TRANSFORM: A Cabaret Festival (Oct 2-12) is bringing together artists of all different kinds – comedians, circus performers, drag artists, and more – but we are particularly excited to introduce you to some of the musicians that will be honoring us by taking over our stages during the festival!
Juno nominated Silla and Rise blend Inuit throat-singing and futuristic dancefloor beats. Their breathtaking sound garnered them Juno nominations for Indigenous Music Album of the Year, and Indigenous Music Award for Best Inuit, Indigenous Language, or Francophone Album, in 2017 for their self title debut album: Silla and Rise.
Silla and Rise are a very underrated group. Pay attention.
This group is gaining major momentum in Canada and internationally. If Tanya Tagaq says, “Pay attention” you just know they are a group you don’t want to take your eyes off!
Silla and Rise’s brand new album, Galactic Gala, was just released on October 5, and it is INCREDIBLE! Listen to, and purchase, the album here!
Jerilynn Webster, aka JB the First Lady, is a member of the Nuxalk & Onondaga Nations. She is a Vancouver-based hip hop and spoken word artist, beat-boxer, cultural dancer, and youth educator. With four studio albums under her belt, JB sees her songs as a way of capturing oral history, and isn’t afraid to write lyrics that speak to challenging subjects like residential schools and missing and murdered Indigenous women.
We are so lucky that the co-curator of TRANSFORM: A Cabaret Festival, the incredible Corey Payette, will be taking the stage on the closing night of the festival with a transformative evening of music from his award-winning and critically-acclaimed musicals–featuring songs and stories from Children of God, Les Filles du Roi, plus a sneak peek of the new musical, Sedna.
Corey Payette is proud of his Oji-Cree heritage from Northern Ontario, and has worked across Canada as a playwright, actor, composer, and director. He is the Artistic Director of Urban Ink (Vancouver, BC).
Corey Payette Musical Songbook plays at the Historic Theatre on October 12 at 7 PM! FEATURING: Corey Payette, Michelle Bardach (singer), Chelsea Rose (singer), Sean Bayntyn (piano), Molly MacKinnon (violin), John Kastelic (viola), Doug Gorkoff (cello).
The Cultch staff are excited for TRANSFORM: A Cabaret Festival!
It is that time of year again! Time for you to hear from a few of our staff about some of the shows they are excited for in our 19/20 Season. This year we are featuring shows from our inaugural TRANSFORM: A Cabaret Festival!
I am a huge stand-up comedy fan, and I’m really excited about Steph Tisdell’s show Identity Steft. She recently took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm, and has been named the rising star of Australian comedy.
It really makes my heart sing to see artists from diverse backgrounds using laughter to stand up to white supremacy and the patriarchy. That takes incredible courage and awe-inspiring skill. I can’t wait!
Paul Phalen, Business Development & Hospitality Manager.
There is so much to see in the festival, but these two shows, I will not miss!
I can’t wait to see The Women of Comedy! These amazing funny women are the best in the country, and it also features the smart and funny Steph Tisdall of Australia.
Martha Chavez, the “Grand Dame” of Canadian comedy, who is featured on CBC`s Debaters and Because News, is hilarious and makes me howl with laughter. Nour Hadidi‘s dry sense of humour makes me wish I was her best friend, so I could laugh with her everyday!
Local comedy writer and performer Erica Sigurdson, has become a favourite on CBC`s the Debaters and will have us all laughing all the way to the bathroom!
Peach Cobblah & Isolde N. Barron are hosting Family Drag Brunch and Dress Up!
Our Sunday morning Family Drag Brunch and Dress up, is a chance for parents and kids to have dress-up fun together, and learn that there is nothing too silly or fun when it comes to drag.
Parents and kids will have lessons in fashion, make up and presentation, and be a part of a family drag runway show judged by kids. Enjoy a great breakfast and have fun with the whole family!
This show is so exciting to me because every child is an individual, and allowing them to express themselves in their own way opens the doors to so many amazing adventures in learning, for both the child and the parent.
We don’t often present music as part of our season, and though theatre is usually my art of choice, I am really excited to hear some incredible music on our stages.
Leela Gilday is a Dene artists from NWT, and she has recently release a new album, North Star Calling, which she says is about “facing your fears, standing in the pain, and living with courage, boldness and joy.” I have been listening to it, and it is incredible! PLUS – she is performing Sandy Scofield and M’Girl – whose performance at Main St. Car Free Day was one of the highlights of my summer!
I have always been so in love with throat singing, and Silla and Risecombine throat singing with dance floor beats. From what I have seen, they are incredible live performers, and their music is so amazing, that I just know their show with JB the First Lady is going to be sooo fun!
PLUS – Silla and Rise are releasing their new album, Galactic Gala, on Oct 5, five days before they hit our Historic stage. Talk about timing!
TRANSFORM: A Cabaret Festival will be nine days of performance of all types in all three Cultch stages (Historic Theatre, York Theatre, Vancity Culture Lab). For full festival details check out www.transformcabaret.com
Comedians poised to take over the York stage – with laughter!
We are so excited to launch our 2019/20 season with a brand new festival to enliven all of our venues every fall. This inaugural year of TRANSFORM: A Cabaret Festivalwill bring together over 50 Indigenous and non-indigenous performers—comedians, musicians, burlesque performers, drag artists, and more.
On Friday, October 4, and Saturday, October 5, some of the funniest comedians we know are taking over the York in a side-splitting night of comedy – BONUS – they are all kick-ass women!
Hosts of The Women in Comedy, Katey Hoffman and Cheyenne Rouleau
Hosted by Cheyenne Rouleau and Katey Hoffman (familiar to Cultch audiences from sold-out Cultchivating the Fringe hit, The After After Party), and featuring Canadian Comedy Award winner Martha Chaves, Australia’s rising Indigenous comedy star Steph Tisdell, Toronto-based comedian Nour Hadidi, and beloved local comedian Erica Sigurdson, we just know The Women of Comedy will be filled with fun and fierce belly-aching laughter.
Need a good laugh before the festival starts? We have your hook up here!
MARTHA CHAVES
Martha Chaves is a busy comic! She is a Nicaraguan-Canadian, fluent in FOUR languages (English, Spanish, French, and Italian), and does stand-up in all four! Chaves came out publicly in 2009, and has since been very outspoken in her comedy around the realities facing LGBTQ+ people of colour. Her infectious candid style, her captivating stage presence, and her gift to relate to a wide range of audiences grant her numerous presentations at comedy festivals around the world. www.marthachaves.com
PLUS – Martha Chaves is also performing in both Opening Night Bash performances!
NOUR HADIDI
Nour Hadidi is a Toronto-based standup comic and writer, born and raised in Jordan. She has appeared at Just For Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, and CBC’s The Debaters. Last year she filmed a half hour comedy special for Comedy Central in the Middle East. Nour has written for CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and Comedy Network’s The Beaverton. www.nourhadidi.com
Steph Tisdell is steadily becoming one of the biggest names in the Australian Comedy Scene and has been collecting awards, rave reviews, and critical acclaim while selling out runs at the Sydney Comedy Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Steph is a proud Indigenous woman and is making a fast rise as one of Australia’s funniest Indigenous comedians, putting her in a unique position to encourage other Indigenous artists to come forward and showcase why they’re the funniest race in the world. www.stephtisdell.com
PLUS – In addition to being a part of The Women in Comedy show, Steph Tisdell is also presenting her showSteph Tisdell: Identity Sheft, is going to be a part of the Opening Night Bash performances, AND is offering a workshop on Oct 3 (3 pm) for people to learn how to use comedy as a coping mechanism and a diplomacy tool.
ERICA SIGURDSON
Local Vancouver comedy gem, Erica Sigurdson is best known for her rapier wit on CBC Radio’s smash hit The Debaters, as well as her numerous television appearances on both CBC and CTV. She is one of Canada’s most beloved comedians, but also beloved around the world, having performed in Iceland, Singapore, Thailand, England, The Philippines, Afghanistan.
As a story-editor Erica has written for CBC’s Mr. D and CTV’s Corner Gas Animated as well as numerous pilots. Erica won a Leo Award for co-writing the 21st Annual Gemini Awards. www.ericasigurdson.com
TRANSFORM: A Cabaret Festivalruns in all three Cultch venues, Oct 2-12, 2019. Book tickets online or by phone by calling The Cultch Box Office at 604.251.1363.
What have they been up to? Follow up with your favourite artists from our 2018/19 season.
The 2018/19 season has come to an end and we’re getting pumped for our 2019/20 season. But before we dive right into it, here is a look back at some of the amazing artists we got to work with this past year. A lot of them have been up to really cool things since we saw them last!
Read to see what they have been up to, and learn where you can find out more about their upcoming projects.
What a way to start off our 2018/19 season! We had so much fun having Kim Senklip Harvey‘s powerful and hilarious Kamloopa in our Historic Theatre last fall. It was an honour to have such powerful matriarchs bringing down the house each night! After leaving us, Kamloopa continued its tour, heading to Saskatchewan for a run at Persephone Theatre.
What have they been up to?
If you saw Kamloopa, you will recognize Yolanda Bonnell, who played ‘Indian Friend #1’. Bonnell is a playwright, and was recently announced to be one of 50 international playwrights chosen to be part of Climate Change Theatre Action 2019 – “a worldwide series of readings and performances of short climate change plays presented biennially to coincide with the United Nations COP meetings.” Follow Climate Change Theatre Action on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date.
You may have seen Kamloopa Firestarter (who wrote and directed the ceremony), Kim Senklip Harvey, when she and Pippa Mackie hosted Pitch, Bitch or Ditch, a fun Femme Series event in the vein of ‘Dragons Den’, where audience members brought their ideas for a show to the expert panel.
Keep your eyes out for follow up Pitch, Bitch, or Ditch events in our 2019/20 season.
If you don’t already follow Kim Senklip Harvey’s blog, check it out here. Kim is heading to Victoria to take UVIC’s Masters of Creative Writing program this autumn, and we can hardly wait to see the fruits of her time there.
Rhum and Clayrecently premiered a new work, War of the Worlds, a piece inspired by Orson Wells famous broadcast. They will be taking this show to Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August.
Kit Redstonehas been busy with his own projects, including a brand new collaboration with Vancouver’s own Pippa Mackie, The Fucking Garden– A wickedly dark and impishly mischievous reclamation of the Adam and Eve story. That is certainly a collaboration to keep your eyes on!
At the same time as we had Kamloopa in our Historic Theatre, and Testosterone in our York theatre, our Culture Lab was transformed into a Vancouver Special, as we were swept away by Paneet Singh‘s A Vancouver Guldasta – the story of a 1980’s Sikh family confronting the tumultuous events of the invasion of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, India.
Audiences fell in love with Stephanie Elgersma’ s Ommie the otter in Upintheair Theatre‘s dystopian environmental thriller, A Brief History of Human Extinction– a puppet and live-action smashup – created by Jordan Halland Mind of a Snail Puppet Co.
What have they been up to?
Jordan Hall, the writer of A Brief History of Human Extinction, continues to work in support of environmental issues. Recently she was selected to be one of 50 international playwrights for Climate Change Theatre Action 2019 – “a worldwide series of readings and performances of short climate change plays presented biennially to coincide with the United Nations COP meetings.” Follow Climate Change Theatre Action on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date.
Meanwhile, Upintheair Theatre’s rEvolver Festival started THIS week (May 22- June 2, 2019)! We always look forward to having this fabulous festival take over our theatres, and this year’s festival is going to be incredible. Take a look here to find out more about the lineup, and follow Upintheair Theatre on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, for lots of fun content!
We always love having VACT – Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre – with us, and last fall’s VACT show, The Ones We Leave Behind, byLoretta Seto, was such a beautiful look at the ways we isolate ourselves from those around us.
Agnes Tong and Alannah Ong in The Ones We Leave Behind. Photo by Ray Shum
What have they been up to?
We are thrilled to have VACT with us again in our 2019/20 season. This coming November,Tetsuro Shigematsu will bring us the premiere of his latest play, Kuroko, the story of a young Japanese recluse (a Hikikomori), who meets a mysterious stranger in virtual reality, and is faced with a challenge that may, or may not, draw her into the real world.
Follow Testsuro Shigematsu on Facebook and Instagram to see up to date updates on Kuroko.
Hopefully you got out to the Arts Club’s production of The Great Leap. If you did, you would have seen Agnes Tong, who played Abby in The Ones We Leave Behind, playing the character Connie. She was also in the Arts Clubs production of Shoplifters – what a busy performer!
We kicked off our Ceasefire Series – three shows that explored different aspects of war, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the armistice of WWI – with The Believers are But Brothers, Javaad Alipoor‘s play about young men and the dark web.
What has he been up to?
After stirring up Vancouver audiences with his revealing interactive show, Javaad Alipoor’s The Believers are But Brothers was adapted for television by the BBC.
Gravity and Other Myths have been (and continue to be) VERY busy touring Backbone,and A Simple Space, as well as a brand new show, that they premiered in Adelaide this past February – Out of Chaos.
Follow Gravity and Other Myths on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up to date…AND, for lots of mind-boggling photos and videos!
SMALLWAR
The second show in our Ceasefire Serieswas SKaGen Theatre‘s haunting marvel from Valentijn Dhaenen. SmallWarutilized verbatim exerts from soldiers diaries, brought to life by memorizing projections, sound, and performance, to give viewers a glimpse into the experience of war. We were honored to have SmallWar in our York Theatre during Remembrance Day, and everyone who had the opportunity to see it will likely not forget it anytime soon.
What have they been up to?
SKaGen has a long list of shows that will be playing in 2019 and 2020, including Valentijn Dhaenen’s UNSUNG, and TIL IT’S OVER – “a cross-disciplinary collaboration between SKaGeN and the American visual artist Richard Jackson on the themes of civil war, tenderness and revenge.”
Follow SKaGen on Facebook, and Instagram to see what they are up to next.
THREE WINTERS
Playwright, Amiel Gladstone revisits the site of his Grandfather’s internment
Amiel Gladstone premiered Three Winters with us in 2018 – our third Ceasefire Seriesshow. An all female cast told the story of a daring escape attempt from POW camp Stalag Luft III, inspired by the real-life experiences of Gladstone’s grandfather.
What has he been up to?
In the 2019/20 Season Gladstone will be directing Tetsuro Shigematsu’s new play, Kuroko – talk about a dream team!
Currently, Amiel Gladstone is hard at work on the recently revived Magnetic North Theatre Festival, of which he is the 2019 Producer, alongside Amy Lynn Strilchuk. For more information, and for the 2019 Magnetic North Theatre Festival lineup check out their website here.
THIS DUET THAT WE’VE ALREADY DONE (SO MANY TIMES)
For five days in late November 2018, we were lucky enough to have the incredible Frédérick Gravel and Brianna Lombardo in our Historic Theatre with This Duet That We’ve Already Done (so many times).
Since then Gravel has been hard at work in his exciting new role as the Artistic Director of Daniel Léveillé Danse. Even more excitingly, Gravel will be premiering a new work, a solo featuring himself, called Fear and Greed, June 1-2-4, 2019, at Festival TransAmériques (Montreal). Check out the trailer for Fear and Greed here:
The good news is that the team that brought East Van Panto: Wizard of Oz to life are teaming up again for East Van Panto: Pinocchio (Nov 20-Jan 5). Along with taking part in Climate Change Theatre Action 2019, and also having It’s a Wonderful Christmas-ish Holiday Miracle playing at the Arts Club in 2019, Marcus Youssef will, once again, take on the role of Panto playwright (busy playwright!), while Stephen Drover will return to the directors chair once again.
East Van Panto: Pinocchio will feature the amazing Pippa Mackie as Pinocchio, and is sure to be as wacky and wonderful as Vancouver audiences have come to expect.
We are doubly lucky this coming season because we will have Theatre Replacement twice! Along with the Panto, they will be bringing Maiko Yamamoto‘s story about mothers, sons, and playing Minecraft. MINE(Mar 18-22) will be “playing” (hehehe) during spring break, and is a great opportunity for parents to bring their video game obsessed children to the theatre!
"There's not much theatre going on for video game-age kids, so we wanted to tap into that." – Maiko Yamamoto @TheCultch (on MINE, playing March 18 – 22, 2020) pic.twitter.com/CfMEHe5own
We were so excited to have Ronnie Burkett’s hit, Little Dickens, back in Vancouver this past December. Ronnie is a Canadian treasure, and The Cultch brings together some of his most devoted fans year after year!
Currently Ronnie Burkett is hard at work creating his latest show, Forget Me Not, which will play in Vancouver (at a secret location!) February 4-March 1, 2020, after premiering at Luminato this summer.
This past January we kicked off our Femme Series with the incredibly theatrical Ukrainian musical act, Dakh Daughters!
What have they been up to?
In April, Dakh Daughters Band released a new album, called Air. Listen to Air on Spotify here.
Follow Dakh Daughters on Facebook, and Instagram for all up to date information on this “freak cabaret.”
MRS KRISHNAN’S PARTY
For three glorious weeks, in January and February 2019, our entire building was filled with the incredible scent of delicious daal. Our Culture Lab was transformed into the back room of Mrs Krishnan’s dairy (convenience store), and one hundred people at a time were invited to the surprise party of the year – Mrs Krishnan’s Party. It is no exaggeration to say that The Cultch staff still misses the leftovers!
What have they been up to?
After leaving us in February, the cast and crew of Mrs Krishnan’s Party continued their tour; bringing joy, laughter, and daal to many!
Follow Indian Ink Theatre Company on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with their adventures.
POWER BALLAD
Power Ballad, Julia Croft and Nisha Madhan‘s feminist performance piece was an essential part of our Femme Series this year. We had so much fun, laughed so hard, and sung our hearts out! The Feminist Karaoke Party is something we will remember for years to come, and it looks like we aren’t the only ones –
What have they been up to?
After leaving The Cultch, Croft and Madhan premiered a new work,Working on my Night Moves, in New Zealand. They will be taking this new show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer.
After leaving The Cultch, in early February, Tony, Dan, and Liz continued their tour, visiting a total of nine Canadian cities. Follow Ahuri Theatre on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with their upcoming adventures!
We will be partnering with PuSh International Performing Arts Festival again this coming season, and co-presenting Quelemia Sparrow’s O’wet(Jan 23-Feb 1, 2020), as well as The Chop Theatre’s KISMET: things have changed(Feb 4-8, 2020).
We are looking forward to working with PuSh’s new Artistic Executive Director Franco Boni.
Follow PuSh International Performing Arts Festival on Facebook, Twitter, And Instagram, and be sure to sign up for their newsletter, to hear about all the exciting things to come for the 2020 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
In February Classic Chic Productions took over our Historic Theatre with an all-female cast Much Ado About Nothing. Audiences were treated to a performance of this classic from the Bard, unlike any they have seen before.
On Mother’s Day (May 12, 2019) a group of hilarious women took over Yuk Yuks Vancouver Comedy Club in support of Classic Chic, in an event called Chicks at the Mic!
Follow Classic Chic on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram , and join their newsletter list, to keep up to date with all their fun and fabulous feminist events and productions!
CHILDREN OF GOD
What an honour it was to have Urban Ink‘s Children of God – Corey Payette‘s heartbreaking and restorative musical about residential schools – back in our York Theatre this February/March.
Photo by Emily Cooper Photography
What have they been up to?
After leaving The Cultch, Children of Godtoured BC, opening up dialogue about Canada’s residential school system.
We are so excited to have Corey Payette again with us next season. He, and our own Heather Redfern, are co-curating Raven Transforming Cabaret Festival– a brand new festival bringing together Indigenous, and non-Indigenous performers in a multitude of disciplines to all three Cultch stages in early October 2019. Learn more about the festival here.
Corey Payette has also been selected as one of 50 international playwrights to be part of Climate Change Theatre Action 2019.
Follow Urban Ink on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up to date with their latest and greatest.
HOT BROWN HONEY
What a way to kick off spring in Vancouver – Hot Brown Honey returned to us this past March to turn up the heat and bring the noise!
What have they been doing?
After another hit run at our York Theatre, the Honey’s took off to smash the patriarchy in New York City!
You may or may not be aware, but Hot Brown Honey has a male counterpart – Briefs! We are so excited to have Briefs – “a glittery bomb of circus, cabaret, and boy-lesque” – join us at the end of our 2019/20 season (April 19-May 3, 2020). Here are the Honeys and the Briefs together as one big happy family!
Hot Brown Honey is always travelling the world, smashing the patriarchy wherever they go. They are going to be part of the National Art Centre’s Indigenous Theatre‘s inaugural season, May 5-9, 2020.
If you don’t follow these “Fierce Mamas” on social media you are MISSING OUT! Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to find out what they are up to next!
MULTIPLE ORGANISM
What fun we had with Mind of a Snail Puppet Co. this past March! Our Cultchivating the Fringe winner, Multiple Organism, sold out show after show.
What have they been up to?
Mind of a Snail artists, Chloé Ziner and Jessica Gabriel, don’t seem to ever sit still! Jessica Gabriel was recently part of the inaugural HUNCH Festival, and the two of them are gearing up for Fringe season once again, and heading to Montreal!
Don’t miss out, keep up to date with this daring duo by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Also, check out this amazing card they made us!
NEW CACKLE SISTERS: KITCHEN CHICKEN
New Cackle Sisters: Kitchen Chicken – a wild meal, prepared right before your eyes, by madcap company L’orchestre d’hommes-orchestres , as they highlighted the songs of the famous DeZurik Sisters (also known as the Cackle Sisters) – enchanted audiences at the York this April.
What have they been up to?
Since leaving us, L’orchestre d’hommes-orchestres has been touring around Canada with Kitchen Chicken. They will continue touring it, along with Tomatoes, in the coming months.
Follow L’orchestre d’hommes-orchestres on Facebook for all the madcap adventures of this daring theatrical musical troupe.
ACT OF FAITH
It was such a pleasure to have Realwheels Theatre in our Historic Theatre this April. The premiere of Janet Munsil‘s newly commissioned play, Act of Faith – inspired by the real-life experiences of a woman in the community (see below) – was a real conversation starter.
What have they been up to?
Since January this year, Realwheels Theatre have been hosting playwriting circles, facilitated by Kim Seary. Every two weeks, participants have been meeting to write, and support each other. On June 8, they will be hosting a cold reading of some of the work created during this circle. Check out the event here.
Follow Realwheels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to keep up to date with their latest events and productions.
NASSIM
What a blast it was having a different Vancouver performer take the stage in the incredible show that Vancouver Presents called a “love letter to the audience, to the performer and at its core, a love letter from Nassim to his mother.” NASSIM was a perfect way to wrap up our 2018/29 season!
What have they been up to?
After leaving The Cultch, Nassim Soleimanpour traveled with his self titled NASSIM to Carrefour international de théâtre de Québec. On May 22 it was announced that NASSIM won an 2019 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Unique Theatrical Experience.
Follow Nassim Soleimanpour Productions on Facebook, and Twitter to hear the latest news!
Whoa –what a season hey?! Can you believe the incredible people who come through The Cultch’s doors? There are so many incredible artists (not to mention our patrons and donors!) changing the world!
That’s a wrap! We look forward to seeing you next season. Subscriptions are already on sale – book yours today . We look forward to seeing you at the theatre!
We are so proud to have partnered up with Urban Ink, Fugue Theatre and Raven Theatre to present Les Fille du Roi. Les Filles du Roi runs until May 27 at the York Theatre. The amazing creators of Children of God (which is coming back to The Cultch due to popular demand,Feb 20 – Mar 10, 2019) have done it again!
Les Filles du Roi is the powerful story of Kateri, a young Mohawk girl, and her brother Jean-Baptiste whose lives are disrupted upon the arrival of les filles du roi in 1665. They forge an unlikely relationship with young fille Marie-Jeanne Lespérance – whose dreams of a new life are more complicated than she could have imagined. Over the course of a year, Mohawk, French and English journeys collide, setting the stage for the Canada we know today.
Photo by David Cooper. Les Filles du Roi a new musical by Corey Payette & Julie McIsaac. Directed by Corey Payette, Production Design (Set/Costume/Props) by Marshall McMahen, Lighting Design by Jeff Harrison. A Fugue Theatre/RavenTheatre production in association with Urban Ink and The Cultch. Actors: Kayla Dunbar, Chelsea Rose, Cecilly Day, Julie McIsaac (in center), Lisa Goebel, Synthia Yusuf, and Merewyn Comeau.
It has been getting great REVIEWS! Check out a few of them here:
“Les Filles du Roi’s trilingual, feminist-Indigenous musical is a triumph…a work of monumental importance…Go see it” ~ Kathleen Oliver, The Georgia Straight
“Les Filles Du Roi Tells a Powerful Story of Canada’s History” ~ Connal McNamara, Vancouver Weekly
“A sumptuous reimagining of our history…It’s thrilling” ~ Colin Thomas, colinthomas.ca
“If any show deserves a standing ovation, this one does. But don’t take my word for it, see it for yourself” ~Emma Rossland, Two Cents & Two Pence
Wanna know more? Check out what Corey Payette and Julie McIsaac have to say about creating Les Filles du Roi:
Les Filles du Roi is performed in three languages, English, French, and Kanien’kéha (Mohawk). Learn more in this great video:
Les Filles du Roi runs from May 15 – 27, 2018 at York Theatre. Book tickets online or by phone by calling The Cultch Box Office at 604.251.1363.
Corporate Sponsor Spotlight: Giulio Recchioni from the Italian Cultural Centre
Giulio Recchioni
Can you tell us how the Italian Cultural Centre first got involved with The Cultch?
Our very first time at The Cultch was in March 2012 with FRESCO, a play the Italian Cultural Centre commissioned from Lucia Frangione and BellaLuna Productions, telling the lesser known story of the internment of Italian citizens in Canada during WW2.
However the first proper partnership with The Cultch was in May 2017 with LA MERDA, featuring a naked Silvia Gallerano sitting on a stool on a dark stage… what a tough show that was!
What has surprised you and your colleagues most about partnering with The Cultch?
I was surprised by the richness and diversification of the shows offered at The Cultch, and also by the number of people that created a community around this historical institution in Vancouver; some of the audience changes according to what’s playing, but there is also a hard core audience that comes to every show. I think that’s great. They trust The Cultch, they know whatever gets put on stage will be good and will have an impact on them, and they come with an open mind.
Over the years, the Italian Cultural Centre has supported several Cultch shows. Are there any highlights or memorable moments?
I still can’t help but smile when I think of Pss Pss and what they did with the ladder. Pss Pss was a funny show by Compagnia Baccalà that made adults and children laugh with non-verbal humour. In our line of work, cross-generational and cross-cultural are adjectives we use constantly, but this show brilliantly embodied both concepts.
How important do you think it is that the arts organizations continue to cultivate and sustain partnerships with corporate sponsors and local businesses?
It’s of paramount importance. The population is growing in this expensive city, and we are also seeing the consequential multiplication of cultural and artistic organizations. Often putting up cultural activities costs more money than ticket sales can generate, and government grants (municipal, provincial, federal) do not always keep up with the growing demand for funds. I hope more and more thriving businesses will want to share some of their wealth with the local community to keep this city interesting and interested.
What are you curious about right now?
I am curious about the new Creative City Strategy that the City will be rolling out – hopefully soon. There have been a number of explorative meetings to get an idea of what is needed in the arts and culture sector, and I can’t wait to see how all that knowledge will convert into an action plan.
Do you have a favorite show?
This is always such an unfair question… I see a decent number of shows throughout the year, and I have to constantly update my list of favourites. If I had to single out something I saw recently, though – I am a jazz fan, and I was lucky enough to go to Pyatt Hall for the live concert of the great baritone sax player, Gary Smulyan, with strings. He is a powerhouse!
As a registered Canadian charity, The Cultch relies on the support of the community to operate as a cultural hub; bringing diverse and engaging live performance to the stage.
Please consider making a donation today! Contact Natalie Schneck, Development Associate: natalie@thecultch.com; 604.251.1766 x.121
Charitable registration # 11928 1574 RR0001
In The History of the World (Based on Banalities), a youngster, Philip, decides to look after his mother in the last months of her life. Starting from run-of-the-mill situations and objects, he embarks on a quirky voyage through her past.
Titus De Voogdt, the performer in The History of the World (Based on Banalities), is a beloved Belgian actor who works for theatre, film and television. He has worked/s with renowned directors as Arne Sierens (theater writer and director) and Felix Van Groeningen (movie director). He also starred as Vincent Bourg in the BBC-series The Missing (2014).
Titus De Voogdt in The History of the World (Based on Banalities). Photo by Phile Desprez
We are so excited to have you here in Vancouver. What makes you most excited about bringing this show to Vancouver?
I have never been here before. Vancouver always had an attraction on me, and I am very happy to finally be here. Besides, I love hiking and fishing so I hope I will get some opportunities in my free time to do so.
You are one of the co-writers of the show — what was the inspiration?
I’ve always been interested in inventions, how things work and stuff is made throughout history. That has been a key inspiration for writing this show.
While I was working on the script, Peter Higgs won a Nobel price for his work on the Higgs-Boson particle. It caught my attention and I started reading up on it. In this way it became a mayor topic in the show…
Your character, Philip, is interested in illusions and fantasy — do you share these interests with him?
I do, although I’m lousy at it, I like to do a coin trick from time to time..
What makes doing this show fun for you?
That it’s quite physical, it feels like a workout to me.
What makes doing this show meaningful for you?
I hope people who see the show learn a thing or two about science they didn’t knew before. With a bit of luck it even moves them in the process.
Geoffrey Burton and Titus de Voogdt. Photo by Phile Desprez
The History of the World (Based on Banalities) features a musician (Geoffrey Burton- from Hong Kong Dong) who joins you on stage for the show — what is it like doing a show with live rock music?
It’s great, although he claims he is NOT a rock musician. It’s really a dialogue…the music brings the script to a higher level.
You do a lot of film and television work as well as theatre work — what are you working on these days?
Just finished a 12-episode series about a hostage situation in a bank it is called ‘de dag’ meaning ‘the Day.’ In Belgian TV an movies I usually play the bad guy. Don’t ask me why….
Titus De Voogdt in De Dag – The Day. Photo from imdb.
Behind-the-scenes of Jabberwocky and No Foreigners!
It is an exciting week here at The Cultch – we have TWO shows opening! At the York Theatre, Jabberwockyruns Feb 6-17 (Opening Feb 7), and at the Vancity Culture Lab, we have No Foreigners playing Feb 7-17 (Opening Feb 8).
In this exciting blog post we reveal a few behind-the-scenes images for both of these amazing shows – A sneak peek just for you!
Jabberwocky:
Inspired by Lewis Carrol’s famous nonsense poem, Jabberwocky explores the things that keep us awake at night. What will it take to slay our own Jabberwock? Take a look at some of the behind-the-scene images from The Old Trout Puppet Workshop:
An interdisciplinary collaboration (co-presented with Theatre Conspiracy) from Hong Kong Exile and fu-GEN Theatre (Toronto), two leading Asian-Canadian performing arts companies, No Foreigners takes a unique look at Chinese malls, through live performance, micro-to macro video, text, miniatures, and media design in this exciting world premiere. Check out these images from their time creating at Carleton University:
Photo by Justin Wonnacott, Carleton University
Photo by Justin Wonnacott, Carleton University
Photo by Justin Wonnacott, Carleton University
Photo by Justin Wonnacott, Carleton University
Photo by Justin Wonnacott, Carleton University
Photo by Justin Wonnacott, Carleton University
Jabberwocky runs at the York Theatre Feb 6-17. Book tickets online or by phone by calling The Cultch Box Office at 604.251.1363.
NoForeigners runs at the Vancity Culture Lab Feb 7-17. Book tickets online or by phone by calling The Cultch Box Office at 604.251.1363.
Hot Brown Honey opens at the York Theatre January 10. This fierce patriarch-smashing show has been shaking things up on its #WorldPollinationTour, and the buzz is palpable. We couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to the amazing women that will be taking over the York stage for most of January (Jan 9-27).
It’s time to get sticky!
Lisa Fa’alafi by Dylan Evans
LISA FA’ALAFI aka THE GAME CHANGER
(Creator | Writer | Director | Choreographer | Designer)
Definition: Innovator of an event, idea, or procedure that significantly alters in the
current way of doing or thinking. Shake’Em Up Woman. Defies the
Norm. Shifts the Paradigm. Rocks The Boat.
In The Words Of Dr Angela Davis:
‘You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world.
And you have to do it all the time.’
Ofa Fotu by Dylan Evans
OFA FOTU aka THE MYTH SLAYER (Soul Woman)
Definition: Defeats a fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an
ideology. She slays. Staff Holder. Soothsayer. Smashes Stereotypes.
Centrestage.
In The Words Of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie:
“The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that
they are untrue, but that they are incomplete.
They make one story become the only story.”
Hope Haami by Dylan Evans
HOPE HAAMI aka HOPE ONE (Beatboxer)
Definition: Advocates a joyful of mindset of positive outcomes for the world at
large via rhythmic beats made with the mouth. Music Maker.
Collaborator. Decolonise and Moisturise.
In The Words Of Maryann Talia Pau:
“We ARE light. We ARE love. And love, is everything.”
Crystal Stacey by Dylan Evans
CRYSTAL STACEY aka THE PEACE MAKER (Hoops & Aerials)
Definition: She who brings about a sense of unity through truth. Poet. Mover.
Embodies the change she wants to see. Future Sculptor. Radical
Fierce Love.
In The Words Of Audre Lorde:
“We’ve been taught that silence would save us, but it won’t.”
Elena Wangurra
ELENA WANGURRA aka THE GROUND BREAKER (Contemporary Dancer)
Definition: Originator or pioneer that leads to/makes possible further growth. Risk
Taker. The Fierce Awakens. Makes Noise.
In The Words Of Dr Lilla Watson:
“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. If you have come because
your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
Busty Beatz by Dylan Evans
BUSTY BEATZ aka THE QUEEN BEE
Creator | Writer | Musical Director | Composer | Sound Designer
Definition: So Boss. Vessel for The Word of The Mother. Divine Feminine Power.
Hip Hop Wrath. Filled with joyous rage. Protector of the Hive.
Nurturer. See Matriarchy. Fights The Power.
In The Words Of Busty Beatz:
“Fighting The Power Never Tasted So Sweet.”
— WORD TO THE MOTHER —
The Mother- The Hive- By Dylan Evans
Want a taste of the show? Meet the Honeys up close and personal in this live facebook interview with Vancouver Presents:
We are getting so excited! Hot Brown Honey has begun their #WorldPollinationTour, and Vancouver is on the flight path! From Jan 9-27, these fierce females will be taking over the York Theatre with their fun, fabulous, and patriarch-smashing hit!
As we speak Hot Brown Honey is heating up Manchester. The reviews are buzzing in and they are GREAT! Take a look:
— Make Noise! —
Hair Image By Dylan Evans
★★★★★ “Unlike anything you will have seen before… Smoking hot. If fighting the power is this much fun, we should all get on board and rock the boat a little bit.” – Frankly My Dear
★★★★★ “Busty Beatz [and] Lisa Fa’alafi have created a truly ground-breaking production unlike anything you’ve ever seen before – but will definitely want to see again… An empowering must-see performance full of laughter, joy and truth that is entirely faultless.” – Upstaged Manchester
★★★★★“The Honeys force us on this side of the world to think about the impact of our colonial past that is still having an impact today, centuries after the first colonialists spread their poison across the Pacific region.” – North West End
★★★★★ “A triumph of a show… Fast-paced, sexy, hilarious, and the all-female cast are a seriously talented and fierce bunch… But it’s more than just good entertainment value, behind the glitz of the huge golden beehive and the sassy dance routines there’s an important message which seeks to confront and challenge our perceptions of racial stereotypes and sexism.” – Northern Soul
★★★★ “A brave, and thought-provoking show… If you fancy something a little different this festive season: a show with plenty of attitude and sass then Hot Brown Honey is the show for you.” – The Reviews Hub
“Fearless, resolute and downright entertaining… The women of Hot Brown Honey simultaneously raise the roof and your consciousness.” – Circles & Stalls
“The[se] luscious ladies leave the audience on their feet shaking their booties to some sweet tunes… It creates such a party atmosphere… A celebration… The exact type of excitement and energy that could begin a revolution.” – Culturebean
“Hot Brown Honey is not trying to encourage or give space for reflection and debate, but rather to utterly subvert the patriarchal world view and to urge action. Subtlety is not the path to revolution.” – Unrestricted Views
You know that feeling when you shed a tear because a show is just so damn powerful?Cannot speak highly enough about #HotBrownHoney, go and support these amazing woman and this fantastic show @HOME_mcr !! #MakeNoise 🖤❤️💛💚💙💜 pic.twitter.com/Tj5lih4v9r
“A flamboyant evening of cabaret entertainment… Fighting the power never tasted so sweet… Just brilliant, a complete blast from start to finish.” – The Greater Manchester Reviewer
Saw @hotbrownhoney for the third time last night @HOME_mcr – still makes me laugh, cry and dance. MAKE NOISE.
