The Song of the Swan

65 minute production performed by 4 puppeteers

The story of a girl named Jesse and a Trumpeter Swan named Only who become close friends. Through their friendship they find out about migratory ways of life and how all creatures need to feel at home in the habitat that is suitable to them.

Trumpeters Swans were almost extinct by the late 1800’s but are no longer considered to be endangered. We see them near here flying overhead and in the Shuswap River during the winter months.

Table top style puppets are performed on surfaces representing the places in Jesse and Only’s World. Puppeteers blend into the shadows while voicing the puppets and sing on their behalves. Swans in a variety of scales fly in and out from all directions.

Part true and part fairy-tale, the Song of the Swan is a story of hope as we navigate our way in these tumultuous times.

Music was adapted from Maurice Ravel’s Pavane pour une Infante Defunte and was accompanied by Sarah May Redmond on the harp.

Written by Cathy Stubington, with contributions by Sarah May Redmond

Directed by Trina Stubel

Performed by Sarah May Redmond, Rennan Bankowski, Glitter Esquivias, and Lucas Myers.

Development of a puppet play about trumpeter swans

A group of artists assembled in April 2024 at Curly Willow Farm, to experiment with swan puppets and begin to get ready for the future performances.

Original Workshop Participants

Artistic Director- Cathy Stubington
Director- Anita Rochon
Designers- Molly March and Cathy Stubington
Creation Workshop Participants- Shayna Jones, Mariel Belanger, Sarah May Redmond, Christie Watson
Stage Manager- Dalynn Kearney
Production Assistants- Toshie Okada & Carolyn Uher

Performances happened at Curly Willow Farm at 130 Tomkinson Rd in Grindrod
Thurs July 10th to Sunday July 13th at 7:30pm
Thurs July 17th to Sunday July 20th at 7:30pm
Saturday July 12th & Sunday July 13th at 2:30pm
Saturday July 19th & Sunday July 20th at 2:30pm

A Special Thank you to our sponsors:
• The Community Foundation of the North Okanagan - The Finch Family Fund
• Canada Council of the Arts
• BC Arts Council
• Province of British Columbia
• Salmon Arm Arts Centre
• Backus Services
• Hamber Foundation