If it happens to be the third Thursday of the month and you’re looking for some casual evening entertainment, check out Creative in the Creek, a low-key but charming and energetic performance event at Roberts Creek’s always-funky Gumboot Café.
A sort of open-mic-meets-variety show, Creative in the Creek was begun by area comedian David Roche and artist Laurie Verchomin eight years ago. “Creative creek started it because I wanted a venue where I could rehearse and play around,” Roche told Coast Reporter. “It was very self-serving.”
It caught on and has been humming along ever since, although Roche said he’s been backing away and leaving organizing and emceeing duties to “the younger folks.” For some time, that meant producer Anna Bethune ran the show. But now that she’s off on other adventures, producing duties have been taken up by Gumboot employee Aaron Fitzpatrick and local businesswoman and occasional spoken-word performer Say Gabriel.
“Originally, I was really interested in a venue where I could do something creative,” said Gabriel. “So, I went to check out [Creative in the Creek] and I was blown away. I loved it – the dynamic, the setting, the breadth of performances, the community and how welcoming they were.”
The list of performers is mostly set and publicized in advance. “Officially, we limit it to six performers for 15 minutes each, and the set list is announced one to two weeks ahead of time,” said Gabriel. “But as long as I’ve been involved there are people who, in the days before, ask to be included. We generally say yes unless we’re overbooked.”
The event is advertised as “admission by donation,” which at these shows means a bucket is sent around the room partway through the night, and the proceeds are split among the performers.
The playbill always features some music, some comedy and/or spoken word. The producers are also intent on preserving the show’s nurturing aspect. “One of the things Creative in the Creek is known for and celebrates is emerging artists and creating a safe space for people who might not otherwise perform,” Gabriel said.
There were good examples of that at the June 20 show, which featured some seasoned performers, like musicians Blueline Duo and comedian Aaron Malkin, and also some first-timers, like guitarist Erik Wera and the three women who each did a two- to three-minute silent clown performance. All of them had taken part in a workshop with their “clown guru,” theatre teacher and artist Lisa Voth. But even with some training, it takes courage to step out in front of strangers and do offbeat, physical routines like those women did. The audience was as game and appreciative to the newbies as the veterans.
The spontaneous, open-mic character of the show was demonstrated when an act failed to show up and a member of the audience, Mike Oswald, offered to use the time and stepped in to read a few short and pithy poems. The crowd ate it up.
The next Creative in the Creek is Thursday, July 18. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m.
