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Carleton North High School (CNHS) is well known for its superior arts program, which includes fine arts, graphic arts and music.

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Cast members of Stranger Things Have Happened rehearse a scene as they prepare for Drama Fest. From left is Mary Jane Drost, Whitney McSheffery, Laura Noble and Elizabeth Murray.

CNHS Grade 12 student Laura Noble believes her calling is in theatre arts.

Laura recalls completing her first serious piece of writing when she was in Grade 8.

"It was an essay about how big an influence music is on my life," said Noble.

She first got involved with drama in Grade 4 and has performed in numerous leading roles. While enrolled in Theatre Arts 110 last year, she was asked to write a play to be performed at Drama Fest, the New Brunswick Provincial Drama Festival.

"I adapted a five-minute section of Girl, Interrupted for a class project. Mr. Tracey asked if I would be interested in adapting all of Girl, Interrupted for Drama Fest," said Noble.

Noble's cast for Girl, Interrupted included five other CNHS students – Amanda Viel, Claire Hargrove, Suzanne Fournier, Mary Jane Drost and Kara Allan. Noble chose a cast who had shown interest in working with a student project. At the 2007 Drama Fest, Girl, Interrupted received positive attention for its mature content and also took home four awards – Special Adjudicators Mention for Adapting, Directing and Acting in Girl, Interrupted; Stage Manager's Honorable Mention for Creative Team Vision; Special Adjudicators' Mention for Ensemble Commitment to Difficult Subject Matter; and Outstanding Supporting Actress, which was awarded to Mary Jane Drost.

Noble is currently taking a co-op class to further her understanding of theatre arts. The co-op program allows students to explore a subject or job they are interested in. Noble is assisting CNHS teacher Derek Tracey, the theatre arts teacher, which gives her an opportunity to hone her acting, teaching, directing and writing skills.

Noble was asked again this year to write a play for Drama Fest. This time, it is an original script, entitled Stranger Things Have Happened, starring Claire Hargrove, Mary Jane Drost, Elizabeth Murray, Whitney McSheffery and, of course, Laura Noble.

When asked what influenced her ideas while writing the play Laura replied, "Everything that is in it is from how strange people can act in different environments."

There will be a public performance of Stranger Things Have Happened on Tuesday, May 13, at 7 p.m. in the CNHS Theatre.

Noble and the rest of the CNHS drama club head off to St. Thomas University in Fredericton for Drama Fest on Friday, May 9.

Noble plans to attend St. Thomas University to major in media studies and minor in human rights.