Mortal Coil

Mortal Coil is a multi-disciplinary troupe from Vancouver that combines dance (sometimes on stilts), drums, exotic costumes, puppetry and voice to create a variety of performances for all ages. Carmen Rosen, Bessie Wapp, Carrie Nimmo and Denise Galay have each performed in a number of different productions, and also together as the Mortal Coil Performance Society since 1990. Their most recent hit, Lava and Bones, has been recreated over 300 times across western Canada and brings to life geological history-from the Canadian Shield to earthquakes of B.C.-using humorous theatre, dance and song. Look for the volcano dance (on stilts), the discovery of a newly-hatched Styracosaurus and an appearance of T. Rex. The group's newest production unveiled this year, If a Tree Falls, is a 50-minute show about the rainforest and its inhabitants, featuring stilt-walking trees, a bald eagle and an oversized insect devouring its dinner.

  -- SA