By Ani Teengs
As a first-year student at York University who loves theatre but is not a theatre major, I was delighted to find out about Vanier College Productions (colloquially VCP), an extracurricular theatre company on campus. I went to auditions and found that there were many opportunities for students to be involved: from belting on stage to designing beautiful sets and plenty more.
I have always loved performing in musicals, so when I was presented with the many productions put on at VCP (Show Choir, BIPOC Artist Hub, Vanier Improv Company, Dance Collective, a play, and a musical), I was immediately interested in this year’s musical: Kinky Boots.
Over the past five months, I have spent at least two days a week with the wonderful cast of Kinky Boots, learning new dance skills in the dance studio, reciting lines in British accents on the stage, or piecing together enchanting harmonies in Vanier’s Senior Common Room. Being able to work as a team and see like-minded theatre people so frequently was a lifesaver during my first year in York; theatre often has that kind of magic to it.
I was not just able to perform on stage with Kinky Boots, I was also given the opportunity to help with building the set. I showed up to Crew Calls and learned to use a drill for the first time, along with creating gorgeous set pieces with coloured cellophanes, and even helping to paint the stage. As my old high school drama teacher used to say, “The best actors are the well-rounded ones” and VCP gives you the chance to become as well-rounded as possible.
Being part of Kinky Boots has been incredibly rewarding and gave me something to feel proud of in my first year. Like with nearly every theatre production, the show really came into its own in the last week before performances, and the energy it created in the entire cast was remarkable. That remarkable energy is something I feel translated every time we go on stage to perform, and I firmly believe that audiences can sense it as well. I also believe that audiences must be able to notice how much we all like each other. I have always thought that theatre is one of the best ways to make friends and bond with other people, and in this production, I have met many people I believe will be lifelong friends.
Kinky Boots itself is a musical about perseverance, acceptance, and being yourself, so it is no surprise that the community this show was created in is full of hard-working, welcoming, and genuine people. I admire and respect all my fellow cast members, and everyone involved in the creative team. There is such an exciting and inspiring group of people at VCP, many of whom I look forward to working with for the rest of my time at York – after this great experience, VCP will not be able to keep me away!
Whether we were struggling to hold our planks for longer than ten seconds during warm up, singing each other’s names in a circle, or dancing backstage as we waited to go on, we were having a memorable time at VCP, which is why I think anyone with a passion for theatre (or even without!) should come out and be involved.
This is Ani Teengs, a first year English & Professional Writing Student with LA&PS. She loves writing and creating and theatre. She is sharing her experience at Vanier College Productions in this blog, and wants everyone to know how wonderful it is.