Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre presented the world premiere of Tetsuro Shigematsu’s Kuroko on November 7th at The Cultch. The acclaimed creator of behind Empire of the Son and 1 Hour Photo, Shigematsu says this was his biggest challenge to date. Kuroko is not a solo show and Shigematsu is not personally taking the stage, as he usually does. This time he’s only the playwright and he’s telling one of his most personal stories yet – a dark comedy that earned a standing ovation from a captivated audience on opening night.
The story is of a man, Hiroshi, who has lost his job and worries about how he’s going to provide for his family. In particular, Hiroshi struggles to find a way to help his daughter Maya, who is an extreme recluse and has spent the last six years in her bedroom exploring virtual reality. The play explores human relationships and how they’re affected by our increasingly digital world. It also delves into the idea of sacrifice, bringing to light the different cultural and moral attitudes towards the topic in Japan and Canada. Shigematsu provides an interesting commentary on the intersection of these cultures as well as making a loud statement about family and how to truly take care of one another.
Kuroko is so popular that the first week is already sold out. An extra performance has been added on November 16th – get your tickets before they’re gone. Visit The Cultch for online purchase.
By Contributing Writer Nicole Alivojvodic
If you have not experienced Fado music, you are missing out. What is Fado? Wikipedia describes it as “a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a sentiment of resignation, fatefulness and melancholia.” We can tell you it is passionate, emotional and relatable. This month and next you have the chance to experience it firsthand. Elaine Ávila, an acclaimed Portuguese-Canadian playwright, brings her play new FADO to the stage at the Firehall Arts Centre. The production “is a tale of love and ghosts set in the back alleys and brothels of old Lisbon. Part concert, part theatre, the story of a young woman confronting her country’s Fascist past and her own identity is interwoven with the heartbreaking national music of Portugal known as Fado, which means “fate.” For tickets to this beautiful production, visit 
If you have a sweet tooth and love wine, you may wish to check out this Tasting Class happening Thursday, November 14th at the Everything Wine store in River District. Dessert wines are definitely something you see and taste more in the winter months and Everything Wine has you covered with respect to a selection. You are invited to come learn how dessert wine is made and the different styles that are made. After an introduction to the types of dessert wines, you will, of course, get to taste some of the best in the world. The tasting class gets under way at 6:30 pm and will run till 8:00 pm. Tickets are $35 and available for purchase online at 
Christopher Hampton translates French playwright, Florian Zeller’s, award winning play The Father. Christopher brings this highly acclaimed production to the stage at The Cultch November 20 to 30, 2019. The play is one that has taken Paris, London and New York by storm and accumulated many awards along the way. It is a deeply moving production about Andre a man in mental decline. He can’t remember where he put his watch or why there are strangers in house and asks why people keep moving his furniture. His daughter Anne tries to keep up with all the answers to Andre’s questions. This November will be the first time this work makes its way to Vancouver. An important production that many with aging parents will be able to relate to. Tickets for The Father are now available online and are $40 for adults, but note student and artist tickets are available at $25. To purchase in advance, visit 
ILiveInEastVan.com 