Darkhorse Theatre’s Oct. 3-4 performances were just magic

Posted on October 13, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

Shaunavon Standard

Twelve talented young actors brought magic and adventure to the stage this month with the Darkhorse Youth Theater production of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp.

The successful production featured public performances on October 3 and 4 at Darkhorse Theatre.

The production featured a diverse mix of veteran performers and fresh faces. Returning cast members included Aiden Burch, Serenity Knight, Medwyn Goldstein, Jamison Ross, and Dekkar Horn. Meanwhile, Kixtyn Horn also made his official stage debut after working behind the scenes as part of the backstage crew last year. The show also introduced several newcomers to the Darkhorse cast, including Marian MacDonald, Ledine Fourie, Johanne Fourie, Neve Stoll, Tomas Edwards, and Sam Edwards.

Adapted by Jack Neary from The Arabian Nights, the play offered a unique twist on the classic tale.

The plot followed the king of an ancient land who commanded the town storyteller, Scheherazade, to mesmerize him with a story under the threat of banishment. To survive, Scheherazade transformed the ordinary townspeople into actors, recruiting them to bring the magical story of Aladdin to life.

Amy Leslie, who directed the Aladdin production, said the project marked a successful departure from the company’s previous work and drew over

200 ticket sales across well-attended performances.

Darkhorse was also able to add a school performance this year, putting on a special show for students in grades 6 through 9 from all three local schools.

“Everything went very well,” said Leslie of this year’s Aladdin production. “The youth put on a fantastic show and should be incredibly proud of their performance. Each of them are very talented and it is always amazing to watch them bring their characters to life. They worked incredibly hard and put in a lot of hours getting ready, and it all paid off with an excellent show that was thoroughly enjoyed.”

The momentum from the weekend is carrying over into future planning, with the young cast already brainstorming for next year’s production and looking forward to returning to the stage.

Leslie also pointed out that the success of the youth program relies heavily on community backing.

“Nancy Leroy (stage manager/producer) and I are incredibly thankful to the Darkhorse board and volunteers who help to make this show happen,”

she added. “Their quiet support behind the scenes has helped the youth production continue to grow each year and we’re excited for what’s to come.”

Leslie and Leroy are both Shaunavon teachers.

With the youth production now wrapped, Darkhorse is shifting its focus to its next major project. Production is already well underway for the upcoming performances of Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses by Michael Parker and Susan Parker.

The upcoming comedy will feature a mix of matinee, pub night, and dinner theatre formats this November.

Tickets are scheduled to go on sale October 22 at 6:00 PM at the Darkhorse Hall.