Welcome Yule Presents: A Midwinter Celebration

Saturday, December 10, 2022, 7:30 pm until 9:30 pm
Music, Dance, Songs and Stories to Drive the Dark Away. Masks requested.

Buy Tickets

Welcome Yule - Music, Dance, Songs and Stories to Drive the Dark Away - Annual, Mid-Winter Celebration, this year weaving together English, Scottish and Celtic traditions of Yule (winter solstice), Hogmanay (Scottish New Year's celebration), a bit of Robert Burns, and Imbolc (the feast of St. Brigid, who raises fallen Winter and brings forth new life in Spring, celebrated on February 1st), bringing the audience on a journey from one side of winter to the other. In sharing songs and traditions of olden times we feed a basic yearning for connection, with each other and the natural world in all its layers, remembering from simpler times what is important. Real magic happens - the magic of ancient traditions like the Abbotts Bromley horn dance, when eerie, antlered figures weave through the audience accompanied by a haunting tune. The magic of the renewal of life arising out of death. The magic of singing and dancing to drive the dark away to lift our spirits with the promise of the return of the light. The magic of storytelling, of puppetry, of superstitions. The magic of audience engagement - singing along, touching holly to the Yule log, and joining with the cast at show's end where the distinction between performers and audience members dissolves. The families of Welcome Yule have built a creative, loving community and draw audiences into that energy. We are so excited to be in person again this year after two virtual years due to covid. We kindly request that audience members wear masks inside the Shea. Thank you!

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors and Underwriters

Australis Aquaculture • Artisan Beverage Cooperative • Benjamin Company • Berkshire Brewing Company • Cohn and Company Real Estate Agency • Community Credit • Common Capital • Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts • Connecticut River Internists • Dean's Beans • Easthampton Savings Bank • FirstLight GDF Suezna •Gagne Wealth Management Group • Gill Tavern • Gilmore and Farrell Insurance Company • Goff Media • Great Falls Harvest • Green River Festival • Greenfield Community College • Greenfield Cooperative Bank • Greenfield Savings Bank • Loot • Massachusetts Cultural Council • Montague Bookmill • Montague WebWorks • Northeast Solar • People's Pint • Rainmaker Consulting • The Rendezvous • Solar Store of Greenfield • Stobierski and Connor • Told Video • True North Transit • Turn It Up

Exciting News for A Happening V: The Bestiary

Cloudgaze and Eggtooth Productions are thrilled to announce that we have received generous grants from the Mass Cultural Council as well as the Community Foundation of Western MA to support our 2025 Immersive Arts Festival, “A Happening V: The Bestiary.”

This festival will transform the Shea Theater into an exploration of theme, hosting installations, music, theatrical performances, and movement pieces, featuring the collective contributions of over 50 local artists. Audiences will experience otherworldly environments and narratives inspired by Aesop's Fables, George Orwell's Animal Farm, newly imagined cautionary tales, and creature myths of all origins.

Thanks to the Mass Cultural Council for their vital support this year.We'd also like to thank the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts for their support in the form of a Flexible Funding grant. We couldn't do this work without you!