Yvonne Fletcher
Hear ye, hear ye! The stage is set and an evening of poetry, prose, and the many arts of the bard awaits you!
Bard’s Night is part of the Renaissance Revival, a four-day series of events hosted by local businesses Kaleidoscope Soul and Forage. The organizers, Allison Fine and Lori Borg, have put together two events for every day of the series, so there is something for everyone’s taste and availability. The Chippewa Valley Writers Guild is a proud supporter of the Bard’s Night portion of the programming.
It begins on Tuesday, Sept. 22 with a Flower Crown Workshop during the day and Bard’s Night that same evening. The following days contain yoga (The Royal Reset), a multi-course meal (Feast of Fools), a space for conversation and snacks (The Renaissance Round Table), an improvisational comedy show (King’s Court), local vendors at the Maker’s Market, and closes out with a drag show (The Revelry: A Royal Court Evening) on the evening of Friday, Sept. 25.
“Bard’s Night is a chance for local writers and performers to share their own written works or simply read something that resonates with them for the enjoyment of the audience. ”
Bard’s Night is a chance for local writers and performers to share their own written works or simply read something that resonates with them for the enjoyment of the audience. This particular experience is not open to musical acts, focusing instead on spoken word.
Renaissance-inspired costumes are encouraged but not required. Come however you are comfortable and listen to the lore in many forms. If you’re feeling brave, maybe even share one yourself.
No matter what kind of connection you're looking for, the Renaissance Revival’s array of events has something to offer. From feasts to yoga to sitting around a table with snacks to chat, this four-day festival is all about finding ways to bring people together, with a collective step back into bygone days. The hope is that the Renaissance Revival can become an annual community event.
The idea began with behind-the-scenes conversations about community at the recent Eau Claire Jazz Crawl. The women discussed the shared challenges of finding a circle of belonging as newcomers to the area. They have brainstormed all sorts of fun activities meant to help others find that circle. Bard’s Night is one part of a series of events meant to inspire, encourage, and ultimately bring us together in a fun, supportive way.
As a transplant to the area in 2021, Renaissance Revival co-founder and owner of Kaleidoscope Soul, Allison Fine understands the importance of finding community. In searching for her people, she hosted many creative events, starting with gatherings to discuss issues surrounding death over cake called death cafes. It was something that brought people together and could be different every time, depending on who showed up.
“There’s always cake,” Fine laughed.
I suppose it makes the heavier moments lighter. Or at least sweeter.
Both Fine and Lori Borg share a love of hosting social gatherings. The suggestion of adult-oriented Renaissance fair activities during a heartfelt exchange sparked all of the entertainment of the Renaissance Revival!
At 6:30 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 22, the doors will open for mingling and drinks. Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks as there will be no food for this event, with the possible exception of a bowl of tomatoes as a silly nod to the Renaissance-era treatment of acts that displeased the audience.
At 7 pm the stories begin.
Nine people have signed up so far, so there is still room for more. Fine herself will be reading her own work, a sonnet for modern times. Beginners are welcome. Fine shared her experience of sharing her work this way for the first time and hopes to see others take that chance as well.
Dr. Namji Kim, a professor of music from the university, plans to share some favorite Shakespearean moments. The acts are not pre-screened, so the evening promises surprises for everyone.
Advance sign-ups are available (read on to find out how!) and preferred as the organizers would like to have most of the roster set beforehand. The tickets are $10 per person and attendance is capped at sixty spectators.
Each performer will have three to five minutes to share their Renaissance-inspired wordcraft. If there is time left over, spontaneous participation may be welcome should an audience member suddenly be inspired.
The idea is to take a collective break from the hectic rhythm of modern living. It’s a chance to play dress-up and come together in a little shared whimsy. Fine hopes that people will walk away from the evening more joyful than when they arrived, having been reminded of the magic that surrounds us even in dark and confusing times.
“Throw on some fairy wings and read something,” Fine laughed.
Tickets for Bard’s Night Open Mic are available here.
If you would like to participate, contact Allison Fine at info@kaleidoscope-soul.com or through social media at Kscopesoul.
You can find the full Renaissance Revival lineup at https://www.kaleidoscope-soul.com/renfaire.html.