7 High Performance Rodeo Productions You Don't Want To Miss

Calgary’s experimental arts hoedown ropes in top-notch world class productions for its 37th year.

by Ben Boddez

Photo Illustration by Michelle Cavaleri

One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo is returning to Calgary for its 37th edition this year from January 16 to February 5, and it promises to once again bring a series of boundary-pushing and unexpected performances that play with the form of theatre itself. With spoken-word poetry, dark comedy, and of course, music, here are our can’t-miss shows of this year’s festival.

The Triptych

(THIS IS HOW WE DIE, Amusements & PSYCHODRAMA)

THIS IS HOW WE DIE is the critically acclaimed debut solo show from Christopher Brett Bailey.

Ontario-born, UK-based playwright Christopher Brett Bailey is bringing his work back to his home country after racking up awards the world over, and presenting a three-part series of plays in association with The Sleepwalk Collective. From the beat poet-inspired spoken-word of THIS IS HOW WE DIE to indictments of what we want from our stories in Amusements and Psychodrama, these productions should prove to be a mind-bending experience. | TICKETS 

 

Pochsy IV

A testament to the power of art to unite all humanity, Pochsy is a dark comedy for adults.

Although it’s the fourth in local creator Karen Hines’ series of plays centred around her Pochsy character – who has also appeared in her short films – you don’t need to have seen the rest of them. Hines is famous for her dark comedy, and her take on the future of humankind might make you laugh through the tears. | TICKETS

 

Wring The Roses

Wring The Roses is what happens when a bachelorette party collides with a boys night out.

Preparing to make the leap into matrimony can lead to some other big decisions and realizations along the way. As a bachelorette party and a boys’ night out on the town intersect on one fateful night, Amanda Cordner’s play finds its characters rethinking themselves as gender melts away and the actors begin fluidly switching roles. | TICKETS

 

Turning The Key

Part of this year’s Curious Yellow Cabaret, Turning the Key contains what is advertised as the most “raw and risky” offerings of a festival already touted for its experimental spirit. This particular show doesn’t give too much away about its contents, but it has us intrigued as it invites Calgary artists like Sunglaciers, Conrad Belau and Cowtown Collection to push a grand piano to its burning limits. | TICKETS

 

Brahms X Radiohead

In conjunction with the Calgary Philharmonic and returning after its debut in 2019, conductor Steve Hackman’s time-travelling musical mashup of Radiohead’s OK Computer and Johannes Brahms’ 1876 opus Symphony No. 1 will have a full orchestra and three vocalists on hand. | TICKETS

For more information and the full schedule of events, check out hprodeo.ca