An annual edition of the Lyric Theatre's Write Out Loud series that gives a platform to southwest talent took place this week.

While its home venue is under construction, the event packed the Swift Current Museum on Wednesday evening.  

Jackie Cameron, a volunteer with the series, was one of the featured artists of the night.

"There were not very many empty chairs in the museum, and the audience was quite enraptured by the evening," she said. "People really enjoy coming to hear and see people they know or people they have heard about and listening to what they can do."

Four local writers took turns highlighting their mediums. Audience members enjoyed hearing about children's counting books, southwest ranching adventure stories, a memoir of creating a foundation to support rural education, and even a comedic skit.

Collin Nyabadza spoke about his decades-long fundraising work to improve rural Zimbabwe education and sports. He recently published his book detailing his passion for creating opportunities for youth, called All for the Children. 

Living the prairie dream in Tompkins, Katelyn Toney published her first book when a family tradition of reading to her kids nightly struck a realization: they couldn't find characters to relate to. On the Busy Old Ranch details farming life in Saskatchewan with poetry, numbers, and colourful pictures.

Cameron presented something of a similar concept. Her debut book, Adventures on the Circle Star Ranch, was announced as one of the five finalists for the G. Murray and Edna Forbes Foundation Children's Award on April 1. She read from her second publication, Lost Treasure on the Circle Star Ranch.

Playwright Wendy Lockman ended the night by treating the audience to a few laughs. She brought local actors with her to read a short skit written in remembrance of her grandmother. 

The next installment is set for March 6, and will feature Métis Saskatchewan writer Arnolda Dufour Bowes.