BikeFace (The theatrical play script)

BikeFace is a two-wheeled adventure of Canadian proportions, spinning strange-but-true tales from a ride across the country! There are graveyard groundskeepers, wild west proprietors, and wanderers with secrets only fit for strangers. This one-woman storytelling whirlwind retraces a real-life bike ride from Halifax to Vancouver, uphill and against the wind the whole way.

During the Victorian bicycle craze, medical professionals cautioned that while it is fine for a young, adventurous man to ‘take to the wheel’, if women should follow suit it would undoubtedly result in weakened hearts, epilepsy, exhaustion, appendicitis, dysentery, nervous attacks, insomnia, and physical injury. But deadliest of all was the condition called “bicycle face” - an over-exerted, wild-eyed feminine vulgarity with nothing before her but the wide open road. Over a century later, the Journal of Paediatric Psychology still finds that girls are four times more likely than boys to be warned about the dangers inherent in adventure and exploration. This is where BikeFace takes off, telling a story of “breaking gender stereotypes, bravery, endurance, camaraderie” (Life With More Cowbell) and why girls can be adventurers too.

Reviews:

- Winner of Best of Fringe & Best of Venue (Toronto Fringe 2018), Critics' Pick & Encore Festival (Hamilton Fringe 2018)

- "A funny, heartfelt adventure that's equal parts classic road trip story (but on two wheels) and feminist ode to cycling." (Samantha Edwards, NOW Magazine)

- “Absolutely stunning! A perfect adventure story! Girl power and female empowerment at its best!" (Regina Fringe 2017)