Myth, Lore and More at Odyssey Theatre’s New Arts Fair

By Jillian Wright

Be a part of the excitement August 16-18 as Odyssey Theatre is staging a totally unique experience:  Myth, Legends and True Stories — a Creative Arts Fair.  Odyssey is bringing together an explosion of diverse performances and hands-on arts workshops and crafts to explore the world of myth and folklore along the Rideau River in beautiful Strathcona Park.

Since 1986, Odyssey Theatre has produced award-winning professional theatre productions featuring masks, movement, elaborate sets and costumes, puppets, and music that transform Strathcona Park into a magical Theatre Under the Stars.

One notable performance audiences can look forward to seeing at this year’s Fair is a staged reading of The Girl with No Hands. This production is under the direction of Odyssey theatre’s Artistic Director Laurie Steven. Osgoode-native, Erin Eldershaw, is set to take on the lead role of “The Handless Maiden.”

Erin grew up in Osgoode, attending St. Mark High School. She then completing high school at Canterbury Arts Drama Program in Ottawa. She pursued her love of acting by graduating from the George Brown Theatre Conservatory Program in 2013, then worked on a variety of productions. Her hard worked paid off, winning a local award in Toronto for “Best Supporting Actor.”

Erin continues to work in Ottawa as a local artist, both on the stage and on film on projects like Hallmark Christmas movies and local Equity theatre shows. She is also starring in a show in Osgoode this September entitled “Cue: Motherhood,” her self-produced/self-written one-woman show sharing what she has discovered in her experiences with this stage of life.

This summer, audiences can also go behind the scenes of a workshop performance of a new play based on the folktale The Handless Maiden.  Odyssey’s Young Company will lead audiences throughout the Park as they bring to life mythical creatures.

The Park will also be animated by lively dance performances, storytelling by artists from a variety of cultural traditions, and audiences can venture on a mythical scavenger hunt. 

Audiences can participate in hands-on workshops led by professional artists in mask and puppet creation, crafts and more.  

Odyssey is well known for its award-wining productions featuring masks, movement and puppets, so why the change this year?  Laurie Steven, Odyssey’s Artistic Director states “we want to bring artists working in a variety of art forms, together with youth and curious audiences, to share and experience the powerful stories that shape our communities and influence the way we each live.” 

Performances will be free – you can pay what you wish. Some events, like the puppet creation workshop, will have limited space and require registration.  The schedule and full list of artists and events have been unveiled on Odyssey’s website at www.odysseytheatre.ca.

Local actress Erin Eldershaw has the lead role in the Odyssey theatre production of The Handless Maiden.