Celebrating Sawllkwa (water)

Puppets on the banks of the Shuswap River, from a 2005 community show. (Photo courtesy Runaway Moon)

July 24-25, Enderby –

Sawllkwa (‘water’ in the Secwepmectsin Language) — a celebration coming to Kingfisher Interpretive Centre.

Why are we humans so enchanted with water? What is its mysterious spell over us? Water is such a part of nearly everything we do and are. We drink it, swim in it, fish in it, put our boats in it, bathe and cook our food in it.

Water cools us on a hot summer’s day and we shovel it in the cold of winter. We admire it as fluffy white clouds in an azure sky, we see our reflection in a quiet pond and watch waves of water lap a sandy shore. We are intimately connected to water and we couldn’t exist without it.

To celebrate water and our relationship with it, Runaway Moon Theatre’s long-awaited community summer spectacle is coming to the Kingfisher Interpretive Centre July 24th and 25th at 7:30pm.

The hundreds of people involved in this monumental undertaking have been inspired to explore their creative sides, making ceramic vessels, music and movement inspired by water, and decorating fabric with dyeing and printing techniques.

More than 70 people have contributed water words in as many languages. Now a group of performers is putting everything together in rehearsals to present to Shuswap residents and visitors, an unforgettable performance celebrating water in all its forms –- its beauty, its variety, its texture, its sparkle, and its sounds.

The creative team has been enhanced by the participation of special guest artist, Jimmy Ouma Okello from Kenya and Hannah Morrow and Jesse Orr, two interns from Montreal. The production is being directed by Varrick Grimes and Runaway Moon’s artistic director, Cathy Stubington, music director Murray MacDonald and movement and dance director Kristi Christian.

With a pool of talent this wide and deep, the results are sure to be as refreshing as a cold drink on a very hot day. The show will go on rain or shine, outdoors.

The Kingfisher Interpretive Centre is located at 2550 Enderby-Mabel Lake Rd. (25 km past Enderby towards Mabel Lake). Admission is by donation. There is seating available. For further information, readers may call 250-306-3935 or visit the website at http://www.runawaymoon.org .