Warman theatre group wants audiences to look past big cities for arts and culture

They're not quite screaming it yet, but members of a Warman, Sask., theatre group are using Bloody Murder to spread the word about the arts and culture scene beyond Saskatoon.

Bloody Murder, the latest show from the Scared Scriptless Players, opened at Warman's Brian King Centre Friday night and continues all weekend.

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Director April Watson said local theatre artists are trying to raise awareness that there is more to Warman than its sporting facilities. The city is less than a 20-minute drive from downtown Saskatoon. 

'We're a city, we're growing'

"People come out there for sporting events with their kids for different things but they don't think of Warman as a place to come for arts and culture," she said in an interview with CBC Radio's Saskatchewan Weekend.

"So we're really trying to establish that scene now that we're a city, we're growing." 

Watson, who directed the play, said pairing theatre with dinner is one of the ways the theatre group is trying to draw people from Saskatoon to attend the show. 

She said one of the biggest challenges to cultivating the local arts scene is the tendency not to look past the city for entertainment.

"It's really just getting people to change that mindset and realize, 'Hey, we have a lot to offer in our little city just outside the big city,'" said Watson.  

Actor Linsey Gatzke said many people are just not aware of the arts and culture available outside major centres.

She was a Warman resident for three years before she realized there is a theatre community there.

"So it was super exciting to find out about that and sort of get involved and not have to drive back into the city in order to take part in a really exciting theatre group," said Gatzke.

Bloody Murder breaks 4th wall

Watson said she chose Bloody Murder as the group's latest production because she loves old radio dramas and murder mysteries.

She said it differs from many traditional murder mysteries because it breaks the fourth wall, letting the performers interact with the audience.

"We have the murder mystery … and then a little bit of almost slapstick comedy, I would say," said Watson.