An enthusiastic crowd of Firehall Arts Centre supporters applauded the announcement of the Firehall ’s 2019-2020 season as the Centre wrapped up its 36th season on June 5th.
In making the announcement, Artistic Producer Donna Spencer said, “We have put together a season jam-packed with performances by diverse talented artists; plays and dance works that will stimulate discussion, tears and laughter and is built through strong partnerships with many of B.C. ‘s professional arts organizations. It features the premiere of two new plays; the premiere of one musical and the Vancouver premiere of another; two exciting contemporary dance works; two venue assisted partnerships; an aural history of our neighborhood; two theatre presentations; the Flying Start program; B.C. Buds and Solstice Greetings. The season is rich with entertaining and thought-provoking works.”
Early bird season passes are on sale now with select shows on sale, July 1, 2019.
Firehall’s 2019-2020 Season
The Shipment by Young Jean Lee. September 24 – October 5, 2019 SpeakEasy Theatre’s critically acclaimed production is back! Billed as “A provocative comedy to shake the woke”, The Shipment is a subversive modern minstrel show about Black identity meant to wake the world to the ridiculous narratives in dominant media. Vancouver Presents called it “Bold, honest and hilarious” and Colin Thomas said it’s “a surrealist collage.”
Spooky Action October 16-19, 2019 Inverso Productions’ Lesley Telford creates this interdisciplinary dance project inspired by particle entanglement. A study of human connections, inspired by Einstein’s famous phrase referring to particles that are so closely linked, they share the same existence, Spooky Action brings together thought-provoking dance, cutting edge scenography, original composition and engaging narrative. A Firehall Arts Centre presentation
Opening Doors: The Women November 6-9, 2019 This work-in-progress dramatization draws on Daphne Marlatt & Carole Itter’s 1979 aural history, “Opening Doors: Vancouver’s East End” and takes a look at the stories and history of the neighbourhood surrounding the Firehall. Women from many different cultural heritages and backgrounds help build this vibrant community and their stories often go untold. This production may require movement throughout the Firehall.
FADO – The Saddest Music in the World November 21-Dec 14, 2019 Written by Elaine Avila, FADO is a tale of love and ghosts told through the saddest music in the world, Portuguese FADO. When Luisa goes to Portugal she discovers her mother’s favorite fado is fascist and when she meets her long lost cousin and discovers he is a fadista and a Drag Queen, she is inspired to sing fados of resistance. Directed by Mercedes Batiz-Benet. A Firehall Arts Centre and Puente Theatre production.
Solstice Greetings December 19, 20, 21 2019
Returning for a second season, the sharing of songs, stories and seasonal greetings to celebrate the return of the light.
House and Home January 11-25, 2020 Jennifer Griffin’s biting, comic take on Vancouver’s current real estate crisis. Hilary, a waitress/poet turned social worker, and Henry, a Butoh dancer turned lawyer, didn’t know how lucky they were when they managed to escape bad roommates and buy a house before the real estate market skyrocketed. Finding themselves house rich and cash poor they abandon their values and plunge into the world of short-term rentals. How far can they go to keep their house? Directed by Donna Spencer A Firehall Arts Centre premiere production
Talking Sex on Sundays February 14 – March 8, 2020 On the first Sunday of every month Margot and her friends always host a theme party. What happens when Margot decides to kick it up a notch by having a Sex Toy Party? In this New Musical by Sara-Jeanne Hosie and Nico Rhodes, we witness as these women share fears, reveal dirty secrets, explore new possibilities, and find the power of female friendship. Directed by Donna Spencer A Firehall Arts Centre premiere production.
Trans Scripts, Part I: The Women March 13-22, 2020 Zee Zee and the Frank Theatre unite to bring this powerful verbatim piece compiled from over 70 interviews with trans women from around the world to the stage. The play follows 7 characters through a series of monologues using the hero’s journey as the structure for the piece.
A Zee Zee and Frank Theatre production presented in association with the Firehall Arts Centre
Between Breaths by Robert Chafe | March 31 – April 5, 2020
Well known in Newfoundland as the Whale Man, Dr. Jon Lien during the course of his work pioneered techniques for rescuing whales entrapped in fishing nets saving the lives of over 500 animals. Between Breaths jumps time backwards, from the final moments of Lien’s life – in a wheelchair to his very first whale intervention.
An Artistic Fraud production presented by the Firehall Arts Centre
BC Buds April 9-11, 2020 Join us for new play readings and new choreographies that are in development.
White Noise April 18 – May 9, 2020 Written by Taran Kootenhayoo . A comedy about two families who have dinner together for the first time during Truth and Reconciliation week, White Noise explores what it means to live in Canada from two different paradigms. How do we deal with internalized racism? Do we keep pushing it away and pretend to live safely in our day-to-day? Directed by Renae Morriseau. A Firehall Arts Centre and Savage Society premiere production.
Eunoia May 13-16, 2020 Denise Fujiwara’s adaptation of Christian Bok’s award-winning book Eunoia is a multi-media experience of dance, video, music and costume that employs similar constraints as to those in the book through inventive movement and ground-breaking performances. Dance critic Paula Citroen called it “One of the best dance events of the season – clever, witty, enigmatic. A Firehall Arts Centre presentation of Fujiwara Dance Inventions.
Lights May 29 – June 7, 2020 by Adam Grant Warren Roy Surette directs this powerful new play about a disabled son visiting his mother who has Alzheimer’s and lives across the country in St John’s. A Flying Start Touchstone Theatre Production presented in partnership with the Firehall Arts Centre.
Actually June 17-27, 2020 by Anna Ziegler. Two college students spend a night together that alters the course of their lives. They agree on the drinking, they agree on the attraction, but consent is foggy, and if unspoken, can it be called consent? With lyricism and wit, ACTUALLY investigates gender and race politics, our crippling desire to fit in, and the three sides to every story. Directed by Michael Scholar Jr. A Mitch and Murray Productions presented in association with the Firehall Arts Centre.
Early bird packages available until July 31st at 604-689-0926 or HERE.
Early Bird Full 4 Pack – $79.00 (Regular $109.00)
Early Bird Flex 4 Pack – $100 (Regular $125.00)