David Volpov admits he’s not sure just how he’ll feel when the curtain goes up on opening night next Monday (April 18).
Nervous? Confident?
Neither seem to fit quite right for the Grade 12 drama club member at Steveston-London secondary.
Of all the words that might, he settles on proud. That’s because not only will he be directing the production Ten Years Later, he wrote it, too.
It’s an opportunity bestowed on just a handful of students in the program led by drama teacher Jean Kosar, who said Volpov has been a shining light since he first set foot on the school stage back in Grade 8.
“If they are a very devoted member of the drama club, if their life sort of revolves around the theatre, are always pushing themselves to go further, and, of course, can come up with a script — that’s huge,” Kosar said.
Volpov, who is 18 and plans on attending UBC next year, said he spent part of last summer writing the script that includes roles for every drama club member.
He started the process by asking his fellow actors what they would like to perform. They told him diverse characters and a relatable story. The result is a tale about a 10-year reunion of students who were part of the fictional drama club at Matthew McBoyd school. Their gathering leads to recalling a past chock-full of triumphs, romances and, ultimately, what is billed as a shocking and violent climax.
“All of their insecurities and regrets about high school and the drama club really unravel to the point where they don’t know who to trust,” Volpov said, adding that after several revisions he was ready to turn the script over to the actors.
“Once I gave it to them, the project became not just mine anymore. In a sense, it’s theirs,” Volpov said, adding he didn’t have any misgivings letting go as he settled into the role as a director who enjoys collaborating with the on-stage talent.
“It’s not up to me to force them to see my vision or to conform to that,” he said. “That works in other industries and professions. But in acting you really need to know what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Plus, I trusted the actors when I cast them.
“And it’s not so much that I’m in awe of the words; it’s the idea that these actors are speaking my mind, and we’re all in agreement about this cohesive vision. It feels really crazy that a lot of my personal life is coming through on stage and being disguised as this comedy thriller.”
Through all the writing and technical details of staging Ten Years Later, Volpov said he has enjoyed the process as he looks forward to going to UBC and earning a degree in fine arts.
“What I learned was that I never believed I could be this stressed while having so much fun,” he said. “It’s been long hours, a lot of anxiety dealing with good problems and just seeing how I can overcome them.
“Also, I have a lot of tough love. I’m kind of a perfectionist, but at the same I can joke around with the cast and crew.”
Ten Years Later opens on April 18 and runs until April 21 with five performances, including matinees, at Steveston-London’s theatre. Tickets are available at the door.
