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Fringe Fever hits the Firehall again!

Posted: Sep 02 2015

All of us at the Firehall Arts Centre are excited to yet again be a Bring-Your-Own-Venue for the Vancouver Fringe Festival!

This year we will be the venue for 7 Fringe performances (6 of which are local companies). With a variety of dark comedies, circus, musicals, and sensory treats: the Fringe goer will be sure to find something entertaining at our theatre.

The Firehall’s lobby and licensed bar will be open 45 minutes before the shows and in between shows. Come down early and enjoy our gallery space.
As a BYOB, we do not sell any of the tickets for the Fringe shows. For tickets to any Fringe performance, please go to The Fringe Website.

Here are the shows we’ll have for the Fringe:
Camel Camel
Glitter Gizzard
An original, macabre comedy: David Lynch meets Abbott and Costello. The sublimely grotesque vaudeville duo, The Camel Sisters, invite you into their delightfully bizarre “act” which begins to turn in on them when a nefarious death-worm appears and they struggle to escape.
www.camelcamelshow.com

James & Jamesy in the Dark
James & Jamesy
British comedians and 10-time Best of Fest winners, James & Jamesy (2 for Tea / High Tea) emerge from darkness and delight themselves into existence. A story of discovery and imagination, In the Dark is a feat of theatrical ingenuity, exquisitely crafted by masters of physical theatre.
www.jamesandjamesy.com

Oh the Humanity, and Other Good Intentions
Staircase Theatre
A masterfully witty script, Oh, The Humanity, and Other Good Intentions examines the nature of human misery through a filter of jet black comedy. It is sure to hit you where it hurts—right in the humanity. Jessie Award nominated Staircase Theatre is pleased to present this remount, directed by Brian Cochrane and featuring Maryanne Renzetti and Brad Duffy.
www.staircasetheatre.com

Pipef@%!
The Uninvited Guests
Pipef @ % ! is a multimedia theater project that mixes elements of devised theatre and topics of recent environmental issues in British Columbia. It explores the dynamics of cohabitation between working class and upper class populations in the city. It is also a sensory experience engaging audiences from all angles of space and thematics.

The New Conformity
Cause & Effect Circus
Three of the west coast’s favourite jugglers team up to create an award-winning show that blends theatrical circus with social commentary. This brings to light a universal struggle of the modern age: the comfort of conformity versus the freedom of individuality, all told through tightly choreographed prop manipulation, martial arts, and physical theatre.
www.causeeffectcircus.com

The O.C.: The Musical
Two Lobster Productions
The O.C.: The Musical is an unauthorized parody of the hit teen drama FOX series. It follows the life of Ryan Atwood, a troubled 16-year-old bad boy who is abandoned by his parents but is given a second chance by his attorney, Sandy Cohen. Ryan bonds quickly with Sandy’s nerdy son, Seth, and they quickly get caught in a storm of musical teen drama.
www.theocmusical.com

TITUS: The Light and Delightful Musical Comedy of Titus Andronicus
Awkward Stage Productions
Shakespeare’s grizzliest play renewed into the giddiest musical, exploring why violence is so darn entertaining. Appalled? Offended? But you know you want to see it. So tap and sing along to TITUS—more than a parody, more than an adaptation—it’s a bloody grand time. World premiere inspired by Monty Python, Conan, ‘90s rock, Parker & Stone, and classic slapstick.
www.awkwardstageproductions.com

Passport to a Dance Adventures!

Posted: Jun 16 2015

It wouldn’t be summer without Canada’s longest running dance festival descending on the Firehall with an explosion of contemporary dance performances from July 2-11. This year Dancing on the Edge has put together a handy guide to help you get the most out of the outdoor site works at the festival such as Dusk Dances and Fortier Danse-Creations’ 15X AT NIGHT.

Introducing the Dance Passport, your guide to a dance adventure that takes you through to streets, parks & hidden places of Vancouver! Best of all, it’s free and if you explore enough dance frontiers, you’ll earn a free ticket! See any of the six free/by donation, site-specific shows at the festival & collect stamps along the way.

Dusk Dances – July 9 – 11, 7pm (Portside Park)
15X AT NIGHT by Paul-André Fortier – June 27 – July 11, 10pm (Granville Island)
Steppin’ by Jeanette Kotowich – July 2 + 4, 8:30pm (Firehall Arts Centre Courtyard)
Body Talk by Wen Wei Community Dancers – July 2 + 3, 8:30pm (Firehall Arts Centre Courtyard)
M. Session by OURO Collective – July 10 + 11, 8.15pm (Firehall Arts Centre Courtyard)

Wreck Beach Butoh by Kokoro Dance – July 4, 1:30pm + July 5, 2:10pm (Foot of Trail #4)

SEE SHOWS & Get three stamps from each location and you’ll earn a free ticket! You can grab a Dance Passport and register at any venue to start collecting stamps.

Conditions: You must register with a festival volunteer at the first venue you visit. Passports with three stamps can ONLY be redeemed for a free ticket IN PERSON at the Firehall Arts Centre Box Office (280 East Cordova) and tickets are subject to availability. There is a limited of one passport per person, not transferable.

See DANCINGONTHEEDGE.ORG for more details.

Renae Morriseau

Posted: May 18 2015

For our cross-nation partnership with Native Earth Performing Arts, we’re bringing Toronto and Vancouver audiences Drew Hayden Taylor’s God and The Indian. The play has just finished a successful run in Toronto and is headed to the Firehall for a run this week (May 20 – 30, 2015).

After directing the world premiere of God and The Indian in Vancouver in 2013, Renae Morriseau (Cree) returns to bring audiences this national tour of this timely production.

Originally from Manitoba, Renae is based now in Vancouver where she works to cultivate social justice, inclusiveness and community-building through her work in theatre. It’s these motivations that inspire Renae to help tell this heartbreaking story about Canada’s residential schools.

“It’s a story that needs to be told,” says Morriseau. “In our traditional ways the audience is then witnesses to share the story about this dark history about Canadian policy and legislation.

Morriseau hopes audiences from all backgrounds will come to see the production. “I think it’s important for all Canadians to see – Native or non-Native. People need to understand the impact that residential schools have had on my people – “my” meaning all the different Nations across Turtle Island which is now called Canada,” Morriseau explains. “We’re talking seven generations of my people that have been impacted. With residential school survivors today, these stories help support the survivors to acknowledge the pain and loss of family and community.”

Morriseau is not the only member of the original Vancouver production working on the new production; both designers (Lauchlin Johnston, Alex Denard) also returned to revisit the play.

However, this is anything but a remount, as Morriseau has had an opportunity to explore the work with a completely new cast, whom she describes as “talented, intuitive, adaptable and creative.” The production stars Toronto-based Thomas Hauff as Assistant Bishop George King, and Vancouver-based Lisa C. Ravensbergen (Ojibwe/Swampy Cree) as Johnny.

God and the Indian runs May 20 – 30 at the Firehall Arts Centre. There is a post-show talkback on Thursday May 28 following the 8pm show.

This post originally appeared on Native Earth Performing Arts’ blog.

BC Buds Festival

Posted: May 04 2015

The Firehall’s annual Spring Arts Festival is here! This week, nearly 30 theatre, dance and music artists will take over every nook and cranny of the Firehall with live site-specific performances and new play readings.

Click here for full show descriptions

God and the Indian: Thomas Hauff

Posted: Apr 28 2015

For our cross-nation partnership with Native Earth Performing Arts, we’re bringing Toronto and Vancouver audiences Drew Hayden Taylor’s God and The Indian, in Toronto’s Aki Studio May 2 – 17, 2015. Following the Toronto premiere, the production returns to the Firehall where it runs May 20 – 30, 2015.

In Taylor’s two-hander, directed by Renae Morriseau, Toronto-based actor Thomas Hauff takes on the role of Assistant Bishop George King. King is caught off-guard by the sudden arrival of Johnny (played by Lisa C. Ravensbergen), a Cree woman who follows him after recognizing King from her childhood in a residential school.

He’s confronted by someone who believes something about himself that he’s doesn’t believe to be true…

Thomas Hauff has worked professionally as an actor for most of his life, appearing on stages across Canada and in film, television and commercials. He previously performed in Weesageechak Begins to Dance workshops for Yvette Nolan’s Annie Mae’s Movement and Stretching Hide by Dale Lakevold.

In preparing for his role in God and The Indian, Hauff found himself excited by the doubt presented in the script. “[Assistant Bishop King] is a man who is caught in a difficult situation. He’s confronted by someone who believes something about himself that he’s doesn’t believe to be true and he has to convince her otherwise.”

Though the last of the residential schools closed in 1996, Taylor’s God and The Indian brings attention to the issues still affecting Indigenous people in Canada today. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada indicates there are still an estimated 80,000 former students who are living and dealing with the impact of a childhood spent in an institution that sought to eliminate Indigenous culture.

“Anything that starts the conversation about this situation and the effects on people of the residential schools is great.”

The rehearsal process has been illuminating for Hauff. “It’s been exciting and challenging to explore with everyone. Lisa and Renae both bring a perspective that I don’t have,” he says. “It’s really interesting to sit back and listen to them discuss their ideas of the show. I’m learning from the experience.”

And that is exactly what Hauff hopes audiences will get from the show. “I hope they ask questions. Anything that starts the conversation about this situation and the effects on people of the residential schools is great.”

Audiences looking to have a discussion about the issues addressed in the play are invited to stay after the Thursday May 21 + 28, 8pm performances for artist talkbacks. God and The Indian runs in Toronto May 2 – 17, and moves to Vancouver May 20 – 30, 2015. Click here for more information on the run at Native Earth Performing Arts in Toronto and read their blog (where this post originally appeared).

Reviewers love PROUD

Posted: Mar 09 2015

Andrew Wheeler & Emmelia Gordon in the 2014 production of PROUD, image Pink Monkey Studios.

As a new federal election nears, we are delighted to bring last season’s runaway hit, PROUD, back for another term due to popular demand. This witty and intelligent satire had audiences rolling in the aisles and critics chuckling over their notebooks at Andrew Wheeler’s hilariously deadpan Prime Minister and Emmelia Gordon’s sassy MP. It was even featured on the cover of the Georgia Straight! To give you a sense of what’s in store, here’s what people have been saying about this hit comedy.

REVIEWS

“Comic gold… brimming with gags … it’s a real pleasure to be able to laugh at Canadian politics in the theatre.” – Colin Thomas, Georgia Straight

Andrew Wheeler “nails the PM’s deadpan demeanour and shows his comedic chops in Healey’s particularly funny speech about the things he secretly doesn’t care about.” – Vancouver Presents
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“clever & funny… buried in all the Rick Mercer-style lampooning, there’s some truth… A WINNER” –
Jo Ledingham / Vancouver Courier
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‘A big part of the fun is watching Andrew Wheeler channel the character referred to only as “the Prime Minister,”’ – Jerry Wasserman, The Province
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“fierce and funny” – VancityBuzz
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“Stephen Harper = Comedy magic? Who knew!?” – Fun Fun Vancouver
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“Emmelia Gordon is wickedly funny” – Beyond YVR
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“Mr. Wheeler owns the role of Prime Minister. ” Vancouverscape

PROUD runs April 7 – 25 at the Firehall Arts Centre, with a half price preview April 7, 8pm. Click here for more information.

Two Women, Two Crossings

Posted: Feb 23 2015

Donna Spencer on The Village and ribcage: this wide passage

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Two women come to Canada as immigrants. They come from different parts of the world and at different times in Canadian history – one from the 18th century and one the present day. They face challenges of survival, isolation and loneliness and yet, with determination they move forward.

village small — Tina Milo in The Village, image Una Skandro

Two women recognize the value of these stories and create theatre/performance works. Inventive, passionate and, yes, with determination Tina Milo’s The Village and Heather Hermant’s ribcage: this wide passage were developed and brought to the stage. When I heard about these two pieces celebrating the strengths of two very different immigrant women I was intrigued and wanted to share the spirit and vision of the works with Firehall audiences.

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In Tina Milo’s The Village, we meet a recent immigrant from Serbia, who has left behind a successful career as an actress to move to Canada. Here, she becomes a young mother stuck at home with few friends and few outlets for her creative expression. She sinks into a depression common among female immigrants who are often left at home alone with family while their husbands go out to work. Lacking contact with the outside world, she struggles to improve her language skills and find a way back to the career she left behind.

ribcage small — Heather Hermant in ribcage: this wide passage, image Tim Matheson

In a very different story, Heather Hermant’s ribcage: this wide passage celebrates the journey of a young Jewish woman, who arrives in Quebec City disguised as a male laborer at a time when women were not allowed to travel alone. Discovered, she is brought before authorities upon her arrival and faces life in a new country, alone and unsupported. When Hermant discovered this story of the first Jewish women to immigrate to Canada, she wanted to honor it and share it.

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As International Women’s Day approaches, we would like to honor and share these hidden stories with you! – Firehall Artistic Producer Donna Spencer

The Village runs Feb 24 – 28 and ribcage: this wide passage runs March 3 – 8.

Celebrate Chinese New Year at the Firehall!

Posted: Feb 16 2015

“Chinese New Year is a celebration, and our piece is a celebration too”, says Wen Wei Wang. “A celebration of who we are, and making something together.” – Vancouver Sun

Join us for the long-awaited Vancouver premiere of Wen Wei’s newest dance work on the cusp of the Lunar New Year (Feb 18 – 21). Made In China is a breathtakingly magical feast for the senses that opens a window to another world. This intensely personal interdisciplinary work is a shared biography of the artists’ experiences working amidst the Cultural Revolution. It is created and performed by Wen Wei Wang, Gao Yanjinzi (Beijing Modern Dance Company); Qiu Xia He (Silk Road Music); and video/sound artist Sammy Chien. Plus the Firehall’s own Donna Spencer has been brought on to Dramaturg the piece. The artists premiered the show at the Banff Centre in late January and while they were there created a fascinating behind the scenes short film.

Made in China by Wen Wei Dance explores cultural colours – Vancouver Sun

Wen Wei Dance’s Made in China digs into Chinese pasts – Georgia Straight

Wen Wei Wang and China’s immigrants of today – VancityBuzz

Made In China by Wen Wei Dance runs Feb 18 – 21 at the Firehall Arts Centre. More info.

Donna Spencer on Vincent Mantsoe

Posted: Feb 04 2015

Welcome Back, Vincent! In honor of Black History month, internationally acclaimed choreographer and performer Vincent Mantsoe returns to the Firehall from February 11^th -14^th . Vincent first performed on the Firehall stage in 2001, with three solo pieces created under the title, Meetlo, which in the Sesotho language means ‘traditions’. This amazing work was Vancouver’s first introduction to the power of his work and audiences loved it. We invited him back in 2005 and once again his work was mesmerizing. His ability to blend global dance forms while connecting to his heritage and honor his past in a manner that suffused the work with potent spiritual power brought audiences to their feet.

We are delighted that Firehall audiences will get the chance to see two solos, NTU// and Skwatta as part of his pan-Canadian tour to Montreal, Toronto, Peterborough and Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. NTU// springs from the desire to embody the essence of personhood while Skwatta addresses the squalid hopelessness of life in the informal settings of the camps of South Africa’s townships. Both are animated by Vincent’s connection to the Soweto culture of his childhood and are influenced by lessons taught by his mother and aunt, all ‘sangomas’ or traditional healers.

Vincent, who now lives in France with his wife and two children, is a artist with a unique talent to blend traditional African, contemporary Western, martial and Asian dance forms in his creations of artistic works that resonant in a meaningful way with his audiences.

– Donna Spencer, Artistic Producer, Firehall Arts Centre

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“when Danceworks curator Mimi Beck writes that Vincent Mantsoe … is a dancer of “breathtaking virtuosity,” she’s just stating the facts. He’s incredible.” Mooney on Theatre, Toronto

“Mantsoe’s stage charisma is huge. Though relatively short and solidly built, he can move with gentle, feline grace or explode in a frenzy of flashing feet and combative arms.” – Toronto Star

NTU and Skwatta are on at the Firehall Arts Centre from February 11 – 14. Click here for more info.

Image – Vincent Mantsoe, credit Meinrad Heck.

Pssst… Secrets from the show

Posted: Jan 28 2015

PostSecret: The Show has inspired many audience members to share their secrets. We’ve already gone through 2,000 blank postcards in the Firehall lobby which people have used to share their inner-most thoughts, fears and confessions. Here’s just a few so far.

PostSecret: The Show is on til February 7. If you want to see more audiences secrets from the Vancouver run, check out our Flickr page. You can also see messages left by audience members in our photobooth here.

Author: parker