MEDICINE HAT, AB — Renovations are nearly complete inside Medicine Hat High School’s performing arts space.
Students are already taking advantage of the new space and finding freedom in expressing themselves.
There’s still work that needs to be done inside the theatre, but it’s not having an impact on anyone’s creativity.
Down in the basement, four students are practising playing “Billie Jean,” released by Michael Jackson in 1982.
“We’re all playing together,” said Grade 12 student Shinesta Bergeron.
The four are hidden away in one of the many breakout rooms, spaces for students to practice in peace.
“I love music, it’s my whole life,” she said. “I’m so happy that I get to play all the time.”
Bergeron and her classmates were given access to the renovated building after coming back from the holiday break.
The breakout rooms seem to be a hit among students.
“You can tell that they love being in the zone and they love being able to play in such a way that they’re not interfering with one another,” said music teacher Teague Bates.
The breakout rooms allow students to focus on the sounds in a quiet place, away from other distractions.
“Obviously one of the difficult things about music is that when you have a lot of people playing at the same time, you start to interfere with each other,” Bates said.
Musicians aren’t the only ones who are benefiting from the renovations.
Students in the drama department also have more room to express their creativity.
“We use to rehearse just on the stage and there would be like eight groups trying to complete for space and volume and room to move around,” said drama teacher Richard Grafton.
The biggest change may be to the hallway that’s adjacent to the theatre which has been transformed into a new lobby area.
“In between shows, during intermissions or after a show, the cast and the audience can meet out there,” Grafton added. “It’s really welcoming and its a really good environment.”
The theatre isn’t quite complete. The lighting will need to be replaced, but the focus right now is on the sound system and making sure it’s ready by the time students present Peter and the Starcatcher in May.
