My introduction to slam poetry, Tongues of Fire, the Victoria Slam Team and many other local poets was at a Buddy Wakefield event in January 2011. Photo: Inti St Clair Arriving close to start time, to a packed Solstice Café, I was ushered to one of the only seats left, a comfy arm chair at the very front of the room. As one of the oldest people there, I felt very cossetted and definitely unworthy of that special attention. After the open mic … [Read more...]
Internationally-Awarded Slam Poet Buddy Wakefield Returns to Victoria March 18th 2013
January 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Victoria Fringe Festival 2012 – my “away” picks
August 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Disclaimers first: In 2006 I was bitten HARD by the Fringe bug and have gradually increased the number of shows I see from 20 then to 38 shows at last year’s Victoria Fringe Festival. (There are people who see more than me - and they are my Fellow Fringe Fanatics). During the year I volunteer regularly with Atomic Vaudeville, Intrepid Theatre, The Canadian College of Performing Arts and Theatre SKAM. I attend the Belfry, Theatre Inconnu, … [Read more...]
Announcing the first Singe Festival, Victoria BC, August 24th – September 2nd
July 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Announcing Victoria’s very first “off-Fringe” Festival - The Singe Festival (August 24th – September 2nd) featuring three of Victoria’s hottest and best known performers: Mike Delamont (Pick of the Fringe comedian 2011), Dave Morris (Pick of the Fringe improviser 2011) and Missie Peters (M-Award winning spoken word artist). Disappointed at not being selected in the Fringe lottery, and well aware that this year the Victoria Fringe Festival … [Read more...]
This is Twisted Theatre presents Batman’s Great Mystery Part Two
June 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Do you enjoy podcasts and audio books? Find yourself listening to words and music while closing your eyes? Then, you might enjoy the second in a series of radio plays by This Is Twisted Theatre - Batman's Great Mystery Part Two - June 13/14th at the Intrepid Theatre Club. This is Twisted Theatre was formed late in 2011 by Rod Peter Jr, local comedian known for his roles with Random Selection of Chairs, Atomic Vaudeville, Terra Firm (Victoria … [Read more...]
Stand-Up Comedy Workshop with Kirsten Van Ritzen
June 6, 2012 By 4 Comments
If you could take stand-up comedy lessons with one of the very best performers in this genre in Victoria, would you? Relatively new to Victoria (arriving in 2011) but with decades of experience on stages in Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver, Kirsten Van Ritzen is better known to audiences locally for her on-going role as the ever-drole Ava Garter, the Snake Lady, in the improvised soap opera Sin City: Carnies, which recently completed its smash … [Read more...]
Jeremy Loveday, performance poet and community organizer
April 6, 2012 By 2 Comments
Social media has opened many new worlds to me – among them the world of slam poetry and spoken word. In January 2011 I had the opportunity to attend a Tongues of Fire-hosted Victoria performance by the celebrated slam poet, Buddy Wakefield, and heard local performance poet Jeremy Loveday. … [Read more...]
Victorious Voices, 3rd Annual High School Slam Poetry Championship
March 26, 2012 By 1 Comment
What would it have been like to hear Moe Clark, Buddy Wakefield or Shane Koyczan perform their poetry as teenagers? To sit in the audience and realize the power of their words, and realize it could only get better over time. Next week, April 2nd and 4th, you have the opportunity to support young talent as 40 high school students from across Victoria compete in the third Victorious Voices, Victoria High School Youth Slam Championship. “The … [Read more...]
Shane Koyczan – When I Was A Kid – Belfry SPARK Festival
March 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Stuffies litter the stage at the Belfry Theatre, scattered among musical instruments – a bass, cello, keyboard and guitar – belonging to The Short Story Long, back up band for celebrated wordsmith Shane Koyczan. We’re here at one of five sold-out shows during SPARK Festival, waiting in great anticipation for “the man” himself to appear. image provided by Belfry Theatre I was first introduced to Shane’s spoken word masterpiece “We Are More” … [Read more...]
SPARK Festival 2012 at the Belfry Theatre
March 10, 2012 By 1 Comment
We are so fortunate in Victoria BC to have a plethora of arts events and festivals during the year, including the spring SPARK Festival at the Belfry Theatre. Since 2009 SPARK has grown to two concentrated weeks of theatrical goodness in March (12th – 25th) with five components: big shows, miniplays, new play readings, professional development workshops and one big party right in the middle. There are a total of over 70 shows and events (many … [Read more...]
Victoria Spoken Word Festival 2012
February 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I love social media! Without it, I likely would never have been exposed to the many spoken word artists who make Victoria their home, and foster an incredible community of practice. Missie Peters is a local spoken word artist, improvisor, actor and communications professional who saw a gap - and filled it. There are many slam events … [Read more...]
