In 2009, the Town of Isle aux Morts, with funding support from the federal and provincial government, hired a consulting firm to prepare an interpretive plan for a regional tourism project, based on two heroic sea rescues by the Harvey Family and their Nfld dogs back in the early 1800s. This resulted in a document called the Isle aux Morts Destination Development Plan, which sets as its main goal the conversion of the town’s Community Centre into a NFld Dog Museum and Harvey Sea Rescue Interpretive Centre.
This project has been estimated to cost in excess of two million dollars and its steering committee, the Isle aux Morts Heritage Society, has been advised that to have any success in obtaining funding for this project, the community and region will have to raise at least ten percent of that funding, in excess of $200 000. To this end the community organized an annual Ann Harvey Days Festival and opened the Hairyman Safe Haven Cafe. At the same time a group of volunteers came forward to develop a live theatre product for their community and region because they saw the need to assist in the growth of this Festival and Cafe.
Nfld folklore tells us that ‘Couldn’ts’ refer to the food that couldn’t be eaten at a regular meal, which became the leftovers for another meal. When the members of the troupe were asked to consider this name for their group their immediate reaction was “We can’t dance....We can’t act....and most of us can’t even sing”...... but, in the true spirit of voluntarism, they decided they ‘couldn’t ‘ pass up on this excellent opportunity to assist with this terrific project either......or to entertain you. And so, ‘Da Koodens’ were born!
Da Koodens is like one happy family. It has had members whose ages range from a teenager to seniors, have had to face the difficulties of losing family members who relocate to pursue their education or careers, and, yes, sadly, endure the loss of our matriarch in 2016 after a brief illness. The members work extremely hard to prepare for their shows but have a grand time doing so and along the way have created many invaluable memories.
This is the ninth year of producing ‘Celebrating the Folk’, and if the patrons who come from all over are telling the truth, they have been well received by their audiences. In fact, their shows have created such an interest in live theatre for the region that it has led to the development of the Isle aux Morts Theatre Festival. The cornerstone for this theatre festival is the performances by the local troupe, ‘Da Koodens’.
We hope you will enjoy this year’s show.
Thanks for your Support!
CAST & CREW
Blanford Billard
Director/Actor
Blanford Billard is a retired teacher/administrator who was hired by the Town of Isle aux Morts in 2006 to develop a tourism product around the local Harvey Rescue Story. During his time as a Community Development Assistant, he assisted the Town in developing an Interpretive ‘Destination Plan,' from which emerged the annual Ann Harvey Days Festival, Hairyman's Safe Haven Cafe and the popular theatre troupe, Da Koodens. He still volunteers as Chair of the IAM Heritage Society, assumes roles like writer, actor, producer and director for Da Koodens 'Celebrating the Folk' Dinner Theatre, and his present project is the development of the Isle aux Morts Theatre Festival.
Colleen Hatcher, Shilo King, and Lydia Francis
Production
Lydia Francis, Colleen Hatcher, and Shilo King make up the Town of Isle aux Mort’s Office Administration team. Any administrator worth his salt knows that the most important cog in any organization is the office administrator and this is certainly very true for our community. Nothing anyone does to build and promote tourism for the community would succeed without them.
Duncan Granter
Actor
Duncan Granter has been a member of Da Koodens since its
beginning, and is best known for his character, Uncle Albert. He is also a member of the Isle aux Morts Heritage Society.
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Duncan currently lives in Searston in the summer, and Corner Brook in the winter. In Corner Brook he has appeared in the Corner Brook Playmakers yearly productions of "Home Brew," and a one-act play, as well as working with lighting at the Arts and Culture Centre.
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As a student, he performed in the holiday favourite, A Christmas Carol.
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Pam Granter
Actor
Pam Granter has been a member of Da Koodens since its
origins, and is also a member of the Isle aux Morts Heritage Society.
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Pam currently lives in Searston in the summer, and Corner Brook in the winter. In Corner Brook she has appeared in the Corner Brook Playmakers yearly productions of "Home Brew", as well as other one act plays and the Provincial Theatre Festival. She has also appeared in a number of shows with Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador including The King And I, Oliver, The Sound of Music, and Power and Glory.
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As a student, she performed in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and she also previously appeared in Oliver with the Ottawa Little Theatre.
Doreen Billard
Actor
Doreen was born and raised in Isle aux Morts.....a true Crossroader. Educated at LeGallais Memorial School and Memorial University, Doreen enjoyed a 30 year career as a primary school teacher. Since her retirement Doreen has been very active in the community as a volunteer member of the Isle aux Morts Heritage Society, ACW, Community Centre Committee, Cancer Relay Team, Good Samaritan's 50+ Club and a member of the Board of Directors for our new and emerging Isle aux Morts Theatre Festival. Doreen has always had an interest in acting and was a member of a troupe that performed in concerts to help develop a new rectory for the Isle aux Morts-Margaree/Fox Roost Parish. Presently, she takes great pleasure in calling herself a founding member of Da Koodens, and thoroughly enjoys her role of Gussie in the Clothesline Gossip skits.
Roy Bagg
Actor
Roy was born and raised in Isle aux Morts. He attended school there and openly admits that he was not the greatest student in the world. He confesses that he's probably the reason some of his former teachers have grey hair or no hair at all. However, even at an early age in school Roy enjoyed theatre and spent many hours in plays and concerts. After leaving school Roy moved to the mainland and lived in Ontario for 47 years. Upon returning to his hometown in the last few years, Roy has taken on several volunteer roles as President of the Good Samaritan 50+ Club, a Winter Carnival participant, and a member of the 2016 Come Home Year Committee. Two years ago he was asked if he would like to join Da Koodens and, not being one of those to walk away from a challenge, he agreed to come on board, returning to a passion he had from his younger days.
Michelle Keeping
Actor
Michelle Keeping, nee Francis, hails from Isle aux Morts. She is married to Fred Keeping. They have 2 lovely girls: Sarah and Caliegh. Michelle knows what it is to perform! A graduate of LeGallais Memorial, Isle aux Morts, Michelle continued her post-secondary education at Teacher’s College in Truro, Nova Scotia obtaining an Early Childhood Education Diploma. She has worked with the Community Action Committee for the past 16 years in LeGallais Memorial School and Grandy’s Collegiate in Burnt Islands. She has spent numerous hours volunteering in her community. Being a member of LeGallais Memorial’s Parent Teacher Organization and School Council as well as serving as a Sunday school teacher at Holy Spirit Church shows just how committed Michelle is to her community.
Michelle is a founding member of Da Koodens. She has been with the troop for the past 9 years, taking on the roles of numerous characters, including that of Fanny. She looks forward to each new season, anxiously awaiting the new escapades that the troop will perform.
Melanie Dominix
Actor
Melanie was born and raised in Isle aux Morts and graduated Grade 12 from LeGallais Memorial School before attending Grenfell for one year. She is trained as an Esthetician and works in a spa in Port aux Basques providing various services from manicures, pedicures, facials, relaxation massages, etc. Melanie is a volunteer with the breakfast program at school and with the Port aux Basques Minor Hockey Program where her two children are active participants. Melanie is married to Marshall Dominix and is a mother of two, Samantha and Tori. She loves the outdoors and spending time with family and friends. Melanie is also a founding member of Da Koodens.
Linda LeFrense
Actor
Linda was born and raised in Isle aux Morts.......another proud Crossroader. After graduating from LeGallais Memorial School she attended the Vocational School in Port aux Basques and did accounting and dicta typing and later completed an Office and Business Administration course at CONA. She uses the skills she acquired from these courses in her present job as an Office Administrator at Notre Dame Agencies in Port aux Basques.
Linda has been a dedicated volunteer for many years in Isle aux Morts: Chairperson for the first 2 Come Home Years, Chairperson of the IAM Winter Carnival for 9 years, Chairperson of the Community Centre Committee, and a member of the Home & School Association, Lioness club, Young Seniors 50+ Club, and a Beaver leader.
It's not surprising that she is also a founding member of Da Koodens.
Linda is also a proud grandmother of a little 6 year old, Erin King.
