CALLICOON, NY — Farm Arts Collective, directed by theatre artist and farmer Tannis Kowalchuk, will present a new site-specific performance at Dickens on the Delaware on Saturday, December 9 at 2 p.m. at the train depot.

The free performance is described by Kowalchuk as a "literary ambulatory banquet of scenes and characters from the beloved novels of Charles Dickens."

Spectators will be greeted by Nicholas Nickleby and a band of street musicians. They will depart with Nickleby on a walking tour to locations throughout Callicoon to witness scenes and characters from Dickens' work. 

The "novel" experience will include scenes from “Oliver Twist,” “A Christmas Carol,” “David Copperfield,” “Hard Times” and “A Tale of Two Cities.”

The Farm Arts Collective ensemble presenting the new work includes the creator-actors Pam Arnold, Jess Barkl, Jess Beveridge, Melissa Bell, Michael Chojnicki, Ellie aka ClownDaddy, Ginny Hack, Annie Hat, Tannis Kowalchuk, Kris Kurtz, Phoenix Murns, Rebekah Creshkoff, Doug Rogers, John Roth and Leo Schmidt.

The performance explores themes of greed and generosity, equality and class, memory and literary delight.  It will be filled with music, stilt walking and—likely—bad English accents, but hopefully the joy of performance and the season can afford the troupe a pardon.  

This new work by Farm Arts Collective is supported by a collaboration with the Callicoon Business Association, with support from a Sullivan County Arts and Heritage grant administered by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance.