Odyssey Theatre is bringing a brand new creative arts fair to Ottawa at Strathcona Park from Aug. 16–18. Titled Myth, Lore, and Stories of Wonder, Odyssey Theatre is exploring a variety of performances with over 40 different artists.
Arts Program Director, Julia Rocchi, says that these performances will include dance groups, individual and group storytelling and some hands-on visual arts making.
“Odyssey typically works in a very traditional theatrical setting,” she says. “This is the first time that we as a company have branched out — we are exploring storytelling through the sort of theme of myths, lore and stories of wonder.”
Rocchi says that they are taking some of the themes that audiences would normally see at Odyssey Theatre, and giving them a new opportunity to be staged through various art forms — especially through physical and oral storytelling.
“We’ve asked artists to come to us and bring cultural stories, diverse backgrounds, and they’re all going to be sharing these [stories] in different places in the park [Strathcona Park],” she says.
This year will be Odyssey Theatre’s 38th season, and for the past 37 years, Odyssey Theatre has been producing stage shows at the stage in Strathcona Park.
Rocchi says that Odyssey Theatre wanted to try something to create new ties with artists, as well as engaging audience members to shows that speak to community members from all walks of life.
The Tennessee Cree, local musical storyteller Kevin Schofield. Photo provided.
“This gives us a chance to cast a wider net, engage with new faces, with new art practices, and build our community further,” she says. “I’ve really seen that there’s quite a real craving for that in the artistic community in the city.”
On the theme of this creative arts fair, Rocchi says that Odyssey Theatre wanted to explore how mythology doesn’t necessarily apply to all cultures, and that a broader term was needed to creatively explore mythology.
Rocchi says that mythology usually evokes images of Greek and Roman gods from a more Western perspective.
“But folklore is something that is extremely unifying, extremely communal and all cultures have tales that are important to their backgrounds,” she says. “Including lore, which can be mythical—but it can also include legends and it can also include real stories—gives us more of a platform to make sure we’re sharing this in a meaningful way.”
Myth, Lore, and Stories of Wonder is also making sure to represent Indigenous voices in its programming. Rocchi says that one of the Odyssey Theatre’s collaborators, Suzanne Keeptwo, tells stories through this lens of true stories of wonder, as Indigenous culture doesn’t necessarily use the word “myth” to reflect stories that are shared.
Into the Circle Theatre — A journey of Irish folklore and goddesses performed by Erica O’Reilly. Photo provided.
“I think we can all understand that myth sometimes takes on fantastical effect, and that doesn’t speak necessarily to Indigenous stories that are kept as honoured truths,” says Rocchi. “We wanted to make sure that we were working with some Indigenous artists in our community.”
Myth, Lore, and Stories of Wonder is a pay-what-you-wish event, as the fair is paying all artists who are being featured.
“It was important for us to be able to communicate that the revenues generated from the fair would be going back into the support of the artists,” she says. “By no means do we want to create any more barriers for people to get out and see what’s happening in the park this summer.”
Myth, Lore, and Stories of Wonder will be held at Strathcona Park from Aug. 16–18. For more information on this creative arts fair, visit Odyssey Theatre’s website.
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