Antigone by William Head on Stage October 6-November 4, 2017. An interview. Since 1981, the inmates of William Head Institution in Metchosin have mounted theatrical presentations open to the public. Antigone is their 57th. William Head on Stage (WHoS) is now the only inmate-run theatre company in Canada. VW, the current managing director of William Head on Stage, answered a series of questions about their sci-fi remount of the ancient … [Read more...]
Antigone by William Head on Stage October 6-November 4, 2017. An interview.
September 27, 2017 By 2 Comments
The Good Soldier Schweik at Theatre Inconnu September 26-October 14, 2017. A review.
September 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The Good Soldier Schweik at Theatre Inconnu September 27-October 14 2017. A review. Theatre Inconnu brings the Czech anti-war novel The Good Soldier Schweik to the stage in an adaptation by Michael John Nimchuk that owes much to the epic theatre theories of Bertolt Brecht. Poor Schweik (Justin Muirhead) is a hapless dolt caught up in the hubris surrounding Archduke Ferdinand’s assassination. One moment he’s jazzing with his buddies at the … [Read more...]
A Fall of Theatre 2017 in Victoria BC. September-December.
September 22, 2017 By 4 Comments
A Fall of Theatre 2017 in Victoria BC. September-December. In the last five year period, the number of shows produced has almost tripled. This fall sees a record 70+ productions, festivals and special events from musicals to improvised theatre, cabaret to drama, radio plays to solo shows, on stages big and small in the Capital Region. Don't let anyone tell you Victoria is a cultural backwater. Our ticket prices continue to be some of … [Read more...]
The Children’s Republic by Hannah Moscovitch. Belfry Theatre September 12-October 8 2017. A review.
September 15, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The Children’s Republic by Hannah Moscovitch. Belfry Theatre September 12-October 8 2017. A review. This version of The Children’s Republic has been a long time coming. Originally co-commissioned and co-developed (over a two-year period) by Great Canadian Theatre Company and The Ottawa School of Speech & Drama, first produced in 2009, then remounted at the Tarragon Theatre in 2011, it has been workshopped extensively at the Belfry Theatre … [Read more...]
Theatre One Mainstage 2017-2018 Season
September 12, 2017 By Leave a Comment
TheatreOne Mainstage 2017-2018 Season Offerings – Pick 3 Sneak Peek Nanaimo - For 32 years, TheatreOne has presented a full slate of theatre offerings to Nanaimo region audiences. Our upcoming season features Canadian content that will entertain, educate and enrich our mid-Island community with challenging and dynamic performing arts events that celebrate Canada and our vibrant creative sector. Purchase tickets now for a discount on … [Read more...]
Vancouver Fringe Festival 2017 suggestions (mostly) from the Victoria Fringe
September 7, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Vancouver Fringe Festival 2017 suggestions (mostly) from the Victoria Fringe. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say I’m a bit of a Fringe fanatic – over the years since I got back in to fringing, I’ve gone from seeing a handful of shows in 2006 to 40 shows at this year’s Victoria Fringe Festival. It was also my fourth year of reviewing and I contributed 26 reviews (as well as 27 interviews, two "picks" posts and an article about the … [Read more...]
St Luke’s Players 2017-2018 season
September 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment
St Luke’s Players 2017-2018 season Long before the introduction of professional theatre companies to Victoria, all theatre was community based. One of the oldest troupes is St Luke’s Players. The upcoming season represents the 69th for this stalwart band of thespians. In 2015, members answered a few questions for me which will provide more background on the troupe’s mission statement and philosophy. The pantomime, a more recent annual … [Read more...]
Dispatches from the Victoria Fringe 2017 Day Eight
September 1, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Dispatches from the Victoria Fringe 2017 Day Eight. Reviews of The Man Who Sold the World by David Ortolano, Lovely Lady Lump by Lana Schwarcz and Help! I’m American by DK Reinemer. Since the Edmonton Fringe Festival often overlaps the Victoria Fringe Festival, it is common to have a number of productions arrive after the opening weekend. For my Day Eight of the Victoria Fringe, I saw three performers who have been touring the CAFF … [Read more...]
Dispatches from the Victoria Fringe 2017 Day Seven
August 31, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Dispatches from the Victoria Fringe 2017 Day Seven Years of study and discipline have resulted in the works of three remarkable companies/artists—Beau & Aero: Crash Landing by A Little Bit Off (Amica Hunter and David Cantor); Interstellar Elder (Snafu Dance Theatre) performed by Ingrid Hansen and created together with Kathleen Greenfield, Britt Small and Emma Zabloski; and Olive Copperbottom: a New Musical by Charles Dickens and Penny … [Read more...]
Dispatches from the Victoria Fringe 2017 Day Six
August 30, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Dispatches from the Victoria Fringe 2017 Day Six Day Six was spent in one of my favourite haunts, the Victoria Event Centre, Venue 1, 1415 Broad Street, for Jon Bennett: My Dad's Deaths (A Comedy) and Tragedy + Time Served=Comedy by Mark Hughes Find all my Victoria Fringe Festival 2017 coverage HERE. As the Fringe enters its second week, it becomes more important to buy tickets in advance, or be prepared to come at least an hour early … [Read more...]
