FILE PHOTO - Theatre director Estelle Shook sits on one of many stages at the Caravan Farm Theatre in this July 26, 2019 file photo.

(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

As COVID-19 restrictions ease and B.C. plans for performances this summer, the North Okanagan's famous farm theatre has announced its summer lineup. 

The 2021 season lineup celebrates immersive theatrical storytelling, fuelled by a year of experimentation in 2020, said Estelle Shook, Caravan Farm Theatre artistic and managing director, in a press release.

READ MORE: Caravan Farm Theatre launches fundraising campaign to make up lost revenue during COVID-19

Caravan’s launches its 2021 season with rolling premiers through July and August of The Audio Land Walks, a new theatrical format which takes visitors on a storytelling journey through the fields and forests. 

Artists Kenthen Thomas, Christine Quintana, and rice & beans theatre have each developed a 30-minute audio story layered over a 2.5-kilometre walk done either alone or in a group of up to six, according to the theatre's press release.

“Usually, when people come to our theatre events, it’s a prescribed experience. With the Land Walks, you can book a time that suits you and experience one of three walks which take you on different journeys across the landscape, for an intimate, personalized experience,” Shook said.

The much-anticipated summer show Blackhorse, a new Horse Opera by celebrated poet Linz Kenyon, has been postponed to the summer of 2022. Instead, summer theatregoers will have the chance to experience Blackhorse in Process, a digital, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create a large-scale musical with horses and dancers, unfolding in a two-week workshop in August.

During last year’s shutdown, Caravan Farm Theatre worked with filmmaker and playwright Niall McNeil to produce The Originals. Premiering at Caravan on Aug. 20 and 21, McNeil’s documentary is a meditation on artistic inspiration and his history with the farm.

The Originals kicks off Caravan’s second annual film festival, running from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5. International female filmmakers are in the spotlight this year with five films featuring celebratory and inspirational stories. And, new to the festival this year, each feature film’s screening will follow a jury-selected short as part of the Indigenous Short-Film Showcase.

Inspired by last year’s hit immersive audio walk Sparagmos, the Walk of Terror runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 31. The new piece, System Failure, will transform the landscape into an apocalyptic alternate reality. Immersive, 4D spatial sound and spectacular set design blend with the daring performance of Kelowna’s Kinshira Entertainment's circus troupe.

“We’re building on the soundwalk of last year with sight-specific designs and performances to create a truly terrifying immersive experience,” Shook said. “The response was so enthusiastic last year that we are thrilled to continue to develop this extraordinary event.”

The beloved Winter Sleigh Ride Show is also returning this year. Dubbed JoyRide, the winter production is a theatrical tour de force, featuring song, dance, image, and story, to mark a joyful return to family traditions, according to the theatre.

Caravan’s 2021 programming has been designed for gatherings of 50 and can be scaled up or down in response to the provincial health officer guidelines. Each event highlights the beauty of the landscape and provides guests with the opportunity to relax in nature. Caravan Farm Theatre adheres to rigorous COVID-19 protocols as per B.C. Health regulations, according to the theatre.

For more information about Caravan Farm Theatre’s 2021 season and upcoming shows, visit the farm's website.

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