Branching Out

The Branching Out Theatre and Arts Program is designed to provide community members with the opportunity, tools and guidance to create and perform their own theatrical work. Its strength lies in its participant centered approach. We begin with what the participants are interested in exploring. From there, we propose exercises and games that will develop their skills as well as opening up new possibilities. We remain a resource and reference point throughout the development of their work leading up to a public presentation. This provides them with a venue to apply all that they have learned and the valuable experience of performing live in a supportive environment.

The House the Captain Built- August 2009

Over the span of three weeks, professional artists worked with youth from Huntsville’sCentennial Day Camp and local seniors to create a performance in celebration of the 140^th anniversary of Captain Hunt’s Arrival in Huntsville.  The performance combined music, puppets and local history and was performed at the Muskoka Heritage Place on Friday August 21.

The Where I’m From Project-April 2009

The Where I’m From Project was an artistic collaboration between Edge of the Woods Theatre, Huntsville High School and the Rogers Cove Retirement Residence. Over the span of three weeks professional theatre artists worked work with high school drama and visual arts students to create a 20-minute theatrical piece inspired by interviews and interactions with residents of the Rogers Cove Retirement Residence. The piece was then presented to the residents and invited Guests at their residence on April 24, 2009.

This project explored the theme of “Where I’m From” in an effort to create artistic and personal links between Huntsville’s youth and senior citizens. The strength of its artistic potential lay in its simplicity. It is a theme that provides a common ground for communication between two groups that do not habitually interact. Senior citizens were given a forum to reflect on their lives both as they are now, and as they have been. Through this interaction, youth could relate their own stories and experiences to those of people and places of the past in ways they might not have expected. The theme also provided rich terrain for dramatic creation. Students learned a process of developing meaningful works of art from simple facts and everyday life. It has the potential to capture high school students’ interest, making both art and history exciting and relevant to them by showing that art can be something physical, and can allow them to express themselves in unexpected ways. The Where I’m From Project was an excellent opportunity to build the link between the students at HHS, Huntsville’s Senior Citizens, and the stories that lay thickly, and often invisibly, around them.

Audrey Fisher

I am from the books and novels

That filled my shelves as a child.

I am from my sister’s piano and my guitar.

I am from my kiddy car, doll cart,

And tricycle that entertained me for

Long afternoons.

I am from the beautiful gardens my

Sister planted.

I am from my skipping ropes, and toys

Left out in the yard.

I am from the smell of barbecued

Steaks and pansies.

I am from the memories of walking

To Doug Crock’s house with my sister.

I am from the grocery store down the street

And the walks with my sister’s dog.

I am from don’t touch the oven and

Set the table for dinner.

I am from the wonderful smells

Of my sister’s gardens.

I am from the pills of carrots

And potatoes.

I am from my toy box filled with

My dolls and tea sets.

I am from my grandpa’s and grandma’s

Farm where my uncle squeezed

The cow’s milk at me.

I am from all my memories that will soon be forgotten.

Composed by Sophie Murray

Workshop in Outdoor Performance- May 2008

From May 21-23, Festival Co-Artistic Directors Dan Watson and Christina Serra  led a workshop in outdoor performance for drama students at Huntsville High School.

Congratulations to HHS student Katarina Tarrant! Her amazing design has been chosen as the official logo for the 2008 Edge of the Woods Festival.

A big congratulations also goes out to Ciara Thompson whose design made our choice a very difficult one.

Thanks to all for their submissions!