Archive | Art & Theatre RSS feed for this section

Sunya At The Cultch November 10 – 14

3 Nov

SunyaThe Cultch, 1895 Venables Street, in partnership with Diwali Fest, bring you Sunya from November 10 – 14. Indo-Armenian dancer and choreographer, Roger Sinha, and Iranian-born gatherer of musical pearls, Kiya Tabassian, along with four dancers and three musicians break boundaries to create a truly unique artistic experience. World music meets dance in a journey both celebratory and spiritual. “Sunya is a fusion of cultures, genres, and artist impulses,” says Heather Redfern, Executive Director of The Cultch. “The musicians and dancers riff off each other, creating an intense and dynamic physical and musical dialogue. The staging is beautiful, featuring vivid colours and patterns created with lights, movement, and sound. Sunya is a feast for all of the senses. It takes you to a place of great spirit.”

What people are saying about Sunya:

“As stirring to the mind as the sounds of the setar are to the heart” 
The Chronicle Herald

“Extremely poetic, inspired and inspiring, hypnotic…a sublime piece, an invitation to a subtle journey, sensual and spiritual. A touching beauty”
La Presse

An enchanting atmosphere. A particularly beautiful and fabulous show”
CBC Radio-Canada

Sunya opens at The Cultch November 10th at 8:00 pm and continues until November 14th with a post-show talkback on November 11th. Tickets are available online from $20.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Opening Reception: Mosaic Art Exhibit of Lilian Broca Italian Cultural Centre November 12, 2015

28 Oct

Judith Seducing Holofernes smallerYou are invited to an opening reception for an exhibit of mosaic art by award-winning Lilian Broca. Her exhibition, Heroine of a Thousand Pieces: The Judith Mosaics of Lilian Broca, features seven large mosaic panels created in Italian smalto glass. The panels, which took Lilian Broca 3 years to complete, weigh approximately 80 pounds and range from 70 to 78 inches tall and 48 inches wide. Her work depicts powerful mythical women whose stories are relevant to today’s social and gender issues.  Mosaics have for centuries been displayed on church walls and domed ceilings, but Broca wants to make mosaics accessible to all. Lilian Broca also has a desire to tell stories of spirited women whose sacrifices, courage and sheer force of will resulted in powerful social changes. The Judith Mosaics which will be on display reveal Broca’s interpretation of an ancient story that raises ideas about women’s role in society, encouraging contemporary women to possess the courage and inner strength of the independent.  The opening reception for this exhibition takes place on Thursday, November 12th at the Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. You are invited to come out and meet the artist herself.   If you are unable to attend the opening reception, the exhibition runs until March 31, 2016 before heading to Toronto.  The museum is open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. To learn more about Lilian Broca and her work visit herJudith Meeting Holofernes diptych medium website.

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Free Puppetry Workshop & Puppet Show In Mount Pleasant

27 Oct

PuppetShowMPNHThe Vancouver Star Theatre is hosting a free puppetry workshop and puppet show for families in Mount Pleasant. The workshop and puppet show will be hosted by two puppet masters. Firstly,  Randi Edmundson who is an experienced puppeteer and drama teacher. She currently teaches theatre classes for Vancouver Performing Stars and Place des Arts. The second puppet master is Kaeden Derksen who is a children’s performer, musician and drama teacher. Kaeden recently spent time in India facilitating intergenerational theatre workshops for seniors and children.

MAKE PUPPETS & TELL STORIES – Sunday, November 1st

Randi Edmundson and Kaeden Derksen are experienced puppeteers and will be leading a free puppetry workshop for children aged 5-8 at the Mount Pleasant Community Centre on Sunday, November 1st. Participants will make their own simple puppets and learn manipulation techniques. They will also have the opportunity to practice their newly learned techniques in front of their class mates.   The workshop runs from 10:45 am to 12:45 pm and registration is required.  Contact the Mount Pleasant Community Centre directly to register.

THE MAIN EVENT – Tuesday, November 10th

Randi and Kaeden will be sharing a free puppet show at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House. We hear that the performance will be zany, interactive and full of surprises. It will also incorporate music as well as stories created by the workshop participants. The puppet show will begin at 4:30pm and run for 30 minutes.  For those wishing to take in this puppet show, you are encouraged to show up early to reserve a seat.

The workshop and puppet show is brought to by the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, the Mount Pleasant Community Centre and the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood Small Grants Program.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Nirbhaya At The York Theatre November 3 – 14

26 Oct

NirbhayaThe Cultch, in partnership with Diwali Fest, presents Nirbhaya starting November 3rd. Nirbhaya is a story based on real life experiences and the violent incident that shocked Delhi and the world. Internationally acclaimed playwright and director, Yaël  Farber (Mies Julie) has created searing new work that cracks open the code of silence around women whose lives have been shattered with violence. Farber brings an extraordinary cast and creative team from India that will take you on a voyage into personal testimonies and show you the amazing capacity of the human spirit for survival, redemption and change.

“Nirbhaya is a play that tells the story of  women who have suffered abuse in their own voices.   By telling their personal stories, these women  shatter the silence that  surrounds abuse in the hopes that by talking about it, we are acknowledging its existence and can begin healing and making societal change.  The play is particularly relevant to the situation we currently have in British  Columbia where, because of  systemic silence, many  women across  the province have gone missing over  the  years,  yet these crimes have been ignored and in some cases, deliberately silenced.  I  am bringing Nirbhaya to the York Theatre because I believe we are all responsible for breaking the silence. Seeing this play together is one action we can take to make change for girls and women in our
neighbourhoods and around the world.”

Heather Redfern, Executive Director of The Cultch

Nirbhaya opens November 3rd at The York Theatre, 639 Commercial Drive, and continues till November 14th. Tickets are available online from $30 at The Cultch or by calling 604.251.1363.   Special note, as this performance contains adult themes and mature content, it is recommended for ages 16+.

Photo Credit: William Burdett-Coutts

Tags: , , , , , , ,

A Simple Space Gravity & Other Myths At The York Theatre October 13-24

7 Oct

SimpleSapceThe York Theatre, 639 Commercial Drive, presents A Simple Space Gravity & Other Myths from October 13 – 24. This show is a multi award winning Australian acrobatics ensemble. The company creates engaging works of acrobatic art. The group was formed in 2009 in Adelaide, South Australia and creates and directs their own work which moves away from traditional circus and theatre models towards fusion of acrobatic physical theatre. This ensemble has an international reputation for their amazing work and tour all over the world including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Argentina, New Zealand and throughout the USA.

On October 13th, you have the opportunity to experience this raw, frantic and at the same time delicate performance which features seven incredibly skilled acrobats. You get to witness first hand how they thumb their noses at the rules of gravity. This intimate presentation is supported by live percussion. A Simple Space is a truly unique experience not to be missed.  The show kicks off on October 13 at 7:00 pm and continues till October 24th at the York Theatre. Tickets are available at The Cultch from $20.  To learn more about this acrobatic ensemble, visit Gravity & Other Myths.

“Mind blowing physical theatre”
Talk Fringe

Tags: , , , , , ,

Empire of the Son At The Cultch October 6 – 24, 2015

30 Sep

empireofthesun_landscape-300x225You are invited to a unique show coming to The Cultch on October 6th. Empire of the Son is written and performed by Tetsuro Shigematsu who is the former host of CBC’s The Round. Tetsuro brings us the story of his personal relationship with his father who is dying. They are separated by a generation but connected by blood. Tetsuro’s father speaks several different languages and possesses different values but what has kept them apart for so many years is their similarities. This is a story of two generations of broadcasters who have a lifetime of radio silence between them. With time running out, Tetsuro attempts to reach out to his dying father but is constrained by outmoded yet persistent cultural traditions about it means to “be a man”.

Empire of the Son uses a series of audio interviews, a camera, miniatures and projector to conjure up worlds from the ashes of Hiroshima to the glass towers of Vancouver and beyond. This is a unique theatrical experience that is intimately connected to real life in real time. It is a funny and poignant story of one immigrant family, their intergenerational conflicts in this one man show that blurs the lines between artistic disciplines and continents. Empire of the Son begins its run at The Cultch on October 6th and sold out quickly so extra dates were added.  The show now runs until October 24th. Tickets begin at $25 and are available online at The Cultch.

Tags: , , ,

World Premiere of The Love Bomb At The Firehall Arts Centre September 26 – October 10

24 Sep

Firehall Arts Centre_Love Bomb_publicity image”Love Bombing is an attempt to influence a person by lavish demonstrations of attention and affection.”   This Saturday you are invited to the world premiere of Love Bomb at the Firehall Arts Centre. This is a rock concert within a play as well as a bit of mystery to top it off. This show is brought to you by Shameless Hussy Production’s Meghan Gardiner.   Megan says the show “ was so gratifying to put together, but amidst all the fun, we knew we had a pretty dark story to tell. The darkness is what hooked me. Everything else was a way to tell the story.”  Expect an emotional roller coaster. Tickets are available online from $28 to $33 at Firehall Arts Centre. Want to hear what others are saying about Love Bomb? Check out Andrea Warner’s piece in the Georgia Straight.

Tags: , , , ,

Metamorfest Happens In Mount Pleasant September 26th

21 Sep

Metamorfest2015SmallMetamorfest will be hitting the streets this Saturday, September 26th from Noon to 6:00 pm.  The festival is located on two blocks – one north of East Broadway on Fraser Street and one south of East Broadway on Prince Albert Street. The day will include live music, a whole host of activities and booths for children as well as a bouncy castle. There is something for all ages at this event. A couple of fun activities planned to keep an eye out for include Zumba and Laughter Yoga in the park.

The Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House will also be hosting activities inside their building on the corner of Broadway and Prince Albert Street. The Broadway Youth Resource Centre and Vancouver Native Housing will hold some activities just outside their locations on the corner of Broadway and Fraser. As well, there will be 3 stages with live music featuring local artists and bands. You can expect everything from hip hop to jazz. A full schedule of events is available at Metamorfest.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Are We Cool Now? At The Cultch September 29 – October 10

18 Sep

The Cultch_Are We Cool Now__publicity image2_credit Murray MitchellSomething special is coming to The Cultch on September 29th, that being Are We Cool Now? This is an indie rock road trip inspired by and featuring the songs of Vancouver’s own indie rock darling, Dan Mangan. Are We Cool Now? is a unique and intimate musical exploration of contemporary relationships and will bring some humour, heartache and insight.

This innovative rock music/theatre fusion is written by Amiel Gladstone (A Craigslist Cantata and Cinderella: An East Van Panto!) “It’s an indie rock musical about life and love in your 20’s and Dan Mangan’s music provides the backdrop,” says Gladstone. “I’ve always been curious about how to get the music we listen to every day on to the stage. Dan and I knew each other and I really liked his music. We looked for a narrative in Dan’s music and found themes of love, longing, nostalgia and road trips and Are We Cool Now? was born.” This production by Western Canada Theatre combines the talents of actor-musicians Penelope Corrin (Royal Canadian Air Farce, My Narrator) and Ben Elliott (The Comedy of Errors, Broken Sex Doll) and features Anton Lipovetsky (Broken Sex Doll, Elbow Room Cafe: The Musical) on guitar and bass, Said The Whale’s Spencer Schoening on percussion, and music and lyrics – including one new song – by JUNO Award-winning Dan Mangan.

Are We Cool Now? kicks off with a preview on September 29th . Opening night is September 30th and the show continues until October 10th with matinee performances on October 3rd, 4th and 10th. Tickets start at $20 and are available online at The Cultch. This show is packed with local talent. We encourage you to check it out.

Photo Credit: Murray Mitchell

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Oh The Humanity Runs At The Firehall Arts Centre September 11 – 16

11 Sep

OhTheHumanityThe Firehall Arts Centre is one of many venues for this year’s Vancouver Fringe Festival running from September 10th to the 20th.  Another great production happening during the festival is Oh the Humanity (and other good intentions) brought to you by Staircase Theatre. Oh the Humanity is a witty show that examines the nature of human misery through a filter of jet black comedy. It is a series of 5 short plays about people trying to cope with the basic trial of being human among other humans and honestly, when haven’t we all struggled with that every now and again. In this show, two actors craft four characters each, including a coach who calls a press conference to explain why his team has lost every game in the season, a video dating service promoting two people that have nothing better to recommend than the fact that they are not visibly bleeding, a pair of photographers attempting to re-shoot a graphic war time photo without the original source material, a couple attempting to attend a funeral, or possibly a christening, no, a funeral, with poor results, an airline representative explaining to the families of crash victims what happened to the best of her abilities – despite the fact she lucked, or rather unlucked, her way into the job.  Oh the Humanity runs at the Firehall Arts Centre from September 11th to 16th.  Tickets for the show are available at Vancouver Fringe Festival.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →