2003-2004 Community Action Fund NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR THEATRE FOR THE BIRDS: KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE TRAMORE THEATRE GROUP CAPE ST. MARY’S IBA, NEWFOUNDLAND The grassy cliffs of Cape St. Mary’s, along the southwestern tip of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, supports impressive populations of murres, kittiwakes and other seabirds. The Ecological Reserve is a very popular tourist attraction, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year. The evolution of Cape St. Mary’s to an ecological reserve and major tourist attraction has spawned alienation at times between local residents and science-based resource management agencies in the area. There is a strong important tradition of harvesting birds in the region that contrasts with the current trend towards seabird tourism. Local people often feel vilified for their consumptive interest in wildlife. The Tramore Theatre Troupe has a mandate to increase public awareness, encourage support for conservation efforts, and document the history and ecological knowledge of the area. The play Theatre for the Birds will transform traditional knowledge and local culture into theatre and archive this invaluable information for generations to come. Through the play, the dichotomy of perspectives between traditionalist and conservationist groups of the Cape Shore is brought to light, as they relate to seabird ecology and conservation. The play will be shown this July and August. back to map