One Yellow Rabbit's High Performance Rodeo is one of Canada's premier showcases of new and experimental theatre.

The Calgary-based festival runs January 5 - 25 and features Crow's Theatre's High Life, the award-winning play by Lee MacDougall starring Tony award-winner Brent Carver; The American Chestnut, with New York's Karen Finley (known as the "chocolate-smeared woman of Jesse Helm's nightmares") and Somalia Yellow, a new work by One Yellow Rabbit.

Somalia Yellow is an unusual collaboration between the OYR ensemble and visual artist Allan Harding MacKay, Canada's last commissioned war artist, who was present, video in hand, during the telling events in Mogadishu.

Other invitees to this year's festival include Toronto's Theatre Smith Gilmour, Da Da Kamera and URGE collective; Vancouver's Rumble Theatre and Calgary's Ghost River Theatre, Green Fools, Le Freak C'est Chic and Parole.

All shows except High Life are in the Big Secret Theatre, Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts. High Life is in the Max Bell Theatre. Call 403-299-8888 for tickets. Call Steve Schroeder at 403-244-9177 for complete show descriptions. The High Performance Rodeo Festival runs January 5 - 25, 1998. --By Mira Friedlander
Canadian Correspondent