This is the eighth in a series of Q&A Profiles with London area theatre companies and groups. Today, we profile the Kettle Creek Players (KCP).
Q. When was your company founded? By whom and why?
Kettle Creek Players was founded in January of 2023 by Jessica Fediw. St. Thomas had started British Pantomimes in 2012 but when the pandemic hit, theatre was put on hold. When the arts resumed, there was a demand for panto again. The local theatre that had done them in the past had decided to no longer do them. Jessica was approached by several people, asking for panto to make a return so she did some research into venues and found Central United. The rest is history!
(Pictured: Jessica Fediw and Judy Cormier)
Q. Is your company best described as professional or not-for-profit community theatre? Or both?
KCP is a not-for-profit community theatre. All of the money made from our shows goes back into the next year’s production costs.
Q. What venue do you use to stage your productions?
Our venue is Central United Church at 135 Wellington St. in St.Thomas, Ontario.
Q. Does your company have a Mission or Statement of Purpose?
Our goal is to provide quality live family shows for all ages. We are an inclusive theatre troupe. We are passionate about giving people of all abilities the chance to shine on stage. Community is very important to us.
Q. Does your company have a Board of Directors and paid staff?
KCP has a board of directors. We are run entirely by volunteers. It takes a village to run a community theatre. We are forever grateful to all those who volunteer their valuable time for our productions.
Q. Tell me about your 2025-2026 Season. Does it have any underlying theme?
We don’t have a season, per se. We do one show a year, around Christmas time, usually falling at the end of November, beginning of December. Our theme is British Pantomime, which consists of a fairytale, fable, or story that has a hilarious twist. Audiences are encouraged to interact with the actors when prompted. The 4th wall is continuously broken, and silliness and fun are the name of the game. Our first Panto in 2023 was Little Red Riding Hood, written by John Allen. 2024’s Panto was Cinderella, adapted by Lesley Chapman and Ken Roberts.
We also participate in community endeavours. If the community needs actors for a vignette or for an event, we work with them to provide quality engagements. It’s a lot of fun!
Q. What show will you be staging this fall (September to December)? Tell me a little bit about it.
Our show this year is Wicked Witches of Oz, written by Peter Nuttall with permissions from Lazy Bee Scripts. It will be directed by Judy Cormier and Jessica Fediw. It follows the adventure of two “wicked witch” sisters who have devised a plot to kidnap the Wizard of Oz and make their world greener. Their plans are thwarted at every turn by the many characters they come across in Munchkin Land.
Q. Do you have any thoughts about the London area theatre community and your part in it?
The London and area theatre scene is a thriving one. Although it took a hit during the pandemic, we are all building ourselves back up, year after year. We all work together as a team and really support each other; it’s really great to see.
For more information about The Kettle Creek Players, visit https://www.kettlecreekplayers.ca/
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The Beat Magazine 2025 