Tag: Vancouver

Good Timber at the Firehall

Posted: Aug 07 2012
Photo by David Lowes

It isn’t often that we get the chance to honor our history and tap our toes at the same time! Good Timber does just that as The Other Guys Theatre brings the stories of loggers and logging in British Columbia to life at a time before helicopters, pine beetles and clear-cuts became a part of the forest industry.

And what better place to see this rollicking musical revue than in the 105-year-old Firehall building?  Just outside our doors on Cordova Street in the early days of the province, logs went skidding by on their way to ships that would carry them to Scotland and far afield. The Firehall building itself sits on stone blocks from Scottish quarries that were used as ballast in the ships sailing into the harbor to pick up timber for their return journey.

We hope you’ll join us tonight for a 2 for 1 preview of the play, or sometime during the run from August 7 to 19!

Click here to purchase your tickets to Good Timber today!

Logging Fun

Posted: Jul 31 2012

As a kid, I used to watch YTV because it was awesome.  Cartoons and “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” were staples on channel 25 (Holla mid-90s Vancouverites!), as were NFB shorts.  My all-time favourite was the Log Driver’s Waltz, and so it pleases me to no end to be able to post the video and gush about it in anticipation of Good Timber – Songs & Stories of the Western Logger, which runs here at the Firehall August 7 to 19.

We haven’t presented a summer show in a number of years, and are pleased to be able to bring The Other Guys Theatre’s production here to Vancouver.  Good Timber is a musical revue celebrating the golden age of logging in the Pacific Northwest and for folk music lovers, it’s a must-see.

So, to get you in the mood for Good Timber, I present one of the greatest NFB shorts of all time! Enjoy!

Log Driver’s Waltz Image from the NFB.

DTES Local Area Planning Program Workshop

Posted: Jun 26 2012

The City of Vancouver has initiated a Local Area Planning Program for the Downtown Eastside.  More information about the planning process can be found here.

They are in the initial stage of the planning process – a step called “Reviewing – Taking Stock.”  This step of the process involves research and outreach to identify the key issues and assets within the Downtown Eastside that should be addressed in the Local Area Plan.

Part of this step in the process involves engaging a broad range of residents, organizations, businesses, property owners, and other people who will have a stake in the outcomes of this plan.  As such, the Local Area Planning Committee and the City of Vancouver are co-hosting a series of stakeholder workshops.

DATE and TIME:   Thursday, June 28, 2012 from 2:30 to 5:00 PM

LOCATION:  W2 Media Café – 2nd Floor Mezzanine Meeting Space

Join the discussion!

Healing through Humour: The Progressive Polygamists and This is CANCER

Posted: Jun 06 2012

Presented by Two Wrongs That Write Productions 

June 22, 23, 29 & 30, 8pm at the Firehall Arts Centre

Tickets $20 through Firehall Arts Centre Box Office at 604.689.0926 or online

This is CANCER

This is CANCER by Bruce Horak and Rebecca Northan just completed a sold out run for the second consecutive year at this year’s Edmonton Fringe Festival and a sold out run of its hold over. It also received 5 star reviews across the board for the second consecutive year.


CANCER – a deluded, egotistical ASS – goes on his own journey of denial, anger, bargaining and acceptance when he discovers that the whole world hates him.

CANCER gives the cabaret performance of a lifetime! In this one-man, satirical cabaret Bruce Horak (Two-time Betty Mitchell Award Winner: This is CANCER and Evil Dead: the Musical) brings Cancer to life. A cancer survivor himself, and one of Canada’s only legally blind actors, Bruce brings a fresh and funny perspective to a disease that too many of us will face and that so many of us could use a good laugh at.

Directed by award-winning director/performer Rebecca Northan (Betty Mitchell Award: Blind Date, Canadian Comedy Award: best Sketch Group, Gemini and Dora Ward nominee: CTV’s Alice, I think), This is CANCER will leave you wondering how you could fall in love with such a deadly performer.

“This is Cancer is as genius as it is absurd…Allow this remarkable show to spread all over your body.”
– Edmonton Journal 2010 – 5 stars

“One of the weirdest and most brilliant shows the Fringe has ever seen.”
– Edmonton Sun

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The Progressive Polygamists

The Progressive Polygamists by Emmelia Gordon and Pippa Mackie have returned after a 5 star, “Best of the Festival” Fringe tour.

What would it be like if your best friend was your sister-in-law, AND your husband’s wife? Join sister wives, Mercy Eve and Eden Grace, in this satirical comedy about what it is really like to share a husband and live together in a polygamist sect.

“It’s startling what a treasure trove of humour the ladies unearth from the secretive commune, which marries off teenagers to much older men.” -Star Phoenix.

Through song, fast paced skits, jump rope, and confessions the Progressive Polygamists shine a new light on this topical and controversial community.

“This satirical jab at the real-life hyper-relgious polygamist commune of Bountiful, B.C., is about as entertaining as a social statement can be.”
– Saskatoon StarPhoenix

“Each performance, one of comic genius”
– Plank Magazine – 5 stars

“A relevant comic triumph.” 
– Saskatoon StarPhoenix 2011 – 5 stars

 

World Theatre Day

Posted: Mar 27 2012

Theatre can be beautiful, ugly, frightening, funny and everything in between. What it always does is create dialogue.  Whether you enjoyed the last piece you saw or hated it, you were part of that moment.

To celebrate World Theatre Day, go out and support theatre by seeing one of the amazing plays on in Vancouver now:

So much theatre in this city! Go out, explore and enjoy!

 

Hats with feathers will be mandatory in any play I write

 

Firehall Fact #22: Dance!

Posted: Mar 23 2012
From Portraits and Scenes of Female Creatures, December 2011 at the Firehall. Photo by Chris Randle

The Firehall has always been keen on dance, presenting exciting works by local, national and international choreographers throughout its 30 years. We liked it so much that we started a dance festival! The Dancing on the Edge Festival came out of the dance community’s need for presentation support, and even though the Edge has been incorporated as its own society since 1998, that hasn’t stopped us from continuing our support and love of dance!

The Firehall presents a number of dance shows each season and provides residency support to local artists, by providing  rehearsal space, technical support, input and encouragement. Past residents have included Amber Funk Barton of the response. as well as The Contingency Plan.

BC Buds, the Spring Arts Fair, has been one method the Firehall has had for presenting new work and finding local artists to work with in residencies. The Contingency Plan was the recipient of the 2010 BC Buds Silver Development Award, which provided the opportunity of a Firehall residency, and led to the development of their piece Adhere, seen as part of The TCP Show in January of this year.

To donate to our $30 for 30 Campaign on our website,click here! To donate via Canada Helps, visit them here.

From The TCP Show, at the Firehall January 2012. Photo by Jane Osborne

 

 

 

 

Firehall Fact #13: Staff Favourites

Posted: Mar 15 2012

The Firehall has a wonderful, talented and inventive staff. We love this place, not only for its wonderful history and good looks, but each staff member has special reasons as to why we cherish being here.

Today, we spotlight Jamie Burns, the Technical Director here at the Firehall.

Jamie has been with the Firehall for six years, and has been TD for the past two. He’s the go-to guy for anything having to do with the theatre and the building, and he’s a sucker for bubble tea.

My name is Jamie Burns and I am the Technical Director here at the Firehall Arts Centre. I have many favourite things about the Firehall: from the huge stone block foundation to the fire pole in the the theatre to the friendly Firehall ghost. But, I have to say my favourite thing is the variety of the shows we put on: from rocking musicals like Chelsea Hotel to dramas like The Blue Light, East of Berlin and Where the Blood Mixes, the shows we produce and present here always bring something new to the table. You never see the same show twice.

To donate to our $30 for 30 Campaign on our website, click here! To donate via Canada Helps, visit them here.

 

 

 

 

Firehall Fact #11 – Savage Parade

Posted: Mar 12 2012

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.

Remember, we need your help! Donate to our $30 for 30 Campaign through our website or Canada Helps!

 

Savage Parade news clipping from the Vancouver Sun, December 18 1992. From the Firehall’s archives.