Students from across the province are showing off their skills on stage as a part of Dramafest.

The New Brunswick Drama Festival runs until Friday on the St. Thomas University campus in Fredericton.

Coordinator Suzanne Doyle-Yerxa says it’s exciting to see what the middle and high school students bring.

“It runs each year in May. Schools register from October to January and then depending on the number of students who register, we bring in adjudicators.  We try to bring in those from New Brunswick who are working in the industry. It’s always kind of an exciting thing for kids, to see who has come through Drama Festival and to see that there are possibilities for them to work in something they are passionate about,” she said.

This year there are nine adjudicators who will speak publicly to each school, offering tips for the performances and offering suggestions on how to take the shows to a new level.

“The groups are given a public and a private adjudication, where they’ll talk very specifically about what the kids did that was really effective, and what things they might want to consider if they are redoing the play or are still doing it at their school,” Doyle-Yerxa says.

She adds many of the adjudicators also make connections with the students for the future.

Each school is given 90 minutes for their performance. Twenty of those are for set-up, 60 minutes to perform the play and then 10 minutes to strike the set.

During the festival, there will be about 1,000 students from 40 middle and high schools on campus, and 41 plays are performed.

Every school gets recognition for their performance, whether it’s for their actors, student directors or writing, or for other efforts.

Participating schools this year include Harrison Trimble High School, Bernice MacNaughton High, Rothesay High, Petitcodiac Regional, Kennebecasis Valley High, Sussex Regional and Moncton High.

The full programs for Dramafest 2023 can be found HERE