Fiddleheads Musical Theatre is a group of energetic, talented performers in the National Capital Region who sing, dance, act and fiddle! The young artists, ranging in age from 5 to 18, help to create full-length musical performances in collaboration with professional artists from the region. Established in 2011 under the artistic and musical direction of Trish Barclay, Fiddleheads Musical Theatre is now led under the artistic directorship of Kyle Burghout, supported by an active Board of Directors, talented and committed local musicians and performers, and an engaged community of volunteers. Fiddleheads continues to thrive and bring a love of music and theatre to a wide range of audiences across the region. We have maintained a strong membership base over the past 5 years, a testament to the commitment and engagement of everyone involved.
Fiddleheads Musical Theatre holds weekly sessions during our fall, winter, and spring terms when participants come together to practice and learn new music and build performance skills all leading up to a final performance at the end of each year. Throughout the year we also host a variety of workshops which has included step dancing and performance skills. The workshops have provided additional opportunities for these participants to build new skills, expand their interests and talents, and build their confidence as performers – valuable skills for life.
Fiddleheads Musical Theatre has successfully completed three full-scale musical theatrical performances over the past 5 years. These include:
- Gatineau River Reel (2012)
- Fiddler’s History of Canada (2013)
- Fiddler’s History of Canada II (2014)
Their first performance (July 2011) was Gatineau River Reel, a foot-stompin’, home-grown, historical musical theatre performance to enthusiastic audiences in Chelsea and Wakefield. In 2013, the group performed A Fiddler’s History of Canada, Gordon Stobbe’s masterful musical production about the history of the fiddle in the provinces, territories and cultures of Canada. Gordon Stobbe is a Master fiddler from the East Coast of Canada. In 2014, with financial support from Centre local de development (CLD), Fiddleheads created and performed The Fiddle History of Canada II, a spirited play adapted by Trish Barclay which was also based on a narrative and musical arrangements by Gordon Stobbe.
Fiddleheads Musical Theatre are regularly invited to perform at fundraising events such as the Great Grannies benefit concert, Support for Syrian refugees, The Peaceful Children’s Homes and the annual Angel Share benefit concert. In addition, Fiddleheads has performed at numerous community events such as Chelsea Days, Canada Day performances and the Ottawa Grassroots Festival, as well as performances in local schools and an occasional house party!
Our performances attract audiences of all ages and interests. As experienced by one audience member: “Every province and its flag were represented. A full house of enthusiastic young and old applauded, tapped their feet and hummed to the tunes….but it was like a dream come true to hear all those memorable tunes. I will cherish the memory forever” Huguette Foubert, The Low Down, 2015.