One of the signs of summer moving into fall is Theatre Wakefield's TaDa! Festival. This year the curtain goes up on the ninth edition of the festival on the morning of Sept. 15 and runs over that weekend and the following one with four different shows, two workshops and a concert. Let’s start with the shows.

First up, on the opening Friday in the evening, is Mayfly, a play written and performed by Rae Anna Maitland, who was raised in the Hills, which explores motherhood, being single and the cycle of life for women. The mayfly (anglers will know it as the shad fly) is a short-lived, aquatic, winged insect and its various stages of life from nymph to imago are used as metaphors. As is the tradition, the Festival's theatre component will begin with a reading of the poem “And don't forget to go TaDa!” by local poet Phil Cohen, from which the festival takes its name.

On Saturday, Sept. 16, and again the following weekend, the scene shifts from the Wakefield community centre to the outdoor stage of Fairbairn House. Billed as "one of Theatre Wakefield's most spectacular productions ever," the “Big La Pêche Puppet Project” is indeed a show of epic proportions. It involves over 80 life-size puppets, all of them created by dozens of members of the community, young and old. The cast includes over 40 people, puppeteers, a choir and musicians.

This commissioned, original play was hatched in the mind of local author and naturalist Paul Hetzler, and each puppet represents some facet of the natural world in which we fortunate Hillsiders live. The lantern puppets, as they are known, are made of muslin and lit from within by LED lights. As such, the show starts at dusk and, as the play progresses, the darkness will host what promises to be an unforgettable series of tableaux. Proceeds will go to La Pêche Global Forest – Seeds and Saplings Network.

In the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 17 of the first weekend, there is a special play that will be something the audience will see, hear and feel in a unique way.

“Speaking Vibrations” is a complex spell weaving together a multi-media theatre piece. It's about the immigrant experience in Canada, told on two braided levels: one of poetry, the other sound, motion and vibration. While poet Jo-Anne Bryan, who is deaf, performs three of her works in American Sign Language, four other performers – including Alcove resident Jordan Samonas – overlay Jo-Anne's signage with subtitles, contemporary dance, rhythmic tap, movement and voice. The play proceeds visually via projected graphics and dynamic captions and tactilely through feeling and vibration. (Note: A dozen vibrotactile devices will be available for audience members to “feel” the vibrations of the performance.)

Here, feeling and seeing is believing. As Jo-Anne says in her poetry: “What happens when I come into contact with a body in all its forms?/ when I see in my feet, hear in my hands and speak in vibrations/?”

The first of the two workshops takes place in the morning of opening day (Sept. 15) and is run by storyteller and keeper Louise Profeit-Leblanc (Indigenous name Tsé Itzoh). You can gather from the workshop's title “What's Your Story Anyway” that participants (it's for seniors only, maximum of six) will be using their own histories as raw material. The workshops, four separate ones in all, take place in the Wakefield library. Participants will present their tales on Oct. 29 in the community centre lobby.

The second workshop on the first Sunday morning (Sept. 17) is “Physical Playwrighting: Telling Stories With Your Feet” led by the festival's main director Mary Ellen MacLean. The workshop is about what moves you, literally. It's about liberating the mind and body and getting them working as a team. It's two hours for anyone 16 and up. Wear loose clothing and bring a notebook, as you'll be sublimating your ideas through improvisation into your own style of expression.

The concert is on the Friday of the second weekend (Sept. 22), in the evening. Twin Flames, comprised of Chelsey June and Jaaji, who are multi-award winners (41 and counting), will play their haunting soundscapes and songs delivered in English, French and Inuktitut. Then to close out the joy, on the final Sunday afternoon (Sept. 24), singer/ songwriter Jeremy Fisher returns to Wakefield to present his family singalong, including tunes from his CBC kids TV show “Jeremy and Jazzy”.

For times to all events in the TaDa! Festival and to get tickets, go to the theatrewakefield.ca. This year the festival is offering the choice to pay $10, $20 or $30 (the puppet show is $7 and selling fast).

Phil Jenkins is a proud member of the Gatineau Hills artistic community and invites you to contact him at phil@philjenkins. ca with news of your upcoming arts events.