Nose Creek Players mark 40 years with comedy murder mystery in Airdrie

Nose Creek Players is celebrating 40 years by staging a comedy that reminds everyone why community theatre matters. Peter Gordon's Murdered to Death, opening June 19 at Airdrie Lutheran Church, is a parody of classic murder mysteries that riffs on both Agatha Christie and Monty Python.

The volunteer-run ensemble has no permanent rehearsal space, so they've gathered in living rooms, basements, the library, and Cedarwood Station to prepare. "Community theatre is one of the few places where your neighbours can become detectives, suspects, victims, and then just the best of friends all in the same evening," said troupe president Robin McKittrick.

Set in 1930, the story follows inspector Pratt as he bumbles his way through solving murders in a mansion. One challenge: the room the library provides for rehearsal is smaller than the stage at the Lutheran Church, so the cast has had to imagine how their blocking will translate once they move to the bigger space. They've also had to be resourceful about props storage and building sets on an affordable budget—something McKittrick says has taught the group to be adaptable with whatever space they can access.

"Live theatre is a magical thing because it's never the same from one event to the next," McKittrick said. As opening day approaches, everyone is excited and nervous. "You want the audience to engage with the work that you're putting up there." And a play that reminds people you don't need profound storytelling to gather in a space and laugh together feels like exactly what theatre should do.