Building performers
River Clyde Pageant featuring new workshops, single-site performance
The River Clyde Pageant will have bells and whistles this year, as the returning event features a reimagined performance and series of new workshops.
Based in New Glasgow, artistic directors Megan Stewart and Ker Wells are excited to share what the annual pageant has to offer.
This year, The River Clyde Pageant will be presented as a single-site performance in the fields of the Little Victory Microfarms, using the natural amphitheatre of the farm and the River Cylde as playing space. Each performance will conclude with a family-style long-table meal in the field, organized by Emily Wells and the team at The Mill restaurant. The dishes will contain food from local farmers. Performance dates include July 28 and 29 and August 3, 4, and 5.
Meanwhile, public workshops begin in June and continue through July. These artist-led workshops are free and teach participants skills such as puppetry, stilt-walking, music and more.
Workshop participants can the join the pageant as performers, puppeteers, musicians or take on production roles. British Columbia-based puppeteer Ian McFarlane is back to lead the creation of several largescale puppets that will move on water and land.
Puppet building sessions will be held twice a week in July, with Wednesday evenings reserved for small puppet projects. Saturday afternoons will feature bigger, outdoor puppetbuilding projects.
Laura Astwood, of the Ottawa Stilt Union, will be training a group of new stilt walkers alongside alumni performers in early June.
Theatre artist and educator Jane Wells is also returning to teach a kids’ drama workshop which explores theatre and ecology.
These weekly sessions in June will lead to the creation of scene sand stories for Pageant performances.
New Orleans musicians Kathy Randels and Sean LaRocca will also visit the Island, presenting a workshop from July 2 to 8 at Gulf Shore School in North Rustico. It will explore vocal song writing and music improvisation inspired by the natural environment. This workshop is open to musicians and vocalists of all ages and experience levels. Participants of the workshop are invited to take part in musical pageant performances. Also making an appearance is Cleveland-based playwright Michael Geither, who is offering a new take on playwriting with his weeklong workshop, “The Electric Eclectic.” This workshop, fit for beginners and advanced playwrights, will explore approaches to writing for the stage that will surprise and reward both writer and audience. Geither’s workshop is set for June 16 to 23 at The Mill in New Glasgow.
Advanced registration is required for all workshops. For more details or to sign up, visit: www.riverclydepageant.com/ get-involved.