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!