The Lowdown – Christmas Heist

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Ninety five weeks ago I set out to support the community with this column and in that journey, what I’ve learned is nothing short of incredible; there is a certain “je ne sais quoi” about the people and subjects I’ve featured here for all of you that in many cases I’ve successfully put to words, while other times I’ve respected my interviewee’s privacy in what they’ve shared. For me, the most important thing I’ve learned is that people most definitely want to be heard. We are all fragile in our talents while maintaining our outwardly portrayed strengths. The souls of our city are all often from other parts of Canada, or even the world which makes the growing culture of Airdrie something to hold high atop the renaissance I believe we are ready for. As I peer towards the future, I can see on the horizon the potential to become a place where art, inspiration and inclusivity collide to make Airdrie a place recognized well for all that it offers. In that, I give you this week’s Lowdown featuring none other than leader and playwright in Airdrie’s thriving theatre scene, Taylor Burton.

I’ve met Taylor multiple times along the way and often found her presence curious; there again is that intuition you feel in my position. I meet so many people I want to write about and often, don’t know why until we get right into it. This week was no different. I set out to share with all of you another of The Nose Creek Players fantastic productions coming up here in Airdrie in a few weeks. During the interview, I learned once more why I love what I do. As Taylor and I set into the conversation it became apparent immediately that “The Christmas Heist” is a lot more than meets the eye.

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“The play came to be quite naturally. I wrote the story from multiple stories my father used to tell me when I was young. Stories from his life, when he was younger.

Taylor was cautious to tell me too much as she feared giving away the plot.

“I don’t want to share to much here”, she laughed and continued.

“I was given creative control this year after a successful run last year. It’s a big job to write and direct a production”.

Impressed by all I was hearing I went on to ask about her inspirations and what exactly brought her to theatre in the first place. There I found a familiar answer.

“My dad again”, she laughed.

Turns out Taylor needed a credit in Grade 9 and her father suggested Drama.

“My dad suggested I try drama, he always wished he’d had done it himself and thought I might enjoy it. That time in my life was harder as I had an obvious stutter that I struggled with. I always say that grade nine drama is where my life changed. Because of drama coming into my life, I found my new voice and lost my stutter”.

Incredible. These are the stories that matter to me so much. Today I learned more than I bargained for when I set out to tell you all about a local production company and their upcoming Christmas show. I learned the power of inclusion without bias has the capability to bring a young woman to a healing pathway where she found purpose and clarity in her articulation. Quite simply, this is where arts and culture collide head on into good mental health for all. Her involvement made it safe for everything she was then and is today. Much like team sports, theatre and drama can be places of true belonging where someone dealing with a condition such as a stutter can feel safe enough to shake off the self isolation, anxiety and esteem issues that can derail anyone going through this. This is the true power of real community.

The Nose Creek Players are a lot more than a great local production company. They’re a place that promotes inclusion and growth while producing hit after hit for their audiences. “The Christmas Heist” will be no different and is nearly sold out! The show runs at The Town and Country located at 275 Jensen Drive NE here in Airdrie. Tickets are $10 and can be bought by simply visiting nosecreekplayers.com. Showtimes are Friday December 20th at 6pm and 8pm and on the 21st where they will feature two shows in the afternoon, 1pm and 3pm then closing out with a 6pm show.

Make sure you get your tickets because as of this writing, they were going fast. And as we all know, the holiday season can be very hard on many of us. This is a fabulous opportunity to shake off some of those potential blues by slowing life down for a few hours while enjoying a fabulous performance for the whole family.

Thanks again for reading The Lowdown! Your readership means the world to me and remember to enjoy yourself responsibly throughout the holiday season! You can read this and archived columns at timlowing.com. T