denise bertrand

For ten years, (2014 - 2024) I have been teaching and directing children who attend a small village school in the mountains of British Columbia Canada. The club is called It’s Drama Time!

From 2014 to 2018, eight original theatre productions were created based on the children’s ideas, intuitions, and opinions. I sew their inspirations and of course add in my own to make scene to scene flow, to make a tapestry of playful imagination. And then finally a show to share!

Because of the pandemic and personal matters, the Drama Club closed until the Fall of 2021 wherein some of the children from the 2018 cast came back and a lot of new ones enrolled. From 2021 to Fall of 2024 another 7 original drama productions have been created, produced and shown to audiences.

I am so blessed to be able to ‘still’ play in the world of theatre with children. My career spans many many years. You can read about me on the About page. My first ever show I directed and wrote I was only 16. Time fly’s! I am now a young 66!

I still want to add music with the above presentation, but I have to find time to do so. There are so many people to thank, but if your child was ever in one of my productions in the past 10 years you know who you are! Of course as well all those friends, and associates who helped with stage set up and take down, photography, make up, hair and lights.I am so grateful you said yes, to help me create a space for children to shine through the creative expression of Drama.

And the biggest thanks goes out to the children who give me so much joy!

MEMORY - Performed June 6, 2019 by the Jaffray Elementary School Drama Club

The McCarther sisters have been growing up with Grandpa Adams for the past 10 years.  It has not always been easy without their Ma and Pa.  Alexandra is having flashbacks of when they were younger and some of the mistakes she made back then.  Jessica is fearlessly pursuing her invention and her attraction to Frederick; and Hope the oldest sister, seems to be there at the right moment, to keep peace between her other siblings. 

Luckily for Grandpa he has The Café to visit every day.  John the owner often sits with him and helps him ‘remember’, because lately his memory has been diminishing. Lulu the waitress at The Café has noticed this in him too, but she is more interested in her up and coming audition. 

Then, there are the Government ‘agents’.  They are on a mission. They believe something very valuable that belongs to them, has been hidden and they are out to find ‘this treasure’. 

This is the first time the JES Drama Club is presenting their play as a Musical Drama.  MEMORY is a more ‘realistic’ Play that will also feature four actors playing piano to accompany the acting. 

The cast of 14 creatively inspired children, have written most of the songs being presented within the Play – MEMORY.  

MIRROR WORLD  

Ella enters Mirror World and she quickly discovers: "You mean Mirror World is full of disharmony and selfishness just like on earth? "Yes, especially our King." And thus her adventure begins.  Why is the Queen more nervous than usual? How come the Crystal children are not shiny any more? And what are those 3 elves up to? Will the Wizard or the Mighty Messenger solve the problem? Enjoy viewing this delightful light-hearted play to its satisfying conclusion.

17 actors (ages 5-33) worked together joyfully with less than 15 hours of rehearsal during the IDEAL Society's annual Theatre and Arts and Music Camp in August, 2017.

Mirror World was originally written and performed in 1988 and then again in 2011 in Phuket Thailand. In this 2017 production original music and songs were added that were created by Sophia and Gabrielle Hoffman.

Queen Flora is a little anxious these days. She doesn't want to lose her Queen status, but if she doesn't find The Missing Song...she will.  With her trusting servants, Falcon and Unicorn she really hopes four children will show up in their world to help them out. Meanwhile, at the White Flower Orphanage the twins (Rosie and Lola) and Ruby and Lacy have asked Miss Treebank, a long time employee, if she could read them their favourite bedtime story, that just so happens to be called The Missing Song. When hope meets wonder...magic arrives!  A delightful play performed by children 7-9 years old with one adult special guest...Miss Treebark.

When water speaks … there is a always a reason why … begins the Narrator..

Clarissa the Spirit of the Water had to get the attention of the fisher folk, so she made ‘big waves’ one day. When Matt, Mark and Maria get back into their boat they discover their clothes and skin are oily … black ugly oil. And sadly Lilly the Mermaid’s skin already has the oil disease. Clever Joe the Lighthouse keeper has a plan, but he needs the fisher folk, Bob the gardener and Annabelle the servant to help. In the meantime, Madam Tundra’s dreams are keeping her awake. She is trying real hard to understand what happened to her father a long time ago. When the sea creatures enter her dream one day, she is able to finally hear and heal the truth of her past.

Performed by The Jaffray Elementary Drama Club November 23, 2016.  We also took this show 'on the road' and the video you are watching was performed at the ?'A'qam Elementary School in Cranbrook on November 30, 2016.

Grandpa James, and his grandchildren Ryder and Petunia are making plans to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the family business.  Ryder is showing signs of ‘stressing out’ because of all the details of the party. By coincidence, Jasmine, an old friend of Petunia arrives from New York for a visit. Who is Jasmine talking to on the phone? Why does she seems so interested in one toy…the first toy, Grandpa ever made. Once inside the shop…the toys might just have something to ‘say’ about Jasmine’s ambition. And then there is Booboo, Petunia’s only child who just seems to ‘come alive’ at the Toy Shop.

A delightful Play with a few twists and turns to keep your imagination lifted and curious.  

June 2, 2016

Village of Joy an original  Drama Play performed by 6 children aged 6-9.  A March Break program. This show was performed at Jaffray  Elementary School BC Canada in March 2015.

Task of Invention: The producer of this video Keith Holding sent this to me recently.  It was an amazing gift coming through email.  I wrote and directed this video with children in 1986!  I wonder where these children, now adults, are in life.  Great little story.  Low budget...lots of heart and creativity.