Theatre SKAM’s family-friendly live performance festival in Victoria
Victoria’s outdoor live performing arts festival is back!
SKAMpede, Theatre SKAM’s annual performing arts festival in Victoria, returns this summer on July 14-16th. Now in its 15th year, SKAMpede festival has been a treasured part of Victoria since 2009. A dozen theatre companies, from Victoria to Paris, will perform in various venues spread around the Galloping Goose trail, Songhees Park, and Songhees Walkway. Festival attendees will take in a range of site-specific, family-friendly performances and live theatre in Victoria, including dance, puppetry, comedy, and more! We are thrilled to bring live theatre to Victoria once again, and showcase brand new works from amazing independent talent.
SKAM encourages people to pre-book as we cannot guarantee spots on tours for drop-ins. We do still welcome drop-ins. Individuals or groups of up to 12 people can pre-book tickets to either or both of the two tour options listed below. Here’s how to pre-book your tickets:
- Review the tour options listed below.
- Select which tour(s) you want to see.
- Click “TICKETS” button. Choose whether you want to do a cycling or pedestrian tour.
- Select which date/time slot you want to go on the tour.
- Select how many tickets you wish to purchase beside the dollar amount you wish to pay. We are operating on a Pay What You Can ticket model, with a suggested price of $10 per person for each tour ticket or $20 in total per family.
- Your tour ticket(s) will be emailed to you. Show up to the launch point location listed on your ticket at the showtime you choose. The physical ticket is not required to get into the event – we just need you to give us your name and you’re in! We look forward to seeing you enjoy the show!
We acknowledge the support of the CRD Arts & Culture Support Service.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
This project has been made possible by the Government of Canada.
ACCESS GUIDE .PDF HERE
ACCESS GUIDE .DOCX HERE
SKAMPEDE BINGO .PDF HERE
SKAMpede GUIDE .PDF HERE
Central Tour
Launch point: 860 Central Spur Rd (at The Goose)
Tour time approx. 1 hour. (cycling & pedestrian)
Trail distance: 500 m.
Shows:
Site 1 – Sarah Hin Ching U’s “Stratum”: “Stratum” is a performance installation interlacing dance and textile art.
The installation created by Aynaz Parkas resembles a nest, and is composed of long stripes of earth tones silk and mesh fabric that intercross, interlays, hangs, and knots on each other. Together with intricate choreography by Sarah U, “Stratum” highlights 2 dancers, Sarah U and Jacqueline Ritter, who are long-time collaborators connected by their passion in contemporary dance and partner work.
Site 2 – Salty Broad Productions’ “(You’re Invited To) Mary’s Very Beary Special Teddy Bear Picnic”: Mary is planning the greatest teddy bear picnic EVER, but when Mags is the only one to show up, things start to come apart at the seams. A silly, short play teaching us to embrace mess and dive whole heartedly into the things we love!
Site 3 – Green Hummingbird Productions’ “Dawn of the Hermit Crab”: A hermit crab struggles to search for a suitable shell to use as a home for a lot of its life, but you don’t have to be a decapod with a soft non-calcified exoskeleton to also struggle to find home. Dawn of the Hermit Crab takes a peek at the encounter of an eccentric sea-life enthusiast schoolteacher and a rowdy teen who is carrying a big weight. In between slinging insults at each other, the two find that they are able to form an understanding and connection.
Site 4 – SNAFU Society of Unexpected Spectacles’ “Suitable Transpo: A Junk Puppet Spectacle”: A dark and whimsical junk-art puppetry installation reflecting on the cycles of life and death.
From a distance, a suitcase-laden bicycle approaches, piloted by puppeteers, musicians, and clowns. The suitcases open up to reveal little homemade worlds, and the puppet show begins.
“[SNAFU] will forever change the way you see theatre and its possibilities…as each audience member truly feels like an important part of the narrative.” – Montreal Theatre Hub
“A true pleasure that I would recommend to anyone who has become a little too familiar with reality.” – The Charlebois Post
Note: Ticket sales for each festival day will close at midnight the night before. Ex. ticket sales for Saturday will close Friday at midnight. There may still be walk-up tickets available at the launch points. Contact the SKAM box office (236) 478-8131 for more info.
Songhees Tour
Launch point: Songhees Walkway
Cul-de-sac by the Songhees Harbour Ferry stop (48.42639, -123.3802)
Tour time approx. 1 hour (pedestrian only)
Trail distance: 500 m
Shows:
Site 1 – Sydney Hunt’s “E. Carr”: “E. Carr” is a one woman show about the life and times of Edith Carr. An artist, philanthropist and matriarchal backbone to the Carr family, Edith’s name is often forgotten alongside her sister Emily. E. Carr promises a touching story about what its like to be the sister, the other and the runner up.
Site 2 – Fairy Schedule’s “I Do Believe in Ferries”: Sasquatch has a dream he doesn’t believe will come true, but his friend Fenella the Forest Fairy also has a dream that she KNOWS will come true; on one condition. If she and Sasquatch can find the elusive and mythical beast, the “BC Ferry”, she believes their wishes can be granted. Join them as they travel our province, and search for the magic they lack!
Site 3 – Melody and Movement’s “crawling to the other side of the centre”: “crawling to the other side of centre” is a collaboration between dancer, Lee Ingram, and violinist, Owen Fairbairn. Both artists will enter a spontaneous and immersive state through which they express the dynamics of their intimate and creative relationship, as well as their personal relationship to solitude and the natural world. Each performance will be an improvised exploration of the present moment, which is always happening, and is always available to experience. Each performance will be an exploration of communication through musical and physical gestures, without spoken language.
Site 4 – Ez’s Dandies’ “Diamonds Aren’t Forever”: Both a campy parody and heartfelt homage to classic 70s spy media, “Diamonds Aren’t Forever” is Ez’s Dandies inaugural performance. Complete with superfluous villain monologues, queer subtext, and witty comebacks, wether you hate spy movies or love them, this is the show for you.
Note: Ticket sales for each festival day will close at midnight the night before. Ex. ticket sales for Saturday will close Friday at midnight. There may still be walk-up tickets available at the launch points. Contact the SKAM box office (236) 478-8131 for more info.
The Hub
Songhees Park Plaza – Johnson Street and Esquimalt Road (beside the Johnson Street Bridge)
Whether you want to see more art, you’re in need of a drink, or you have a question, the Hub is the place to go before or after your tour. The Hub is an unticketed nexus for all things SKAMpede. There will be performances by theatre artists and musicians. We are also grateful to have the Lək̓ʷəŋən Traditional Dancers returning to perform on Sunday, July 16th. The Hub also features a snack concession, where minimal waste snacks and beverages will be available for purchase, an accessibility tent with fidget toys and a relaxed environment to rest, as well as a booth from our long-term festival partner, the Sustainable Fox.
This year, we are excited to have an expanded mainstage line-up with four original works showing on the Hub mainstage on both Saturday and Sunday. Learn more about the performances below!
Bragi Theatre, “King of Soup”: Cabbage. Beets. Potatoes. Love. These are the essential ingredients to a good pot of borsch. For Vasyl and Lauren, though, that love might be a bit more complicated. Vasyl came to Canada from Ukraine twenty-five years ago, and the only things he brought with him were his daughter Nikki and his family borsch recipe. When Nikki’s girlfriend Lauren invites herself along to “help” at the family food stand, things immediately go awry. But before long, Vasyl and Lauren find that they have more in common than they thought.
Compagnie SHIFT SHAPE, “ROVERS”: Two street mimes are on the run because they can’t pay their rent. They have to pack up and leave, but their unconventional lifestyle gets them into trouble with everyone on their path. Ro and Verr, a Laurel and Hardy-esque duo, take the audience on a comedic adventure as they try to cope in a world that rejects their existence as street mimes. Featuring two actors playing a myriad of characters and a narrator playing drums and sound effects live on stage, this uplifting tale of friendship and resilience is also a celebration of the magic of physical storytelling.
Kunji Ikeda and Douglas Peerless, “Choice and Choiceability”: How can we make new old friends? One curious performer unwraps choices and connection. Audiences are invited to explore agency and playfulness with new friends in this alternative performance. Choice and Choiceability is developed using the framework of generational experiences of immigration, integration, and celebration.
Donna Michelle St. Bernard and Cole Alvis, “Come Closer”: After too much time apart, two formerly inseparable friends find their way back to each other. What is the new shape of us?
NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN PERFORMANCES
SKAMpede is a festival in Victoria of new short works by top performers who have been selected through a formal submission process. Each of the shows are different and the range of performances encompasses spoken word, dance, story telling and much more! The local performers have all worked as professional artists, including at Craigdarroch Castle, Atomic Vaudeville, The Belfry Theatre and Butchart Gardens. SKAMartists are paid for their work.
SAFETY FIRST
Theatre SKAM has worked to develop this COVID-19 safe festival in Victoria carefully since 2008. Each year we see it grow. We know the event works and we know we can handle large crowds. We plan SKAMpede with our audience’s and staff’s safety as our utmost priority. Each tour is capped at a dozen attendees for safety on the trail.
SUSTAINABLE APPROACH
Like many people who regularly use the Galloping Goose, we also consider ourselves stewards of the trail. We have worked with city and regional officials, community groups, and other professionals to ensure the footprint of the event is minimal. We are thrilled continuing our partnership with The Sustainable Fox for the fifth year. This partnership has allowed us to reduce our waste and recycle up to 97% of materials used over the festival weekend.
Thank you to our 2023 funders and sponsors:
Funders:
We acknowledge the support of the CRD Arts & Culture Support Service.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
This project has been made possible by the Government of Canada.
Sponsors:
