River Clyde Pageant

The River Clyde Pageant marks its 10th anniversary in 2025–26, celebrating a decade of community-engaged outdoor theatre along the banks of the River Clyde in New Glasgow, PEI. This milestone season launches a new two-year performance cycle, exploring the collective movement patterns of flocks and swarms, plant and animal migrations, and the shifting responses these movements evoke. Public performances of the 2025 Pageant will run on July 24–27 and July 31–August 3.

Leading up to the performances, the Pageant offers an expanded program of free, public arts workshops led by professional artists from across PEI and beyond, with opportunities for participants of all ages and experience levels to contribute to the creation of the anniversary production.

Several workshops return for the 2025 season. Puppet Ensemble, led by Evan Medd, Sébastien Labelle and Laura Stinson, will bring a collection of new and returning puppets to life. Flocking Together, the creative movement workshop led by the Pageant’s choreographer Reequal Smith, will explore the patterns of birds in flight, drawing from Afro-Contemporary dance traditions and Calypso Fusion. Sounds of the Flock, a choir workshop led by Choir Director Andrea Ellis with support from Marti Hopson, invites participants into the co-creation and learning of choral music for the Pageant. Music Director Garry Williams returns to lead A Sounder, A Swarm, which will gather instrumentalists and singers to explore improvisation and music creation inspired by the themes of the show.

For those interested in contributing to the design of the Pageant, two workshops are available. Ian McFarlane leads Co-creating with Landscape, a two-weekend workshop in outdoor scenic design in early June. Participants will explore found and natural materials while learning techniques in performance design, creating scenic elements for the Pageant that reflect the environment and connect with the setting. As part of The Bee, a weekly drop-in workshop focused on crafting and socializing, participants will help with the making of costume and puppet elements.

For those interested in one of the Pageant’s performance features, stilt director Laura Astwood will offer an Introduction to Stilt Walking workshop on June 21–22. Playwright Mike Geither returns to lead a workshop in bird watching on June 14, and will also co-lead a new ecological creative writing workshop with poet Kristen Tetzmann called This Can’t Be the End, which invites written exploration of the climate crisis and environmental issues for writers from all genres and experience levels.

All are welcome in the creation of the 2025 Pageant, including those new to the event. Workshop spaces are limited, and early registration is encouraged. Find all the details at riverclydearts.com/get-involved.

Pageant tickets will go on sale on June 24 at 10 am and June 25 at 7 pm. Subscribe to the newsletter for early access to tickets and updates.