For one weekend every year, Calgary’s theatre scene gets a little more intimate, a little more daring, and a whole lot more exciting.
The One Act Play Festival isn’t just a showcase — it’s a creative playground where emerging and seasoned artists bring bold, bite-sized stories to life. Hosted by Pumphouse Theatre in partnership with the Alberta Drama Festival Association, the festival serves as both a competition and a learning opportunity.
“It gives young artists confidence and puts them in the sights of professionals,” says Troy Couillard, Pumphouse Theatre’s facilities supervisor. “It’s a great entry point for emerging artists.”
While winners from regional festivals across Alberta advance to the provincial level, the festival is just as much about growth as it is about competition. Participants gain hands-on experience producing and performing their own work in a professional venue — all at a low cost of entry.
“It’s a really cool launching pad,” Couillard adds. “It teaches them things that they might not necessarily learn in their university programs, like how to work with different venues. It’s an excellent learning opportunity and a really good confidence booster.”
By providing a stage, lighting, and technical support in a low-pressure environment, the festival allows artists to gain practical skills that aren’t always covered in academic programs. Many past participants have gone on to produce independent work or join established theatre companies, proving the festival’s lasting impact.
For Trish Clark, the festival was an opportunity to dive into a passion she discovered later in life. She first explored playwriting in 2019 and soon after began auditioning for community theatre. In addition to her work with the festival, Clark is also involved with a seniors acting club.
“I was part of a playwriting class that was supposed to last four weeks, but it ended up lasting 14,” Clark says. “By the end, I had written a whole script that ended up getting produced.”
Now returning to the festival with a new comedy, she’s excited to perform and connect with other artists. “It’s structured, but it’s also incredibly supportive,” she says. “There’s space for everyone to learn and grow.”
Beyond being a stepping stone for aspiring theatre-makers, the One Act Play Festival celebrates the courage to create. Whether participants are new to the stage or experienced performers, it offers a chance to take risks, share stories, and be part of Alberta’s thriving theatre community.
The festival also embraces unique and unconventional productions. A past production, Mudflap Girl, consisted of a series of monologues that seemed challenging to market to audiences.
“It’s very difficult to say come see a series of monologues, but the One Act Festival put it on,” says Sya Sen, a festival participant. “It was wonderful, and it’s been such a hit.” The festival’s open-minded approach helped it succeed, leading to a recent performance in Canmore.
“Having the opportunity to work with a variety of Calgarians that are so open-minded about the types of shows we bring on stage is great,” says Sen. “It’s very rewarding to be able to bring anything onto the stage.”
For writers like Sen, it’s a chance to see their work on stage, and refine their craft based on what resonates with viewers. Sen will present a new show, Hometown, at this year’s festival.
“It helps us see how the audience reacts and what works, what laughs and what people engage with and react to,” says Sen. “This is our third year participating, and the main draw has been just the opportunity to showcase our work alongside other Calgarians.”
From April 3 to 5, the One Act Play Festival brings eight one-act plays to the stage, showcasing a diverse mix of local talent. Tickets can be bought online at pumphousetheatre.ca.
