Victoria Spoken Word Festival 2015. February 23-March 1, 2015. I was part of a local group of grass-roots angel investors, the Awesome Shit Club, when spoken word artist Missie Peters pitched her plan to promote the first Victoria Spoken Word Festival in 2011. Now in its fifth year, the festival has grown in size, scope and audience every year since its inception. In 2014, it outgrew the original performance space (the 50 seat Intrepid … [Read more...]
Voice ++ at Open Space March 19-22 2015 in Victoria BC.
February 18, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Voice ++ at Open Space March 19-22 2015 in Victoria BC. Media Release. I still remember the concert by Christian Zehnder at Voice ++ 2013--incredible artistry and mastery of the human voice. Open-minded music lovers are encouraged to go outside their normal listening and participate in this fantastic festival. Voice ++ (March 19-22) is Open Space’s festival that focuses on the exploration of the human voice and its intersection with sound … [Read more...]
Victoria Symphony New Music Festival celebrates Gerald Barry March 5-9 2015
February 18, 2015 By 1 Comment
Victoria Symphony New Music Festival celebrates Gerald Barry March 5-9 2015. Victoria BC. Irish composer Gerald Berry will be celebrated in his first feature festival in North America March 5-9 in Victoria BC. Explore the unexpected and wacky genius of his music and delve into other works created to exhibit the lighter side of life. The vibrant Barry will be in attendance to join the fun. Other concerts in the festival will include the Emily … [Read more...]
Alien Creature A Visitation from Gwendolyn MacEwen at Theatre Inconnu. A review.
February 18, 2015 By 2 Comments
Alien Creature: A Visitation from Gwendolyn MacEwen at Theatre Inconnu. A review. If the measure of a successful theatrical production is the number of questions it poses to an audience, who then rush immediately to the library or internet for more information and answers—can any director, actor or company hope for more? Every time I attend a Theatre Inconnu production I am confounded with my own cultural ignorance—the gaps in my … [Read more...]
Langham Court Theatre announces 2015-2016 season.
February 17, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Langham Court Theatre announces 2015-2016 season. Victoria BC. Season Subscriptions will be on sale April 2015; they are a great idea since, in my experience, many of Langham Theatre's shows sell out quickly and the casual theatre-goer is often disappointed. Langham Court Theatre celebrates their 87th season in a historic Rockland residence--site to the original carriage house and barn of “The Laurels” – the home of the Robert Ward family, … [Read more...]
Lion in the Streets at UVic Phoenix Theatre February 12-21 2015. A review.
February 16, 2015 By 1 Comment
Lion in the Streets at UVic Phoenix Theatre February 12-21, 2015. A review. Twenty five years have not dimmed the provocative power and searing intensity of Judith Thompson’s Lion in the Streets (currently at the University of Victoria Phoenix Theatre February 10-21). Written in 1990 as a heart cry to current events in her Toronto neighbourhood, this dark tale prowls on the edges of human story and experience, digging into corners most would … [Read more...]
CCPA Alumni at the Stratford Festival 2014. Interview.
February 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment
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...]
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...]
