HALIFAX, N.S. — A bicycle built for two is also built for live family entertainment in the great outdoors, thanks to Halifax’s Gale Force Theatre.

Starting on Friday, the duo of Lily Falk and Franziska Glen brings the whimsical play for young ones, A Tale on Two Wheels, to parks around HRM. Aimed at families with kids between 18 months and six years old, the gentle fable tells the story of a pair of delivery workers who have the monumental task of bringing the dawn to the world each day. Their lives are upended when they are told they now have to deliver the night instead.

The performers are assisted in telling their tale by brightly coloured props and puppets, and the music of local artist Kurtis Eugene.

“During the pandemic, screens have become children’s main form of entertainment,” says co-creator Glen. “We wanted to give families an opportunity to be outside at their local park and to be safely reintroduced to live theatre.”

The 35-minute shows are free and do not require a ticket or a reservation. Families can simply show up and enjoy the show while respecting physical distancing protocols.

Performances start on Friday, July 9 at the Dingle (Sir Sandford Fleming Park) at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., followed by shows on Saturday, July 10 at Fort Needham Memorial Park at 11 and 2 p.m. and on Sunday, July 11 at the Dartmouth Commons at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The following weekend, Gale Force Theatre teams up with Shakespeare By the Sea to present A Tale on Two Wheels in Point Pleasant Park from July 16 to 18. Then, on Friday, July 23, the duo will be in Bedford for shows at Fish Hatchery Park at 11 a.m. and DeWolf Park at 2 p.m.

Also, on Saturday, July 24, the team heads to Common Roots Urban Farm at 2 p.m., with a Sunday, July 25 performance in the Halifax Public Gardens’ family lawn area at noon.

After having so much theatre work sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic, the members of Gale Force are looking forward to spending the summer bringing live theatre to families and introducing it to young viewers who might be seeing it for the first time.

“We both feel it’s important for children to have art made for them with full respect for their emotional intelligence and for it to be financially accessible,” says Falk.

In August, Falk and Glen take their tandem bike on the road to partner with Festival Antigonish on Sunday, Aug. 8 at Piper’s Glen at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; with Chester Playhouse on Saturday, Aug. 14 at Lordly Park at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

From Aug. 25 to 28, Gale Force Theatre will be joining Ship’s Company Theatre for shows in Parrsboro, location and times TBA.