BlissKrieg
WORLD PREMIERE
MARCH 9–11, 2017 Belfry Mainstage
ATOMIC VAUDEVILLE, VICTORIA Book by Alex Wlasenko Music by Hank Pine and Alex Wlasenko
CAST
Rielle Braid John Han Ming Hudson
BlissKrieg is a musical comedy about the
Madeleine Humeny
two last people in the universe inside a
Griffin Lea
post-human simulated paradise. Tilda
Anna Lowan
gives her daughter Jingwei a crash course
Sarah Murphy
on humanity, as they have just over
R. J. Peters
an hour to make a crucial decision on the future of life in the universe. Based on the previous incarnation of Atomic Vaudeville’s production of Action Revue. Photo - Sarah Murphy, Andrew Barrett, Treena Stubel, and RJ Peters in Action Revue / Photo by Caitlin Croteau
Directors Jacob Richmond and Britt Small Dramaturge Jacob Richmond Spring Vouchers and SPARK Passes not applicable.
Why We Are Here! MARCH 13, 2017 Royal BC Museum
NIGHTSW IMMING, TORONTO Created by Martin Julien and Brian Quirt
Why We Are Here! is Nightswimming’s portable pop-up choir – an exciting choral adventure in which the audience are the
This is an invitation to sing with other
singers. Featuring one of Victoria’s top
people. No experience required – but it
choral leaders, Why We Are Here! is an
is an experience.
interactive singing experience that brings friends and strangers together to create an invigorating theatrical event about right here and right now.
Photo - Why We Are Here! / Photo by Max Telzerow
Tickets 250-385-6815 / tickets.belfry.bc.ca
SPIN MARCH 14–18, 2017 Belfry Mainstage
welcome breath of fresh air…. “ …a SPIN makes something beautiful out of taking your life into your own hands G LO B E & M A I L
”
Photo - Evalyn Parry in SPIN / Photo by Jeremy Mimnagh
BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE, TORONTO
Playwright / Performer
By Evalyn Parry
Evalyn Parry
theatre, part music gig, part “ Part spoken word poetry, part documentary:
Musician
whatever it is, it is brilliant TO R O N TO S TA R
A RT I S T S
”
Brad Hart Director Ruth Madoc-Jones
Innovative, award-winning Toronto artist
Designer
Evalyn Parry takes her audience on an uncommon theatrical and musical journey
Beth Kates
in SPIN, her tour-de-force performance
String Arrangements
celebrating the Bicycle as muse, musical
Michael Holt
instrument and agent of social change. AU D I E N C E N OT E S
Spinning a web of stories that travel from
80 minutes / no intermission
19th century women’s emancipation to 21st century consumer culture, SPIN is inspired by the incredible true tale of Annie Londonderry, the first woman to ride around the world on a bicycle in 1895. One part documentary and another part musical activism, Parry cleverly peels back layers of history to reveal a very contemporary heart to her theme of liberation.
Tickets 250-385-6815 / tickets.belfry.bc.ca
This Is Not a Conversation MARCH 14–18, 2017 Belfry Studio A
Photo - Itai Erdal and Dima Alansari in This Is Not A Conversation
ELBOW THEATRE, VANCOUVER
In this new work, they will explore the conflict between their cultures and
By Itai Erdal, Dima Alansari & Ker Wells
examine what is happening in their
stories are personal, intimate, open “ Itai’s and brave; they have a sensitive tone
homelands, while challenging each other’s deeply ingrained values and
and turn to the very essence of human
beliefs. Both are natural storytellers and
condition, namely history, family,
improvisers who are at ease ad-libbing in
cultural background, social and political
front of audiences. Both are combative
”
constraints.
and very passionate about the conflict
A RT VA N G UA R D
in the Middle East, and both know a lot
From the creator/performer of How to
about its history and political context.
Disappear Completely. A RT I S T S
Itai was born in Israel and lived there until
Creator / Performer Itai Erdal
the age of 25. Dima was born in Lebanon to a Palestinian family. What happens when you put them onstage together?
Creator / Performer Dima Alansari Creator Director Ker Wells Stage Manager Jethelo Cabilete AU D I E N C E N OT E S
60 minutes / no intermission
Tickets 250-385-6815 / tickets.belfry.bc.ca
What a Young Wife Ought to Know MARCH 21–25, 2017 Belfry Mainstage
Photo - Liisa Repo-Martell and David Patrick Flemming in What a Young Wife Ought to Know / Photo by Timothy Richard
2B THEATRE, HALIFAX
CAST
Liisa Repo-Martell By Hannah Moscovitch
Rebecca Parent David Patrick Flemming
giving the women of the 1920s a “ Byvoice, Moscovitch has given many
Playwright Hannah Moscovitch
contemporary women a voice as well… it is an opportunity to contemplate the state of sexual health and freedom in
Lighting Designer Leigh Ann Vardy
”
our society today...★★★★ (out of 4) G LO B E & M A I L
Costume Designer Leesa Hamilton
a 2014 finalist for the “ Moscovitch, Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, has
Set Designer Andrew Cull Stage Manager Heather Lewis
added a painful, poetic piece of Canadian history to the literature of this
”
country.
Director Christian Barry
Fight Director Karen Bassett
H A L I FAX H E R A L D
Design Assistant Daniel Oulton
A brave and honest examination of love, Production Manager Louisa Adamson
sex and fertility, inspired by a movement that sparked a revolution. Set in Canada
AU D I E N C E N OT E S
in the 1920s, it follows the story of Sophie,
90 minutes / no intermission
a young working-class wife, and shines a light into the dark corners of women’s rights and the conjugal bed.
Tickets 250-385-6815 / tickets.belfry.bc.ca
Reverberations MARCH 21–26, 2017 Offsite: Meet at the Belfry
WORLD PREMIERE
V ICTORIA
CAST
By Brian Linds
Angela Henry Brian Linds
A house contains many reverberations. As an actor and sound designer, Brian
Billy Marchenski Jan Wood
has created a site-specific performance piece exploring memories and sounds of a family’s history. In an actual house, four performers and five rooms create stories involving a friend’s betrayal, a dying mother’s sudden lucidity, a search for Jewish meaning, a simple task becoming difficult, and a journey of love.
Creator / Sound Designer Brian Linds Director Mindy Parfitt Set & Costume Designer Catherine Hahn Lighting Designer Michael Franzmann Dramaturge James Fagan Tait Stage Manager Sadie Fox
Photo - Reverberations / Photo by Brian Linds
Joan MARCH 17–26, 2017 Metro Theatre
THEATRE SK AM, V ICTORIA
CAST
By Matthew Payne
Matthew Payne
For over thirty years Joan Mans attended arts happenings in the city, finishing most evenings at Swan’s, dancing to live music. In 2007 she entered extended care after she fell and was declared incapable. Actor and playwright Matthew Payne decided he would be her voice. This journey is at the heart of this project. Joan will run at the Metro Studio Theatre as part of the SPARK Festival from March
Lynda Raino Treena Stubel Director James Fagan Tait Lighting and Projection Conor Moore Costume Design Patricia Reilly Costume Coordinator Graham McMonagle Sound Design Brooke Maxwell Choir Director Marc Jenkins
17 to 26. Tickets 250-590-6291/ ticketrocket.co
Stage Manager Sandy Cumberland
Spring Vouchers and SPARK Passes not
AU D I E N C E N OT E S
applicable.
75 minutes / no intermission
Photo - Joan Mans / Photo by Pamela Bethel Photography
Professional Development Workshops Butoh Workshop W I T H B I L LY M A R C H E N S K I
Belfry 101 Live WORLD PREMIERE
S U N DAY, M A R C H 26 AT 7:30 P M
Belfry Mainstage
S U N DAY, M A R C H 19 10:00A M –1:00P M
Inspired by time spent recently in Japan studying with Butoh masters Akaji Maro, Natsu Nakajima and Yoshito Ohno, Billy Marchenski offers a workshop focusing on the embodiment of image, asking the question “What is the body?” Participants
In one short week, the remarkable
will practice a warmup, followed by
high school students in our Belfry
individual and group exercises that push
101 program create a performance
physical limits. We will then learn a series
based on their responses to themes
of simple, concrete images, and try to
and images from plays they’ve
find physical expression that is clear and
seen this year at the Belfry. Filtered
deeply personal.
through their own personal experiences and insights, the result is an original, surprising and always inspiring piece of theatre. A talkback with the students will follow the performance.
Interdisciplinary Theatre-Making W I T H E VA LYN PA R RY S U N DAY M A R C H 19, 2:30 P M – 5:30 P M
A hands-on investigation of how concept,
Created and performed by the
text, image, music, movement and design
students of the Belfry 301 Ensemble
can work in surprising and inventive ways to create theatrical performance. Come
Directed by Erin Macklem
with an idea you are already hatching, or
and Dave Morris
ready to dream up a brand new concept.
Free Events Hootenanny
Play Reading
S U N DAY, M A R C H 12 AT 4 P M
M O N DAY, M A R C H 20 AT 7:30 P M
Belfry Lobby
Mustard by Kat Sandler
An all-ages dance party of pure
2016 Dora Award for Best Play
awesomeness. Live humans dancing to
quirky, sweet hilarious play… “ AS LOT ” KIN LETTER
music provided by Brooke Maxwell & the Neighbourhood Hootenanny Time Machine Band. Bring your children, bring your parents, bring everyone.
Ticket Prices
Mini Plays See the calendar for dates and times Creative chaos. That’s the best way to
M A I N S TAG E / S T U D I O
$30
B E L F RY 101 L I V E
$10
a musical in a hallway or a performance
WHY WE ARE HERE
$10
art piece in an office – every year the mini
WO R K S H O P S
$25
describe our always popular mini plays. You could see a dance piece on the roof,
plays are different and push the envelope. We don’t know what will happen. Mini plays are free but you have to get here early to secure a spot. Just gather
S PA R K PA S S J OA N T I C K E T S
$100 $25
Available at 250-590-6291 ticketrocket.co
round the sign for the mini play you’d like to see, grab an object of admission (you’ll figure it out) and wait for a mini play handler to take you to the venue.
Student and seniors discounts available. All ticket sales are non-refundable. GST is not included.
Tickets 250-385-6815 / tickets.belfry.bc.ca
Calendar DATE TIME
EVENT
VENUE
MARCH 9
7:30 pm
BlissKrieg
Mainstage
PRICE
MARCH 10
8 pm
BlissKrieg
Mainstage
$30
MARCH 11
8 pm
BlissKrieg
Mainstage
$30
$30
MARCH 12 4pm
Hootenanny
Lobby
MARCH 13
Why We Are Here!
RBCM
MARCH 14 7:30pm
SPIN P
Mainstage $30
7:30pm
This is Not a Conversation P Studio A
MARCH 15
7 / 7:15
mini plays
7:30pm SPIN O
7 pm
FREE $10 $30 FREE
Mainstage $30
7:30pm
This is Not a Conversation O Studio A
MARCH 16
7 / 7:15
mini plays
7:30pm SPIN
Mainstage
7:30pm
This is Not a Conversation
Studio A
MARCH 17
7 / 7:20 / 7:40
mini plays
7:30 pm
Joan
Metro Theatre
$30 FREE $30 $30 FREE $25
8pm SPIN
Mainstage $30
8pm
This is Not a Conversation
Studio A
MARCH 18
7 / 7:20 / 7:40
mini plays
7:30 pm
Joan
Metro Theatre
8pm SPIN C
$30 FREE $25
Mainstage $30
8pm
This is Not a Conversation C Studio A
$30
MARCH 19
10 am–1 pm
Butoh Workshop
Studio A
$25
2 pm
Joan
Metro Theatre
$25
2:30-5:30
Interdisciplinary Workshop Studio A
$25
MARCH 20
7:30pm
Play Reading Mustard by Kat Sandler
MARCH 21
What a Young Wife Ought to Know P Mainstage $30
7:30pm
7:30pm Reverberations P
Lobby
Offsite: meet in the Belfry Lobby
FREE
$30
DATE TIME
EVENT
VENUE
MARCH 22
mini plays
7 / 7:15
7:30pm
PRICE FREE
What a Young Wife Ought to Know O Mainstage $30
7:30 pm Reverberations O
Offsite - meet in the Belfry Lobby
7:30 pm
Joan
Metro Theatre
MARCH 23
7 / 7:15
mini plays
What a Young Wife Ought to Know
Mainstage
$30
7:30 pm Reverberations
Offsite - meet in the Belfry Lobby
$30
7:30 pm
Joan
Metro Theatre
MARCH 24
7 / 7:20 / 7:40
mini plays
7:30 pm
Joan
Metro Theatre
$25
What a Young Wife Ought to Know
Mainstage
$30
7:30 pm
8pm
8 pm Reverberations
Offsite - meet in the Belfry Lobby
MARCH 25
7 / 7:20 / 7:40
mini plays
7:30 pm
Joan
Metro Theatre
8 pm
$30 $25 FREE
$25 FREE
$30 FREE $25
What a Young Wife Ought to Know C Mainstage $30
8 pm Reverberations
Offsite - meet in the Belfry Lobby
$30
MARCH 26
2 pm Reverberations C
Offsite - meet in the Belfry Lobby
$30
2 pm
Joan C
Metro Theatre
$25
7:30pm
Belfry 101 Live!
Mainstage
$10
P · PREVIEW O · OPENING C · CLOSING
Tickets 250-385-6815 / tickets.belfry.bc.ca
Tickets www.sparkfestival.ca
The 2017 SPARK Festival is supported by:
SPARK FESTIVAL 2017 B E L F RY T H E AT R E 1291 G L A D S TO N E AV E N U E V I C TO R I A , B C V 8T 1G 5
250-385-6815 or www.belfry.bc.ca/tickets