Lava and Bones and
Chix On Stix
Mortal Coil is dedicated to creating imaginative and theatre and spectacle for audiences young and old. The artistic vision of Mortal Coil is grand, bringing a sense of magic and myth to its performing characters through the use of stilts, masks and fantastic costuming. The Company’s creative and original work can be presented to audiences in theatres, at festivals and at site-specific events. Mortal Coil also develops and teaches classes, workshops and lecture/demonstrations on the performing arts to the general public, educators and professional performers.
Lava and Bones
Puppetry, stilt dance, song and the magic of Mortal Coil bring geological events to life in Lava and Bones. Two characters travel back in time in search of a dinosaur, and along the way they see an exciting volcano dance on stilts, and “rocky” players on roller blades giving tectonic body checks. They enlist the audience to help make an earthquake, and marvel at a 45-metre timeline ribbon showing human history in the final centimeter. When they discover a newly hatched baby Styracosaurus, they don’t know that they are being watched by the feared Tyrannosaurus Rex, a 14-foot stilted beast with teeth to match!
Lava and Bones presents such geological concepts as the building of sedimentary layers under water, tectonic plate motion, earthquakes, mountain building, volcanoes, and the age of the dinosaur. More than just information, Lava and Bones is a moving reflection on our place in this ever-changing planet we call home.
Chix On Stix
Chix On Stix are the popular stilt dance characters of Mortal Coil. In stunning and highly visual performances such as Carnival/Disco Queens, Horse Women, Kakilambe and the Muses, Chix On Stix have been thrilling festival audiences for over 10 years.
BESSIE WAPP: Co-Artistic Director, vocalist, actor, designer and stilt performer, Bessie Wapp studied visual art and music in Vancouver. She has worked with a variety of theatre companies, and currently sings with the Eastern European vocal ensemble Zeellia. Ms. Wapp joined Mortal Coil in 1993.
SHARON BAYLY: Co-Artistic Director, clown, mask, mime, and dance performer, Sharon Bayly studied at the Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre in California, and she has been active in Mortal Coil since 1995.
CARRIE NIMMO: General Manager Carrie Nimmo has worked with Mortal Coil since 1993 as a dancer, choreographer, stilt performer, actor, and Artistic Director.
DENISE GALAY: Associate Artist, dancer, stilt performer and percussionist Denise Galay studied and performed African and Brazilian dance styles in North and South America, Europe and Africa. Over the last ten tears she has performed with many percussion groups and dance companies.
CARMEN ROSEN: Associate Artist, vocalist, designer and performer Carmen Rosen studied visual arts in Japan and Vancouver. Active in interdisciplinary art since 1983, Ms. Rosen was also a member of the Electra Women’s Choir and sings with the Eastern European vocal ensemble Zeellia.
Please visit www.mortalcoil.bc.ca
