Mission Statement

Flatlands theatre company desires to create a safe enviroment for all ages to use their gifts, talents, and imagination. The company desires to inspire individuals to develop their skills through classes as well as productions led by local theatre professionals

Member Organizations

Past Board Members

Matthew Wall 
Darren Klassen
Bud Kehler
Tina Fehr-Kehler
Sherie Swaan
​Rhonda Friesen
​Nathan Peters
​Betty Hoeppner

Board Members

Jeanette Hoeppner
founding member

Rosebud Theatre - FRSA

It all goes back to a young 7 year old Goldlilocks afraid to sit in the chair she knew would have to fall apart. Once she got over her fear of stage falls, Jeanette moved on to act and direct at Garden Valley Collegiate, tour North America with Covenant Players, and eventually land at Rosebud School of the Arts, Alberta. Three years later as a fresh new face in the graduate scene, she took on work with Badlands Passion Play, Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Candlewick Productions and Solejourn Productions. Theatre highlights include: Opal, The Curious Savage, Footprints of a Pilgrim, Les Miserables, Anne & Gilbert, Little Women and Dancing Backwards.  Film highlights include On a Sunday and Retired with 40 Below Films. You never know where you might find Jeanette at work or what she might be doing!  She is based in Winkler and happy to be working with flatland's as artistic director and class instructor.
Melissa Grenier
joined 2007

University of Brandon - BSG
University of Brandon - B Education

Melissa has been interested in drama for as long as she can remember. She was the Stage Manager for the first production of FTC, The Importance of Being Earnest and assistant Stage Manager for Anne of Green Gables. This fall she has been teaching the Grade 1 to 3 theatre classes and co-produced 2007's production of Once Upon a Fairy Tale. She is also employed locally at Parkland Elementary School as a teacher. Shes our smiles, laughter and great friend.
Joel Swaan
joined 2013

University of Saskatchewan – B.Ed. (Music/Drama)
University of Saskatchewan – B.Mus. (Voice)

Joel has been involved in theatre ever since playing the title roles of The Sad Little Clown and The Little Flute Player in grades 2 and 3. He grew up to become involved with local theatre in Saskatoon performing, directing, producing, and/or stage managing with Saskatoon Summer Players, Saskatoon Gateway Players, and Saskatoon Opera. Joel later apprenticed with Bluewater Summer Playhouse in Kincardine, Ontario and is now a professional stage manager through Canadian Actors’ Equity. Before leaving Saskatoon Joel was the choral director of the Saskatoon Boys Choir, and a ringer with Zodiac Tapestry Handbells. Joel has served on the executive boards of Saskatoon Summer Players, the Saskatchewan Chapter of Carl Orff Canada, and the Saskatoon Teachers’ Association. Now in Manitoba, he sings with Prairie Singers, plays with Prairie Red Coats Concert Band, and directs musicals (Seussical, Honk!) at Parkland Elementary where he teaches band, music, and French.
Bethany Bunko
Joined 2016

Canadian Mennonite University - B.A.
Janice Dyck Epp
Joined 2017
Darlene Derksen
Joined 2018
Scott Derksen
​Joined 2017

​Scott has been mucking about locally in theatre ever since playing the title roles of Prince Charming and A shelf in grades 7 and 8. He grew up being involved with local theatre in and around Winkler from 2013 onwards. Scott then gained considerable credit and notoriety in 2017 for performing in many different local school and community theatre productions, as well as directing and producing short videos for Northlands Parkway Colligate and writing and stage managing small school plays. Before graduation he was also awarded with NPC’s Musician of the Year award. Scott has taken great pride in representing Flatlands over the years and continues on as one of the newer members of the Theatre’s board.
Keith Friesen
Joined 2017
Krista Wiebe
Joined 2018