2023 Workshop Registration is live!
Want to be a performer, musician, dancer, puppet builder or puppeteer in the Pageant? Do you have an interest in the health of Island waterways and ecosystems, or a desire to participate in a large, collaborative theatre-making process? Join our River Clyde Pageant workshops, where you’ll learn new skills and contribute to the creation of this summer’s Pageant, which runs July 27-30 and August 3-7, 2023. All ages are welcome, and no previous experience is required, just come with your imagination, an open mind and a readiness to get creative!
Keep scrolling for our 2023 Workshop Offerings.
If you’re not ready to make the commitment for Pageant workshops, you can still take part as a volunteer! Sign up for a shift at our Sign Up Genius below:
Please note!
Pageant workshops are offered to the public free of charge. Free arts programming is important to us - it’s a way to give back to the community that helps build the Pageant each summer. Spaces are limited in these workshops, and they fill up on quickly and usually have waitlists. With that in mind, we ask that you consider the following:
If you register for a workshop, make the commitment to attend - put the dates in your calendar and show up.
If you sign up and realize you can no longer attend, email us to withdraw your registration so someone on the waitlist can participate.
Please consider a donation to The River Clyde Pageant to assist with the administration and material costs of these workshops. Your contributions help us ensure we can continue to offer high-quality, accessible arts programming to the community.
2023 Workshop Offerings
Art & Storytelling
A storytelling & performance creation workshop for adults & teens
Come join us while we tell stories and explore forms of performance and art making. Storytelling is a central part of the creation process of each year’s River Clyde Pageant, and we are excited to welcome new and returning storytellers into our ensemble, to help build material for this year’s show.
No previous experience in theatre or art is required, and all are welcome to participate in this workshop. Together we will explore performance forms such as shadow puppetry, tableaux, and ‘Crankies’ - moving panoramas that tell stories using scrolls of pictures turned by a wooden crank. We will share stories of change, home, weather, and the environment, and work together to craft some stories and create material that will be integrated into scenes for the Pageant.
This workshop is open to teens and adults, ages 15 and up. We especially want to welcome newcomers to PEI and to the Pageant, along with anyone excited to tell stories and get creative!
2023 WORKSHOP DATES:
Sunday, June 18, 1 - 3pm
Thursday, June 22, 6 - 8pm
Sunday, June 25, 1 - 3pm
Thursday, June 29, 6 - 8pm
Sunday, July 2, 1 - 3pm
Thursday, July 6, 6 - 8pm
Workshop Location:
New Glasgow Christian Church, 617 Route 258, New Glasgow, PEI.
Branching Out: A Music Workshop
A musical storytelling workshop for musicians of all ages and experience levels, led by Garry Williams
What if trees could speak? What stories would they tell? What wisdom would they impart? Join theatre artist/composer-lyricist Garry Williams (and RCP’s 2023 music director!) in a series of workshops and rehearsals to use pictures, found texts, & objects to create graphic scores, explore musical gesture, and engage in playful, musical storytelling. We’ll sing, we’ll play instruments, we’ll have fun! Open to adults and children ages 8 and up. Youth under 13 should have an adult companion to make music, too!
Participants will work to create scores and musical narratives for this year's outdoor theatre spectacle. This music workshop is open to singers and players of all levels of experience and will take place indoors and outdoors at the Pageant site in New Glasgow, PEI. It is not necessary to read music or play an instrument, but you do need to have great listening skills, be attentive, and be interested in working as part of a team!
WORKSHOP DATES:
Wednesday June 7 - 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Thursday June 8 - 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Friday June 9 - 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Saturday June 10 - 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Sunday June 11 - 1:00 - 4:00 pm
NOTE: This year’s music workshop is structured as an “intensive” aimed at creating a large portion of the musical material for the show. We encourage participants to attend as many of the sessions during this first week as they can.
Following the workshop, the music ensemble will meet 1-2 times weekly to rehearse music leading up to the 2023 Pageant performances, which run July 27-30 and August 3-6. In recognition of the significant time commitment required for performing in the show, musicians are paid an honorarium for their time.
WORKSHOP LOCATION: New Glasgow Christian Church will serve as a meeting place and site for indoor sessions. Outdoor work will take place around New Glasgow and on the Pageant site. The New Glasgow Christian Church is located at 617 Route 258, New Glasgow, PEI
The Singing River: Pageant Choir with Andrea Ellis
A workshop for singers of all levels of experience, led by Andrea Ellis
Explore vocal technique, ensemble singing, improvisation and “choralography” with the River Clyde as your backdrop! Andrea Ellis, RCP Choir Director, seeks to provide a holistic approach to music-making where all musicians can feel free to lend their voices to our singing community. Singers will rehearse and perform brand new, original songs created in “Branching Out: A Music Workshop” with Garry Williams, RCP Music Director. If you would like to be part of the song creation process, please sign up for “Branching Out: A Music Workshop” separately.
The Pageant Choir is open to singers 12 and up. Singers should be able to attend the majority of dates below, as well as River Clyde Pageant shows on July 27-30 and August 3-6. In recognition of the significant time commitment required for performing in the show, singers are paid an honorarium for their time.
WORKSHOP LOCATION: New Glasgow Christian Church will serve as a meeting place and site for indoor sessions. Outdoor work will take place around New Glasgow and on the Pageant site. The New Glasgow Christian Church is located at 617 Route 258, New Glasgow, PEI
WORKSHOP DATES:
Wednesday June 21, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Wednesday June 28, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Wednesday July 5, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Monday July 10, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Wednesday July 12, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Monday July 17, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Wednesday July 19, 6:30 - 8:30pm
PRODUCTION WEEK REHEARSALS:
Saturday, July 22, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm (specific time to be announced)
Sunday, July 23, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Tuesday, July 25, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
[Wednesday, July 26 - evening rain date]
PAGEANT PERFORMANCES: July 27-30, 6pm - 9:30pm; August 3-6, 6pm - 9:30pm
Stilt Walking with Laura Astwood
A workshop for those eager to reach new heights in performance, led by Laura Astwood.
Learn to walk on stilts and be part of the 2023 River Clyde Pageant as a stilt performer. Workshops take place indoors and outdoors in New Glasgow and Charlottetown, locations to be confirmed.
New participants will receive custom-made stilts and will be trained alongside returning stilt performers. Participants will develop skills in two-legged stilt walking and will explore partner-work, group choreography and character development.
Six spots available for new stilt walkers. All returning stilt walkers are welcome. Advance registration is required for both groups.
Open to ages 12 and up. Participants who are available and interested in performing in the 2023 River Clyde Pageant (shows on July 27-30 and August 3-6) will be prioritized for this workshop. Following the workshop, stilt rehearsals will continue twice a week through the end of June and July. In recognition of the significant time commitment required for performing in the show, stilt walkers are paid an honorarium for their time.
Workshop Location: Outdoor spaces in Charlottetown and New Glasgow - venues TBA
2023 WORKSHOP DATES:
Saturday, June 10, 10am - 12:30pm
Sunday, June 11, 10am - 12:30pm
Thursday, June 15, 6 - 8pm
Saturday, June 17, 10am - 12:30pm
Sunday, June 18, 10am - 12:30pm
Thursday, June 22, 6 - 8pm
PRODUCTION WEEK REHEARSALS:
Friday, July 21, 6pm - 8pm
Saturday, July 22, 11am - 6pm (specific time to be announced)
Sunday, July 23, 5pm - 8pm
Tuesday, July 25, 6pm - 9pm
[Wednesday, July 26 - evening rain date]
PAGEANT PERFORMANCES:
July 27-30, 6pm - 9:30pm
August 3-6, 6pm - 9:30pm
Design Workshop with Laura Stinson
A series of hands-on theatrical design and crafting workshops for all experience levels, led by Laura Stinson
Discover what happens behind the scenes of The River Clyde Pageant and contribute to the creation of new design elements for our summer season. Work with your hands and learn several inventive and approachable crafting techniques, from puppet building, to sewing, to weaving.
Facilitated by puppeteer and designer Laura Stinson, this workshop will guide participants through step by step instruction in the creation of puppets and props. Drop in to a single session, or join us for the full series! This weekly design workshop is a great way to meet people, get involved in the production and learn a few new skills along the way.
This workshop is for participants ages 12 and up. Location is at our Pageant Puppet Workshop in New Glasgow.
Saturday, June 10th, 1:00 - 4:00pm: Paper Mâché Puppets and Masks
In this workshop we will use a cornstarch paste and deconstructed cardboard layers to paper mache over a clay mold. These shapes will be used as foundations for the production’s puppets and masks.
Saturday, June 17th, 1:00 - 4:00pm: Spruce Root Weaving
This workshop brings together red osier dogwood and spruce roots harvested from the blow over of last year’s hurricane Fiona. Participants will collectively weave together structures of the set on the performance site of the pageant.
Saturday, June 24, 1:00 - 4:00pm: Bird & Bat Puppets
In this workshop we will be making bat puppets! Working from a template, we will cut, sew and glue together fabric, reclaimed plastics, wood and wire. The flock of bats that we create will fly high in the sky during the pageant.
Saturday, July 8, 1:00 - 4:00pm: Flag Creation
Design, cut out and sew brightly colored flags in this two weekend workshop. Collage your own design out of reclaimed textiles and create joyful flags and banners that will be used in the pageant performances.
Saturday, July 15, 1:00 - 4:00pm: Flag Creation
This workshop session has unfortunately been canceled.
Dance like the Wind
A creative movement and choreography workshop with Reequal Smith.
Dancer/choreographer Reequal Smith of Oshun’s Dance leads this workshop exploring movement, imagination and environment. Participants will dance together in outdoor and indoor settings (weather dependent), working on movement exercises and group choreography that builds connection to each other and the natural world. Inspired by the wind, weather and other natural forces around us, this workshop will create choreography that explores free-flowing movement and draws from Reequal’s background in Afro-Caribbean dance and calypso fusion. This choreography will be performed in the 2023 River Clyde Pageant.
No previous experience in dance is necessary - just come with an open mind and be ready to move! Open to children and adults ages 9 and up. Limited to 16 participants. Advance registration is required.
2023 WORKSHOP DATES:
Wednesday, June 28, 6 - 8pm
Sunday, July 2, 3 - 5pm
Wednesday, July 5, 6 - 8pm
Sunday, July 9, 3 - 5pm
Wednesday, July 12, 6 - 8pm
Sunday, July 16, 3 - 5pm
Wednesday, July 19, 6 - 8pm
PRODUCTION WEEK REHEARSALS:
Friday, July 21, 6pm - 8pm
Saturday, July 22, 11am - 6pm (specific time to be announced)
Sunday, July 23, 5pm - 8pm
Tuesday, July 25, 6pm - 9pm
[Wednesday, July 26 - evening rain date]
PAGEANT PERFORMANCES:
July 27-30, 6pm - 9:30pm
August 3-6, 6pm - 9:30pm
WORKSHOP LOCATION & MORE INFO:
Workshops will take place indoors and outdoors in New Glasgow. Participants must be available to perform as part of the 2023 River Clyde Pageant. In recognition of the significant time commitment required for performing in the show, dancers are paid an honorarium for their time.
Puppet Ensemble
Technical training in ensemble-based puppetry and performance with Ian McFarlane.
This workshop series will teach performance skills with puppets and objects and will train a group of puppeteers to perform in the 2023 River Clyde Pageant. With a focus on ensemble-based performance, Puppet Ensemble explores group movement, mask work, large-scale puppet operation, small-scale puppet operation and performance in collaboration with the landscapes of the River Clyde. Participants will contribute to the spectacular puppet performance elements of the River Clyde Pageant, in collaboration with fellow ensemble members and lead Pageant artists.
This workshop is open to people ages 12 and up - no previous experience necessary. Advanced registration is required. Workshop capacity: 16
Please note! We are only training participants who are available to perform in the 2023 Pageant. Participants who are available for all performance dates (July 27th - August 6th) and can commit to the scheduled workshops and rehearsals will be prioritized for this workshop. In recognition of the significant time commitment required for performing in the show, puppeteers are paid an honorarium for their time.
2023 WORKSHOP DATES:
Thursday, June 22, 6pm - 8pm
Thursday, June 29, 6pm - 8pm
Sunday, July 2, 2 - 5pm
Thursday, July 6, 6pm - 8pm
Sunday, July 9, 2 - 5pm
Thursday, July 13, 6pm - 8pm
Sunday, July 16, 2 - 5pm
Thursday, July 20, 6pm - 8pm
PRODUCTION WEEK REHEARSALS:
Friday, July 21, 6pm - 8pm
Saturday, July 22, 11am - 6pm (specific time to be announced)
Sunday, July 23, 5pm - 8pm
Tuesday, July 25, 6pm - 9pm
[Wednesday, July 26 - evening rain date]
PAGEANT PERFORMANCES:
July 27-30, 6pm - 9:30pm
August 3-6, 6pm - 9:30pm
WORKSHOP LOCATION: Takes place outdoors at our 2023 performance site in New Glasgow.
Fungi, Fireflies & Flame
A lantern-making workshop led by Kristian Brevik.
How does light bring different beings together? This year, lantern workshops will explore some of the beings around us who make their own light: fungi who glow to attract insects to spread their spores, fireflies who glow to attract romance, and fire which brings humans together to tell stories after dark. This workshop will teach participants a process of sculptural lantern making using cloth, willow, paper and dye. Facilitated by lantern-maker and entomologist Kristian Brevik.
Activities will include: Designing the shape and forms of the sculptures, making and decorating lanterns with paint and paper, as well as exploring how the lanterns can be held and performed within the Pageant. No experience necessary.
Open to children and adults ages 9 and up. Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult.
Workshop takes place at our outdoor studio in New Glasgow. Limited to 12 participants.
2023 WORKSHOP DATES:
Tuesday, July 18, 6 - 8pm
Wednesday, July 19, 6 - 8pm
Thursday, July 20, 6 - 8pm
Friday, July 21, 6 - 8pm
This workshop is now full! You may add yourself to the waitlist and if there are cancellations, we will let you know.
A River of Stories
Children's drama workshop with Jane Wells and Megan Stewart
Welcome to the marvelous world of Pageant story creation & play! This workshop is an introduction to creating scenes and stories for the 2023 Pageant, for children ages 8 to 14 who are new or returning Pageant performers.
The two sessions will feature drama games, improvisation and character building. No previous experience is necessary, just come prepared to dive into your imagination!
Workshops will be held at Saint Ann’s Roman Catholic Church in Hope River (five minutes away from New Glasgow by car). Advanced registration is required, and space is limited to 12 participants.
2023 WORKSHOP DATES:
Saturday, June 17, 1pm - 4pm
Saturday, June 24, 10am - 1pm
WORKSHOP LOCATION:
Saint Ann's Roman Catholic Church, 104 St. Patrick's Road, Hope River, PE
This workshop is an introductory session to The River Clyde Pageant. Following these two sessions, children wishing to continue on and perform in the Pageant will join specific youth ensemble groups and will attend rehearsals 2-3 times per week leading up to the performance dates.
This workshop is now full! You may add yourself to the waitlist and if there are cancellations, we will let you know.
Breaking Down and Building Up: A Playwriting Workshop
Explore conventional and experimental forms of playwriting with Mike Geither
This workshop will look at different approaches to generating material for the stage either as multi-character plays or solo performance. We'll complete exercises meant to surprise ourselves and audiences by leaving planned narratives behind and focusing on what we might not know about ourselves and our subjects. By staying in any moment, fictional or nonfictional, we'll find material that will help us build new ways of communicating with our audience. We'll start with short bursts of writing, move into longer scenes and stories, and find and find ways to bring vitality to untraditional and traditional writing for the stage. Open to beginning through advanced writers.
Optional assignments between classes. Free manuscript consultations. A treasure trove of writing prompts upon completion.
WORKSHOP DATES:
Wednesday June 7 - 6:30 - 8:30pm
Thursday June 8 - 6:30 - 8:30pm
Saturday June 10 - 2:00 - 5:00pm
Sunday June 11 - 2:00 - 5:00pm
Wednesday June 14 - 6:30 - 8:30pm
WORKSHOP LOCATION: The Mill in New Glasgow, 5592 Route 13, New Glasgow, PEI
Limited to 12 participants. Advance registration required.