In 2014, I realized a long-held dream and travelled to Ontario for the Stratford Festival where my son, Elliott Loran, was performing in his first season. Elliott is a graduate of the Canada College of Performing Arts (CCPA) and it hadn’t escaped my notice that three other graduates—Matt Alano, Matthew Armet and Galen Johnson—were also members of the company. It’s a distinct honour for CCPA, a relatively small college situated far from the … [Read more...]
Theatre Inconnu announces 2015 season
February 10, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Theatre Inconnu announces 2015 season. Victoria BC. I'm a big fan of Theatre Inconnu since first being introduced to the company in 2005 when they produced George Riga's Ecstasy of Rita Joe. Consistently, over the years, I have come to rely on their programming for some of the most challenging theatre in Victoria. Working with minimal budget and a combination of community and equity actors and crew, artistic director Clayton Jevne continues … [Read more...]
Black History Month 2015 in Victoria BC
February 3, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Black History Month 2015 in Victoria BC A Black History and Heritage Day (February 15th), an evening of performance and song (February 23 at the Belfry Theatre), a gala awards night (February 28th at the Copper Owl), a cemetery tour (February 22nd) and three presentations make up the very ambitious schedule in celebration of BC Black History Month February 2015 in Victoria. Many people are not even aware of the significant role black … [Read more...]
The Best Brothers and How To Disappear Completely at the Belfry Theatre. A review.
February 3, 2015 By Leave a Comment
The Best Brothers and How to Disappear Completely at the Belfry Theatre. A review. January 27-March1, 2015. It’s a departure from the usual for the Belfry Theatre to schedule two one-act plays as a main stage production—indeed, it’s the first time in over 25 years they have done so. Artistic director Michael Shamata was so impressed with The Best Brothers by acclaimed Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor, originally staged at the Stratford … [Read more...]
Puente Theatre presents WorldPlay 2015 in Victoria Bc
February 2, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Puente Theatre presents WORLDPLAY 2015 in Victoria BC Victoria-based Puente Theatre presents a festival of staged readings of plays from around the world Sundays from February 8-March 1 at the Belfry Theatre in Studio A. It's a chance to experience the works of artists largely unknown to anglo-Canadian audiences. This summer look for Lieutenant Nun at the Victoria Fringe Festival as Puente Theatre participates in the SKAM Remixed project … [Read more...]
People by Alan Bennett at Langham Court Theatre January 14-31, 2015. A review.
January 18, 2015 By 4 Comments
People by Alan Bennett at Langham Court Theatre January 13-31, 2015. A review. Alan Bennett is, at 80, a national treasure in Britain, and the opening of any new play a hot ticket at the National Theatre. Written in 2012, his latest work, People is a scathing indictment of the National Trust (among other sacred cows destined for his acidic pen). The Langham Court Theatre 2014-2015 production chair and play-reading committee are to be … [Read more...]
Sin City Season Five: Space, the funniest frontier
January 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Sin City: Season Five: SPACE (the funniest frontier). Kirsten Van Ritzen and Ian Ferguson of Broad Theatrics arrived in Victoria in 2010 and immediately set about shaking up the local theatre, improv and comedy culture. One of their first projects was to re-create a version of the extremely successful weekly improvised serial they had originated in Edmonton (Die Nasty--now in its 24th year), then taken to Toronto and Los Angeles. Seasons … [Read more...]
The Other Guys Theatre presents The Incompleat Folksinger January 8-18, 2015 in Victoria BC. A review.
January 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment
The Other Guys Theatre presents The Incompleat Folksinger January 8-18, 2015 in Victoria BC. A Review. The most recent production by The Other Guys Theatre Company (OGT) The Incompleat Folksinger by Pete Seeger featuring Mark Hellman (January 8-18 2015 at the Metro Studio Theatre) is a mini-history lesson with beautiful tunes, accomplished storytelling and an immense heart. OGT is well-known for their historical musical revues Good Timber … [Read more...]
Theatre SKAM celebrates their 20th season in 2015
January 12, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Theatre SKAM celebrates their 20th season in 2015. Founded in 1995 by four emerging artists (Sarah Donald, Karen Turner, Amiel Gladstone, and Matthew Payne) as a means for the creation and production of new work, Theatre SKAM celebrates 20 years in 2015. SKAM continues to push the boundaries of performance and provide opportunities for emerging artists. They begin with a huge birthday bash at the Atrium January 17th featuring the music of … [Read more...]
A Winter of Theatre 2015 in Victoria BC. January and February.
January 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment
A Winter of Theatre in Victoria BC. January and February. Do you remember in The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy says “Toto, we aren’t in Kansas anymore?” That’s the way I feel about the Victoria theatre scene in January and February. It was only a few short years ago that my theatre viewing consisted of TWO shows. Last year there were a possible 25 if my memory serves me correctly (I saw 13), and this year is not going to be very different. … [Read more...]
