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We are excited to announce that the November 2025 show for Thistle Theatre will be “The Perils of Persephone” by Dan Needles. We’re bringing back our very first production at Thistle Theatre from November 1995 to celebrate our 30th Anniversary. Show dates will be November 14 to 16, and 20 to 23, 2025.
This play by Dan Needles, who is most well-known for his series of “Wingfield” plays, first premiered at the Blyth Festival in 1989. The play is set in the same fictional farming community of Persephone Township as the “Wingfield” plays. The play tells the story of a truck with radioactive material that crashes into a swamp near a family farm in rural Ontario. The farm community is pitted against government people from the city who want to downplay the situation, with hilarious results. The show will be directed by Sue Garner and produced by John Turvey. 

We are excited to announce our cast! We had a high turnout for auditions, with everyone who came out displaying solid acting skills.  Thanks to everyone who came out for auditions. The actors chosen include a past Dramarama grad, and 2 others who are new to Thistle Theatre. These new folks have been in shows, one in neighbouring groups  and one on the other side of the world! There are certainly a few  familiar faces as well. Director Sue Garner and Assistant Director Lynda Pillon look forward to working with the following people: 

Eldon – Doug Turvey; Marge – Heather West; Wendy – Becca Potter; Orval – John Hazeleger; Francis Hinkley – Shrirang Raval; Henry Burford – D’Arcy Irvine; and, Skip Fuller – Becky Issenman.

Are you interested in being a volunteer or being part of the crew for this production?  Please reach out to John Turvey at [email protected]. We still have a few spots to fill. Stay tuned for more details about box office in the coming months.

Thistle Theatre presents the 29th season of DRAMARAMA! Join us at the Embro Town Hall for imagination, creativity and FUN! Dramarama is our summer day camp for young people ages 6 to 13 (born 2019-2012). Our first session from July 7^th to July 18^th is full, but we still have a few spots available for our second session which runs from July 21-August 1^st.  A 2-week session at Dramarama is all about developing creativity, self-expression, and self-confidence. Workshops in drama, music, dance, arts and crafts, and theatre production take place each morning, with the afternoon spent working in small groups to collectively create short plays. The plays are then performed for family and friends on the final day of the camp. Join us for one, or both sessions. Camps run daily from 9 am to 3 pm.

Session rates are $375, per camper. Do NOT miss your chance to get the kids signed up for one of the most awesome and fun camps this summer! Register now! For more information, please head to www.thistle-theatre.com and click on the Dramarama page. Registration is 100% online for the summer 2025 season. 

Have a camper who isn’t sure, or just can’t get enough of Dramarama? New this year, we will be offering three one-day camps on July 2, July 3, and July 4th. These one-day camps will focus on building skills and getting creative with arts & crafts. For those who have never been to Dramarama before, these day camps can offer a glimpse into what our full Dramarama sessions are like. Registration for the one-day camps is $60 per day.  Please register online through the Dramarama page. Our day camps still have spaces available. Should you have additional questions, please email [email protected]

Want to come and watch the amazing Dramarama shows that the kids will be writing and performing themselves??  Shows for session one will be Friday July 18 @ 11am and 1 pm.  Shows for session two will be Friday August 1 @ 11 am and 1 pm.  Admission is by donation. The kids would love to have a big audience!! 

Don’t miss coming out for the return of our first play on the Thistle Theatre stage… ‘Perils of Persephone’ – Directed by Sue Garner

Do you want to act but just want a tiny part? Do you want a very short rehearsal period? Or maybe you just want something fun to do this summer!!

Minifest is the answer! Thistle Theatre is going to be part of Western Ontario Drama League ( WODL) Minifest 2025 in Binbrook July 25 & 26. 6 lucky groups will ALL perform Scoundrels in Kelowna by Gordon Walker. The whole play is just 20 minutes long!! Each group is encouraged be as crazy and creative as we want. After each performance, a workshop leader will explore the show we just saw and help everyone learn some new skills. Saturday night will feature a fun “awards” banquet.

Christina Shelly is going to direct Embro’s show – Minifest often has brand new directors. Sue Garner will stage manage. Acting parts call for 3 men and 4 women, all adults.

Auditions will be Tuesday May 20th. ( 7pm at Thistle Theatre ) You don’t need to prepare anything – just come! Rehearsals will be Tues and Thurs beginning June 10, with a couple weeks off from the end of June til July 8. There will be a performance on Tues July 22 in Embro, then off we go to Binbrook for the weekend.

If you have questions, or need a different audition time, contact Christina @ 226-232-4187 or Sue 226-663-4735

May 25 & 26 at 7pm at Thistle Theatre

May 25 & 26 at 7pm at the Theatre!

I am enough. With Sherry Garner

Get tickets and sign up for workshops HERE!

E-Male by Joan Veldman – This home-grown comedy only has THREE shows left!

Thursday – 7:30pm, Friday 7:30pm and a Matinee – Saturday 2:00pm

Tickets are $25 each – don’t miss it!

Can you believe it? It’s almost opening night for “E-male”.

Get your tickets today before they’re sold out!

A Thistle Theatre membership helps with some of the expenses it takes bring two shows and our ever popular kids drama camp; Dramarama to the stage each and every year.

You get discounts on personal ticket purchases for each performance.

Access to all the latest info about our little theatre like auditions and what shows are coming.

You get an exclusive invitation to join us for our Annual meeting each spring and can help shape the future of what we do.

Get your membership today!

The little theatre with the big heart (Thistle!) relies on a dedicated group of volunteers, the board of directors, plus many other community supporters to bring you great community theatre every year. Our annual meeting offers YOU the opportunity to have input into the theatre, become a member, or even join the board of directors.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND – Catering by the Lancaster Smokehouse; with build your own Beef Brisket and Pulled Pork sliders, coleslaw, potato salad, smoked cauliflower with pomegranate molasses (vegan), brussel sprouts with smokey hummus (vegetarian – includes honey) along with delightful desserts of Peach Cobbler or Apple Crumble .

This menu has something for everyone.

ENTERTAINMENT from talented Singer/songwriter Bruce MacInnis (Bruce is a great supporter of Dramarama) playing cover songs from the 1960s thru the 2000s with a few surprising takes on some hits from the 80s and 90s, Theatre Bingo and plenty of laughs and fun that you don’t want to miss.

We hope you can join us on Saturday, March 8th, at 6:30pm.

Purchase your tickets [HERE], or call Christina at our box office, 226-785-3353 or ask any director for tickets.

We can’t wait to see you!