A group from CORE visits the Esplanade - SUBMITTED PHOTO
You may have noticed there has been a lot of exciting activity at the Esplanade this fall. With the introduction of the Restriction Exemption Program, the Esplanade was able to offer entertaining, compelling, and immersive experiences to our community – a community that has just been getting used to the idea of gathering for events after an almost 18-month break.
This fall there were some exciting new programs along with some stellar entertainment. These are some of the experiences our city was able to enjoy;
We experienced the immersive films about gender equality around the world in a specialty-fabricated 360-degree theatre in a project called Insight.
We entered a world of artefacts and stories. Stories Uncased invited us to tour behind the scenes and learn the stories of the artefacts stored in the vaults and not normally seen by visitors.
We tossed pumpkins off the rooftop at our first Great Pumpkin Smash. Who knew we all could be so passionate about tossing giant orange orbs off the roof! The good news is that the more pumpkins tossed, the more the goats had to eat!
We laughed at the local improv group as they entertained with hysterically accurate skits inspired by our archives.
We celebrated the exhibition “Made in Isolation” and experienced how different local artists interpreted pandemic life. A coronavirus-shaped teapot was something that did not exist in our world two years ago.
A group from CORE made the most compelling mushroom hats inspired by the exhibition Harmonia.
We listened to some great music. The Medicine Hat Brew Co. Onstage series provided some fantastic performers in an intimate environment. The Washboard Union, on the other hand, had the Theatre pumping and shook the dust-off lights that had not lit performers for a while.
But above all, we experienced being together in the transformative space that is the Esplanade. In the end, seeing people gathering, laughing, and talking together are probably the most joyous things.
From all of us at the Esplanade, we wish you all the very best this Holiday Season!
Aaron Nelson is Manager, Cultural Experiences and Events at the Esplanade
