THERE IS NO WORD FOR WILDERNESS by Lisa Hamalainen

Sept 18 – 21, 24 – 26 & 28 2019 to Earl Bales Park as part of the Arts in the Parks program!

Presented by Animacy Theatre Collective and TAC Animating Toronto Parks Program

About

There Is No Word For Wilderness is a land-based story walk brought to life with mask, puppetry and live music. It reflects one woman’s journey of getting lost to get found as nature reveals itself to her.

Suitable for all ages and free to attend, this new play takes the audience on a trail adventure as the story unfolds around them. Centering around land/life connection it aims to raise awareness of the enormity of our problem with waste and over-consumption.

Following each performance, Shelba Deer gives an Anishinaabe teaching and offering to Shkagamik-Kwe (Mother Earth):

Shelba Deer will be giving Anishinaabek cultural teachings and be conducting ceremonies after each play is over. These teachings and ceremonies will vary each evening such as smudging, tobacco offerings, sharing circles, food offerings, and have different teachings about how to connect to the spirit of life, and to connect, respect and care for Shkagamik-kwe (Mother Earth). Before everyone enters the seating area Shelba will introduce herself and start out with giving a teaching about the moontime and what the protocols are for the moontime when it comes to ceremony. It is protocol for kweok (women) and girls to wear either a skirt, dress or wrap for ceremony, but if not that is fine. This is usually done out of respect. Miigwech, Nia:wen and thank you!

Accessibility

**Relaxed Performances

All performances will be considered Relaxed performances. Relaxed performances were initially designed to make theatre spaces more comfortable and welcoming to audience members with autism spectrum disorders, sensory and communication disorders or learning disabilities. Other audience members who may benefit from Relaxed Performances include parents with toddlers, people with Tourette’s syndrome, people who experience anxiety, or even people who just don’t enjoy the conventions that are experienced in a traditional theatre setting.

This performance does not use any lighting effects or recorded sound. During our pre-show announcement, we will introduce the performers and talk about any moments in the show that audience members may find surprising; any moments that use loud sound effects or loud live music; and what the actors’ proximity to the audience will be. Audience members may choose to leave the group at any point during the performance and re-join at any time. Volunteers will have flashlights available should any audience members feel uncomfortable as dusk falls. Noise and movement during the show is completely acceptable, and we would encourage you to bring any items that will make your experience at the show a positive one! This includes fidget toys, sensory toys, books, cars, balls, stuffed animals, glow bracelets etc.

Audio Description

On September 28th our performance will include Improvised Audio Description by Kat Germain (http://katgermain.com/). There will be a Touch Tour prior to the start of the performance.

Audio Description (AD) makes live and recorded (referred to as “Described Video” or “DV”) events more accessible to people who have differing needs when accessing them via sight, understanding and/ or attention. AD is most often targeted to the Blind/ partially sighted/ low vision (B/ PS/ LV) community. The applications however, include people who are neurodiverse and/ or with sensory sensitivities such as Autism and Tourette, as well as people with a fixed or narrow visual field due to their range of motion of the head, neck or spine.

Audio Description is the Art of Talking Pictorially and is also known as “Visual Translation”. The creativity in what we do presents itself solely through the art of balancing long-established Standards, Codes of Conduct and the needs of our listeners — with sensitivity regarding our diverse cultural landscape and language surrounding identity

ASL Interpretation

On September 26th, there will be an ASL Interpreter present for Shelba’s ceremony and teaching following the performance.

There will be print copies of our pre-show announcements and scene summaries available to audience members at all performances.

Additional

We are working with a consultant to assess the physical accessibility of the park path along which the performance takes place. We will update this event page as well as our website as more information becomes available.

Please feel free to email animacytheatreproducer@gmail.com if you wish to receive updates regarding accessibility, or have any questions about the accessibility of the production.

Location

This performance takes place at Earl Bales Park (4169 Bathurst Street, North York). The park is located at the South-East corner of Bathurst and Sheppard (North of Bathurst & Wilson and South of Bathurst & Finch).

Audience members should plan to meet at picnic area #5 by the South parking lot.

Traveling by Car or Wheel-Trans…

The park entrance is off Bathurst Street on Raoul Wallenberg Road. This entrance is marked by a large, digital sign.

Once you turn onto Raoul Wallenberg Road, continue straight ahead to the fork in the road. At the fork there is a sign directing you to different areas of the park: Keep right (toward the picnic areas). Continue driving – you will pass a parking lot on the right and other picnic areas on the left. The road will end in one, large parking lot. This is the South parking lot. You will see a tall flagpole with the Canadian flag at the end of the parking lot. We will meet audience members near the flagpole. There will be Arts in the Parks signage.

Accessible parking spots are located at the end of the parking lot on the left side.

Traveling by TTC…

From Sheppard West subway station: Take Bus #84 (Sheppard West) East to Bathurst and Sheppard.

From Sheppard-Yonge subway station: Take Bus #84 (Sheppard West) West to Bathurst and Sheppard.

After getting off Bus #84:

Walk South on Bathurst street towards the Earl Bales digital park sign
Turn left at the digital sign onto Raoul Wallenberg Road
At the fork in the road (where there is a sign directing you to different areas of the park), stay right
Continue walking until you reach the final parking lot (you will see a Canadian flag on a tall flagpole at the end of the parking lot).
We will meet audience members near the flagpole! We will have Arts in the Parks signage there.
From the Bathurst Bus (Bus #7)

Take the bus to the stop at Bathurst St and Bainbridge Ave.
Follow Raoul Wallenberg Road into the park.
At the fork in the road (where there is a sign directing you to different areas of the park), stay right.
Continue walking until you reach the final parking lot (you will see a Canadian flag on a tall flagpole at the end of the parking lot).
We will meet audience members near the flagpole! We will have Arts in the Parks signage there.
For more information please email: animacytheatreproducer@gmail.com