2026 THEATRE TRAIL

PROGRAMME

The Playwrights

  • Tracy Duckett has always loved writing, but postponed getting serious about it while raising children, building a career, crashing through relationships, and letting ADHD direct her attention toward everything except what she really wanted to be doing. Now retired, with the help and support of brilliant local theatre and literary folks, she is deeply immersed in writing creative non-fiction, poetry, and more recently, plays. Drawing on her perspectives from living what she describes as an odd life, her writing focuses on neurodiversity, mental health, queer culture, and relationship dynamics…yes, even with ghosts.

  • Since 2022, Ella de Craig has participated in Sylvan Lake Theatre’s workshops including Act Up, Storytelling and Playwriting. Since her love for writing was reignited it resulted in her play “Time is a Thief” being produced in Sylvan Lake Theatre’s 10-Minute New Play Festival. For Theatre Trail credits include Stage Manager, Storyteller, Photographer and Playwright. By day she works from home for Sunlife, otherwise her time is spent with her 94-year-old mother, on a photography gig, editing, plotting her next adventure, at the gym or outside, painting something in her house and now…writing, thanks to Sylvan Lake Theatre. Usually, her 24-hour assistant Luna (a Labradoodle) is close by keeping her in line.

  • Still Waters is Derek Olinek’s second venture into playwriting, following his debut, Bottom's Up, which premiered earlier this year at the Sylvan Lake Theatre 10-Minute New Play Festival. He's thrilled — and a little stunned — that this new piece has found a home in this season's Sylvan Lake Theatre Trail. Huge thanks go to Katherine Orsten, whose sharp eye and generous guidance once again helped shape the script into its best self. Derek hopes you enjoy the show, and that it stirs up more than its title suggests.

  • Norene can’t believe that this is her 5th year of Theatre Trail! Sylvan Lake Theatre keeps her very busy marketing, creating graphics and fundraising. She still finds time to write, work on a play or plant flowers but best of all, spend time with her family, grandkids, and fur kid Murphy. In her first year of Theatre Trail, Norene joined as a storyteller, bringing her experience as a researcher with the Sylvan Lake Archives. Norene continues to learn and grow through Sylvan Lake Theatre and loves her community of wonderful like-minded creatives. She hopes you enjoy the show.

The Directors

  • ​Lori Lane began her theatre journey in 1982 as an actor and has been directing all genres of theatre since 1988. The director’s chair is where she loves to be! Most recently, Lori directed “Louie’s Daughter” for Forever Young Theatre at the Alberta Drama Festival Association’s regional and provincial festivals, where she received recognition for Outstanding Direction and an Honorable Mention in Directing at each of those events, respectively. A big fan of the work SLT is bringing to the community, Lori has enjoyed being involved as a co-facilitator for their Script Lab series, as a guest director for their Audition Workshop, and is excited to be returning for her second season as a director for the award-winning Theatre Trail.

  • Robyn has focused on storytelling all her life. A graduate of RDP’s Theatre Performance & Creation and Motion Picture Arts programs, she has a passion and expertise in working with kids, whether it be teaching or performing. After winning Outstanding Direction at last season’s Heartland One Act Festival, she directed Book Club for Central Alberta Theatre in February. This is her second year directing for Theatre Trail and she hopes you enjoy the show!

  • Barbara Jean Askin has taught drama, musical theatre and theatre tech in Red Deer for over 30 years, directed and designed 8 musicals, over 50 One Acts, and over 200 collective creations, and designed and decorated sets for a variety of shows. Acting credits are long and varied from community to professional theatre over more than 45 years. This is her 3rd year directing for Sylvan Lake Theatre Trail. She is absolutely thrilled to be a new board member. Sylvan Lake Theatre Trail is an absolute joy to be involved in.

  • Jenna Goldade is a director, producer, and theatre leader with over 18 years of experience creating scripted and improvised theatre. She recently directed The Raven and the Gull, Bachelor Party, and Wardrobe Malfunction for Sylvan Lake Theatre, and I Ain’t So Tough for Red Deer Players’ Breaking Cover series. As the founder of Bull Skit Comedy, she has directed family entertainment, developed training and mentorship programs, and produced more than 453 shows. She also served for 16 years as Executive and Artistic Director of Against the Wall Theatre and has performed with acclaimed improv companies across Canada, the U.S., and Switzerland.

The Actors

  • ​Lori Lane began her theatre journey in 1982 as an actor and has been directing all genres of theatre since 1988. The director’s chair is where she loves to be! Most recently, Lori directed “Louie’s Daughter” for Forever Young Theatre at the Alberta Drama Festival Association’s regional and provincial festivals, where she received recognition for Outstanding Direction and an Honorable Mention in Directing at each of those events, respectively. A big fan of the work SLT is bringing to the community, Lori has enjoyed being involved as a co-facilitator for their Script Lab series, as a guest director for their Audition Workshop, and is excited to be returning for her second season as a director for the award-winning Theatre Trail.

  • Robyn has focused on storytelling all her life. A graduate of RDP’s Theatre Performance & Creation and Motion Picture Arts programs, she has a passion and expertise in working with kids, whether it be teaching or performing. After winning Outstanding Direction at last season’s Heartland One Act Festival, she directed Book Club for Central Alberta Theatre in February. This is her second year directing for Theatre Trail and she hopes you enjoy the show!

  • Barbara Jean Askin has taught drama, musical theatre and theatre tech in Red Deer for over 30 years, directed and designed 8 musicals, over 50 One Acts, and over 200 collective creations, and designed and decorated sets for a variety of shows. Acting credits are long and varied from community to professional theatre over more than 45 years. This is her 3rd year directing for Sylvan Lake Theatre Trail. She is absolutely thrilled to be a new board member. Sylvan Lake Theatre Trail is an absolute joy to be involved in.

  • Jenna Goldade is a director, producer, and theatre leader with over 18 years of experience creating scripted and improvised theatre. She recently directed The Raven and the Gull, Bachelor Party, and Wardrobe Malfunction for Sylvan Lake Theatre, and I Ain’t So Tough for Red Deer Players’ Breaking Cover series. As the founder of Bull Skit Comedy, she has directed family entertainment, developed training and mentorship programs, and produced more than 453 shows. She also served for 16 years as Executive and Artistic Director of Against the Wall Theatre and has performed with acclaimed improv companies across Canada, the U.S., and Switzerland.

The Storytellers

  • ​Lori Lane began her theatre journey in 1982 as an actor and has been directing all genres of theatre since 1988. The director’s chair is where she loves to be! Most recently, Lori directed “Louie’s Daughter” for Forever Young Theatre at the Alberta Drama Festival Association’s regional and provincial festivals, where she received recognition for Outstanding Direction and an Honorable Mention in Directing at each of those events, respectively. A big fan of the work SLT is bringing to the community, Lori has enjoyed being involved as a co-facilitator for their Script Lab series, as a guest director for their Audition Workshop, and is excited to be returning for her second season as a director for the award-winning Theatre Trail.

  • Robyn has focused on storytelling all her life. A graduate of RDP’s Theatre Performance & Creation and Motion Picture Arts programs, she has a passion and expertise in working with kids, whether it be teaching or performing. After winning Outstanding Direction at last season’s Heartland One Act Festival, she directed Book Club for Central Alberta Theatre in February. This is her second year directing for Theatre Trail and she hopes you enjoy the show!

  • Barbara Jean Askin has taught drama, musical theatre and theatre tech in Red Deer for over 30 years, directed and designed 8 musicals, over 50 One Acts, and over 200 collective creations, and designed and decorated sets for a variety of shows. Acting credits are long and varied from community to professional theatre over more than 45 years. This is her 3rd year directing for Sylvan Lake Theatre Trail. She is absolutely thrilled to be a new board member. Sylvan Lake Theatre Trail is an absolute joy to be involved in.

  • Jenna Goldade is a director, producer, and theatre leader with over 18 years of experience creating scripted and improvised theatre. She recently directed The Raven and the Gull, Bachelor Party, and Wardrobe Malfunction for Sylvan Lake Theatre, and I Ain’t So Tough for Red Deer Players’ Breaking Cover series. As the founder of Bull Skit Comedy, she has directed family entertainment, developed training and mentorship programs, and produced more than 453 shows. She also served for 16 years as Executive and Artistic Director of Against the Wall Theatre and has performed with acclaimed improv companies across Canada, the U.S., and Switzerland.

Thank you for your support