Unveiling a Bright, Bold, and Inspiring 2025/26 Season
A season of laughter, bold storytelling, and community connection is on the horizon. Swamp Rat Experience (SRE) is thrilled to announce its 2025/26 Season, bringing audiences together for a year of unforgettable theatre, joyful community events, youth programming, and celebrations of local artistry.
“Swamp Rat Experience is, first and foremost, a community-based theatrical fellowship,” said Jenny Price, Artistic Director. “As a company, we always look for opportunities to elevate new and underrepresented voices within our municipality.”
This season has something for everyone: witty comedies, vibrant classics, daring cabarets, hands-on workshops, and youth programs that nurture the next generation of theatre artists. Whether you’re a seasoned theatre lover or brand new to the stage, you’ll find a reason to gather, celebrate, and be inspired.
Community Productions
Audiences can look forward to two powerful mainstage productions that highlight the diversity and brilliance of theatre. “With this in mind, we are very excited to announce our upcoming season featuring two community productions that aim to serve that goal,” said Price.
The Lion and the Jewel by Nobel Prize–winning playwright Wole Soyinka (Feb 19-21, 2026 | King Street Theatre), directed by Lola Taiwo, brings humor, rhythm, and culture to the stage, celebrating tradition while exploring the tensions of change.
“This is a story that tackles themes such as the conflict arising between traditionalists and modernists due to the rapid modernisation of Africa as well as the marginalization of women as property,” Price explained. “These challenging themes are portrayed through the lens of humour, song, and dance in a way that is sure to entertain as well as spark conversation. This will be our second full-scale production at King Street Theatre, and we can't wait to show off the work we have put into this space.”
Boston Marriage by David Mamet (Apr 23–25, 2026 | Keyano Theatre), directed by Devon Sereda Goldie and sponsored by Keyano Theatre, offers a razor-sharp and witty take on relationships, power, and social expectation.
“In a theatre world dominated by male voices, we chose a play that focuses on the lives and relationships of 2SLGBTQIA+ women in a way that subjugates common stereotypes of women in relationships,” said Price. “This witty and powerful production will be performed at Keyano Theatre. This has been made possible through their generous sponsorship and continued support of all community theatre in our region.”
“With these two shows to anchor our season, this will be an incredible year of growth for our theatre community,” Price added. “We hope you will choose to join us on our journey: whether you are volunteering on stage or off, or by purchasing a ticket and taking in a show. Community theatre is alive and thriving in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo!"
Alberta Culture Days
The season begins with a celebration of creativity during Alberta Culture Days. Two unique events will bring audiences together for joy, discovery, and artistry:
Play In A Day (Sept 13, 2025 | King Street Theatre) – A thrilling experiment where theatre is imagined, rehearsed, and performed all in just 24 hours.
Miscast Musical Cabaret (Sept 26, 2025 | King Street Theatre) – A playful evening where performers take on roles they would never usually be cast in, with delightful and often hilarious results.
Both events are funded by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and Arts Council Wood Buffalo.
Community Events
Back by popular demand, SRE’s annual Lip Sync Battle returns with a twist: Lip Sync Battle: Emo Edition (Oct 11, 2025 at Tavern on Main). Dust off your eyeliner and warm up your air guitar; this playful evening of music and performance invites the community to laugh, cheer, and embrace their inner rock star.
Artistic Development
Beyond the spotlight, Swamp Rat Experience is dedicated to nurturing the growth of local artists and supporting creative local infrastructure. The Artistic Development series (2025/26 | King Street Theatre) invites artists of all stages to learn, experiment, and connect with peers. These offerings strengthen the creative ecosystem and ensure theatre continues to thrive in our community.
Youth Programming
The future of theatre shines bright through our youth initiatives.
Theatre Club (Kids & Teens) – Running Fall, Winter, and Spring 2025/26 at King Street Theatre, these sessions offer hands-on opportunities for young performers to explore storytelling, improvisation, and stagecraft.
Summer Drama Camps (Kids & Teens) – Returning in Summer 2026, these immersive camps combine creativity, teamwork, and performance in a fun-filled atmosphere.
Theatre Club and Summer Drama Camps empower young people in our community to find their voices, build confidence, and create lasting friendships through the joy of theatre.
From thought-provoking performances to playful competitions and youth programming to community workshops, the 2025/26 Swamp Rat Season invites everyone to be part of something special. It is a season built on joy, connection, and the many ways theatre brings us together; whether through young performers finding their voices, audiences cheering at a lip sync battle, or the magic of live theatre unfolding on stage.
For details and to learn how you can get involved on, behind, or in front of the stage, email Jenny at jenny@swampratexperience.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn.
