In Shakespeares famous line from Hamlet, the words mortal coil were uttered to mean the bustle or turmoil of this mortal life.
For the Vancouver-based Mortal Coil Performance Society, the words have a decidedly more uplifting meaning.
Initially, when the artistic ensemble of performers began back in 1994, the professional theatre company performed on stilts and with puppets.
We take mortal coil to mean leaving our worldly cares to elevate ourselves to a higher spirit, said Sharon Bayly, the troupes co-artistic director and artist. Since stilts are about elevation and transformation, the name seems to fit.
Mortal Coil brings its imaginative, spectacle-based theatre to Richmond during a series of weekend workshops running July 23 to August 15.
All our workshops are for people of all ages and we are conducting them in lantern making, stilt walking, mask making and music, said the seasoned actress and stilt walker. Our plays and our workshops are all about creating fantasy we take it (performance) out of the everyday life. We are larger than life.
Mortal Coil is known for creating a sense of magic and myth to our performing characters through the use of stilts, masks and fantastic costuming, she added.
If you have ever taken your children to Stanley Parks Ghost Train and Bright Nights, then you have seen Mortal Coil performers. Since 1999, the company has been the artistic director for the two events.
Bayly said the company is thrilled to be still producing family entertainment, given the economic climate. And, she added, its even more satisfying to teach their unique style of entertainment and art form to students of all ages.
Stilt walking isnt that hard to learn, and people tell us once they learn they really enjoy it, said Bayly. You get to see the world from a higher perspective.
There is another reason for bringing the workshops to Richmond and that is to get participants involved in Mortal Coils newest project, and outdoor theatrical production called Salmon Row one that will bring to life the sights and sounds of Stevestons early years.
Bayly added some of the participants in their upcoming workshops will have an opportunity to take part in the salmon lantern procession preceding the full-length production of Salmon Row.
We will, in effect, be bringing the audience to the site, she added. We have 12 professional actors playing real characters, but we will also draw from Richmonds youth performers as well.
Salmon Row explores issues of immigration, ethnic conflict, and the rich labour history of Stevestons cannery workers. The play will be presented at the Britannia Shipyards from August 18 to 28. The dramatic piece will include the companys stilts, puppets, masks and its colourful costumes.
We are taking some of the stories from the canneries and weaving them into the play, said Bayly. We were inspired by the site itself.
So much of our past and present revolves around the fishing industry.
For a full schedule of Mortal Coils free weekend workshops, as well as dates and times, call Bayly at 604-874-6153 or visit www.mortalcoil.bc.ca.
A Brief Description of the Workshops: (Courtesy of Mortal Coil Performance Society).
Mask Making: Mask Maker Frank Rader will guide participants in designing and creating masks that express some of the themes in Mortal Coil's upcoming show Salmon Row. He will also work with participants to explore physical movements and gestures that express, enhance and embody the character of the mask.
Stilt Performance: This workshop will focus on stilt walking and outdoor performance skills. Stilt performing artists Sharon Bayly and Bonnie Davis will lead participants in the exploration of balance and movement on stilts using core body strength, full body awareness, and alignment techniques. Through physical games and exercises on stilts, we will explore our relationship to space, to our fellow performers, and to the larger audience in performance.
Percussion: Musician and composer Steve Charles will inspire participants to discover their own rhythm and to explore the power of percussion. Participants will learn how to work together to create intricate rhythms using many different instruments and percussive tools.
Lantern Making: In this workshop, artist Marina Szjarto will fire up our imaginations and spark our creativity as she leads participants through the process of making beautiful fish lanterns that celebrate the spirit and the generosity of the fish as they are portrayed in Mortal Coil's upcoming show Salmon Row.
Puppet Making: In this workshop, participants will make simple puppets with puppeteer Frank Rader and explore animation techniques that make the puppets come alive.
