said. “We’ve been collecting old photos, playbills and clippings to put in the book.”
She said the upcoming drama club reunion is meant to not only raise funds for the project, but also to get former members to bring along their own photos or programs from old productions.
“We’re asking anyone to bring anything from those years… old programs, pictures, reviews… anything,” Jardin-Ourom said. “We do have a few gaps out of the 90 plays we produced.”
The in-process scrapbook will be on display at the reunion, which also features live music, video presentation, celebratory cake and silent auction.
“The community has been really supportive,” she said. “Many local artists have donated works for the silent auction, as well as local businesses who’ve given us gift certificates as auction items and door prizes.”
Jardin-Ourom said the event offered former drama club members a chance to catch up with old friends, share stories and reminisce about the good old days of early Squamish theatre.
“It will also be a fun time for people who were not involved in the club,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to meet new people in the community, and learn about Squamish arts and culture.”
For more information, contact Doreen Ramus at [email protected] or call 604-898-5375.
