What do a saxophone player, a futuristic drag show, a Dungeons & Dragons adventure and two slightly intoxicated conspiracy theorists have in common? They’re all part of this year’s Hydra Performing Arts Festival, and if that doesn’t get your curiosity going, toss in a little burlesque and some interpretive dance and I think it is safe to say there is something for everyone.
Presented by Chimera Theatre, Hydra returns over two weekends, Nov. 20–28, with 12 original productions showing at two great local venues: the Kamloops Art Gallery downtown and Bridgeview Theatre on the North Shore.
Since its beginning in 2018, Hydra has provided a space for performance artists of all kinds who want to push some boundaries, experiment with new ideas, and bring the arts to the community in some very entertaining ways.
Festival chair Coco Creme says the selection process focuses on three guiding principles: new, local, and innovative.
“We’re trying to make space for anything in the local area,” she explained.
That definition of local has expanded to include not only Kamloops locals, but artists from across the Interior, along with former Kamloops residents returning to share their talents with their hometown.
And the lineup is stellar. Kamloops saxophonist Jeremy G brings his musical origin story to the stage in The Legend of the Saxman. Young comedian Julien Marcano shares the terrifying business of adulthood in I’m a Big Boy Now. For something considerably less conventional, Half-Cut Conspiracies features two friends exploring life’s great mysteries while enthusiastically questioning the merits of sobriety.
What could possibly go wrong?
Meanwhile, A Letter to My Daughter, presented by Heather Clark, explores the wisdom, struggles, and hopes women share across generations through dance and storytelling. The Freudian Slips offer D&D Improv: Spoon of DOOM, while Rowdy Spectacles transports the audience to 2047 with The Singularity Soirée, a multimedia drag production exploring conformity, power and rebellion.
If that doesn’t get you going, Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School combines burlesque, life drawing and delightfully inappropriate interviews in three unique performances celebrating the 1930s, 1960s and 1990s.
Clearly, there’s no shortage of imagination around here. And though there is a wide selection of performances to see, there are some criteria for selection.
Production and operations manager Alyssa Christianson explained, “We base everything off of: is the show new, local, and innovative?” And as it turns out, Kamloops is full of some pretty new and innovative productions!
“There’s a form of performance art that will be interesting for most people,” Creme said.
With productions generally running 45 minutes or less, audiences can sample several artistic styles without committing an entire evening to something unfamiliar. Creme explained how each production will get a chance to be seen at each of the two locations over the course of the festival. It’s an opportunity for artists to reach audiences on both sides of the river, while giving festivalgoers a reason to explore different creative spaces.
But Hydra is more than just great entertainment.
The entirely volunteer-run festival provides opportunities for emerging and established artists to develop original work, experiment with unfamiliar formats and, importantly, earn income from their creativity.
For some, it’s a chance to present their first independent production. For others, it’s an opportunity to take their art form somewhere new and exciting, and for some it’s a way to bring the love of their craft to a wider audience.
Chimera Theatre president Aaron Shufletoski discussed how taking risks and getting out of your comfort zone is important for both the artist and the audience.
“Art should make artists and the audience both scared,” he said. He encourages audiences to approach the festival with curiosity and a sense of adventure.
“Go and try something new at the Hydra Festival. See something that you normally wouldn’t see.”
And of course, the festival welcomes volunteers, sponsors and, of course, enthusiastic ticket buyers. Individual tickets, multi-show bundles and festival passes are available, with age recommendations provided for each production.
For show descriptions, information, schedules, and tickets, visit the Chimera Theatre website at www.chimeratheatre.com/hydra. You might just find yourself caught up in the excitement of this year’s Hydra Festival!
Editor’s Note: The Half-Cut Conspiracies performance features Kamloops Chronicle editor Todd Sullivan