In 1992, the Firehall saw a very unique performance that plays in the theatre and in the studio upstairs.
As most of you are aware (if you’ve read the first Firehall Fact, which I know you have), the Firehall Arts Centre used to be a fully-functioning fire station. Which means there were a number of fire poles placed in convenient places all over the building for firemen to get down to the trucks and gear. Four of these poles were located in four corners of what is now our upstairs studio, which was then the room in which the firemen slept.
When the fire station was turned into an arts centre, these poles were removed, which left four holes in the floor. Don’t worry, these were covered up.
Until 1992 when choreographer Cornelius Fischer-Credo’s Savage Parade was presented.
The show was comprised of two parts that happened simultaneously in the theatre and upstairs in the studio, and the performers moved between the spaces by using ladders propped through these old fire pole holes. They would also throw props including glitter, lights and shoes through the holes as well.
During intermission, the audience that viewed the show upstairs would move down into the theatre, and vice versa.
In the theatre, the production was moody and dark, taking the public on a journey to a ghostly underworld, while in the land upstairs, audiences were treated to funny, happy (and hilariously off-key) renditions of 70s pop songs and bright, silly performances.
Savage Parade was performed in June and December of that year.
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Savage Parade news clipping from the Vancouver Sun, December 18 1992. From the Firehall’s archives.