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
Did someone say cabaret? Co-curated by Heather Redfern and Corey Payette, Transform: A Cabaret Festival is a daring new concept aimed at bringing radical and lasting change to live performance in Vancouver. While you may think of cabaret as frivolous entertainment, historically, cabaret festivals have emerged during periods of change and uncertainty as a platform for political discourse and deep conversation.
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Performed for the first time in Canada, Power Ballad is a shocking and explosive work that explores gendered narratives and the hidden ideologies in the language we use. Created and performed by Julia Croft, this one woman show all the way from New Zealand is loud and disturbing. But that’s the whole point – it’s a live art exhibit of feminist rage that seeks to deconstruct sexist linguistics and find a new articulation of femaleness.
If you think you’ve seen crazy strength and fitness levels before, think again. The international hit “Backbone”, from renowned Australian circus company Gravity & Other Myths, literally tosses around the perception of what strength is, where it comes from, and how it’s measured. With an ensemble of 10 performers and 2 on-stage musicians, “Backbone” had the audience’s jaws on the floor on opening night at Vancouver Playhouse Theatre. Fun for the whole family, this masterpiece of a show is a celebration of human 
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It’s cultural festival season in Vancouver and what a privilege it is to live in a community that encompasses so many different ethnic and cultural enclaves. This weekend, come down to the 
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