To enhance your experience
Afterplay
at the Belfry, we’ve created a
Our facilitated discussion series offers
music from Canada’s poet-songwriter Leonard
down many varied roads,
Cohen; affecting humanity from Victoria’s
host of audience engagement
we have loved and laughed
award-winning playwright Joan MacLeod; and
activities – opportunities to
For the past 40 years, the Belfry has travelled with our audiences
together, and looked at the
This season features scathing comedy from American master David Mamet; words and
toe-tapping song and dance from the greatest of the Tin Pan Alley tunesmiths.
explore and discuss the world
world from new and exciting
Our acclaimed production of Charles Dickens’
of the play, before and after
perspectives.
A Christmas Carol returns as a holiday treat for
you come to see it.
the family, and our 2016 SPARK Festival features
patrons the opportunity to share their thoughts with fellow audience members after the show. Afterplay discussions follow each evening performance.
Talkback On the second Thursday performance of each show, we bring the backstage experience onstage. After the curtain call,
Over the course of those 40 years, a lot of
some of the newest, most exciting “on the edge”
B4Play
talented people have worked hard to build a
theatre productions from our colleagues across
Join us in Studio A for a live talk show
answer your questions and offer insight into
the country.
hosted by CBC Radio’s Gregor Craigie,
the play you have just experienced. These
featuring artists from the show and some
Q & A sessions last 15 – 20 minutes.
theatre that is acclaimed for the work onstage – and is also recognized as one of the most welcoming, intimate and friendliest places on
It’s a season of celebration – a 40th Anniversary
earth to see a play!
bash! Please join us for exceptional and
Our plays are fun and thought-provoking,
some of the actors return to the stage to
very special community guests. Free event.
Upstage Magazine
surprising theatre in Canada’s intimate gem of a
Podcasts
theatre – the Belfry!
If you can’t make B4Play in person you can
copy of our magazine (via mail or email),
hear the full interviews on our website (the
designed to give you insight into each
contemporary and predominately Canadian.
Prior to each opening we’ll send you a
“Smart entertainment” is what we produce, and
Michael Shamata, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
respective show page) or at soundcloud.
Ivan Habel, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
production and to further enrich your
it’s the reason we have such a large and loyal
com/belfrytheatre.
experience.
audience – an audience that is known across the country as the very best to play for.
Brochure design by Jeff Kulak / Photos by Jo-Ann Richards, Works Photography / Vincent Gale, Celine Stubel and Brian Markinson in Speed-the-Plow / Lauren Bowler in Chelsea Hotel / Cast from the 2012 production of A Christmas Carol
MAINSTAGE 1
“The deftest and funniest of Mamet’s
“…infinitely more than a brutal satire
works” THE NEW REPUBLIC
on Hollywood. It is a study of male panic
“scathingly comic” NEWSWEEK
and the denial of redemptive grace.” THE GUARDIAN
Greed. Lust. Fear. Movies. Hollywood producer
Starring
Bobby Gould has just been handed a sure-fire
Vincent Gale, Brian Markinson and Celine Stubel
hit - a blockbuster - that could catapult him and his old friend Charlie Fox into the big money. Or, he could make the “important” art house flick that his oh-so-attractive office temp is urging him to do. A savagely funny exposé of Hollywood and the male psyche. Why I Chose This Play After re-reading this script I said to myself, “Just do it!” It’s a guilty pleasure – sexy and funny and nasty. Mamet wrote this play shortly after directing his first film, so he uses his black and edgy humour to thoroughly skewer Hollywood. I love its combination of baser instincts and a not-quite-absent moral compass. Michael Shamata, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Shawn Kerwin SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Michael Whitfield LIGHTING DESIGNER Tobin Stokes SOUND DESIGNER Supported by
A Firehall Arts Centre Production MAINSTAGE 2
“overwhelming inventiveness…
“a knockout…the harmonies are
ingenious creativity.” GLOBE & MAIL
as thick as cabaret smoke and
“finally made me understand what my parents love about Cohen” SAD MAGAZINE
the performers exhale them with astonishing ease. Freakishly talented” GEORGIA STRAIGHT
Lover. Monk. Singer. Poet. Leonard Cohen is the
Starring
epitome of cool. In this acclaimed musical you’ll
Rachel Aberle, Lauren Bowler, Steve Charles,
check into New York’s infamous hotel and be
Benjamin Elliott, Marlene Ginader and
transported into a world of music, mystery and
Jonathan Gould
desire. With extraordinary new arrangements, six singers play 17 instruments in this exuberant tribute to Cohen’s most transcendent songs. Sexy and captivating, this eclectic cabaret celebrates loves lost and won. Why I Chose This Play Leonard Cohen’s songs are part of our lives, and they become even more profound the older we get. He is a Canadian storyteller with a completely unique voice. This clever and stylish show creates a tale simply by the order in which these great songs are sung – and they are sung by six incredibly talented actor/singer/ musicians. Michael Shamata, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Marshall McMahen SET DESIGNER Barbara Clayden COSTUME DESIGNER Ted Roberts LIGHTING DESIGNER Xavier Berbudeau SOUND DESIGNER Supported by
MAINSTAGE 3
“a wonderful piece of writing… not to
“MacLeod has a wonderful ear
be missed” TORONTO STAR
and eye for the everyday details of
“relentlessly topical – and deeply
Canadian life.” CALGARY HERALD
empathetic” THE GLOBE AND MAIL The strength and fragility of everyday people
Starring
is the cornerstone of Joan MacLeod’s work,
Rebecca Auerbach, Matt Reznek,
and The Valley is her latest gem. In this timely
Luc Roderique and Colleen Wheeler
and moving story, a dramatic police encounter on the Skytrain binds four people together - a mother and her teenage son, an officer and his wife. How they – and all of us – are connected is the stuff of great drama. Why I Chose This Play Canadian plays speak to us in a language we recognize – and Victoria’s Joan MacLeod, winner of the Siminovitch Prize and the Governor General’s Award, speaks that language better than any writer I know. Her writing is subtle: calm on the surface with floods of emotion underneath. This mother’s helplessness in the face of her son’s depression moved me deeply when I saw this play. Michael Shamata, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Pam Johnson SET DESIGNER Erin Macklem COSTUME DESIGNER Itai Erdal LIGHTING DESIGNER Brian Linds SOUND DESIGNER Supported by
MAINSTAGE 4
“The greatest songwriter that has ever
“first rate...romance and humour...
lived” GEORGE GERSHWIN
sometimes you can please everyone” MONDAY MAGAZINE, 1977
In celebration of our 40th Anniversary we’ll
Starring
reprise the musical that launched the Belfry. This
Katrina Reynolds, Andrew MacDonald Smith,
timeless revue, featuring comedy, dancing and
John Ullyatt and more.
tunes like “Always,” “Count Your Blessings,” “Blue Skies” and “Cheek to Cheek,” is a real treat for everyone. With no formal training, Irving Berlin wrote many of the greatest songs in history. His simple, uncomplicated music sparked dance crazes and moved a nation. Why I chose this play This musical revue opened the Belfry 40 years ago, and has held a cherished place in its history ever since. Originally conceived by Don Shipley, Glynis Leyshon revived it twenty-two years ago, and she returns to direct it once again. A new cast of exceptional talents will sing and dance their way into your hearts with some of the best songs ever written. Michael Shamata, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Nico Rhodes MUSICAL DIRECTOR Jessica Hickman CHOREOGRAPHER Cory Sincennes SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Guy Simard LIGHTING DESIGNER Paul Tedeschini SOUND DESIGNER Supported by
“a Christmas ghost story with soul…
“A superb production ... sublime”
a visual delight” TIMES COLONIST
GLOBE & MAIL
l a v i t s e f 0I6 2 The Gay Heritage Project
Huff
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY Cliff Cardinal
Damien Atkins, Paul Dunn and Andrew Kushnir
DIRECTED BY Karin Randoja
DIRECTED BY Ashlie Corcoran
(NATIVE EARTH PERFORMING ARTS, TORONTO)
(BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE, TORONTO)
“veering from hilarious to harrowing…
“celebratory, upbeat and deeply moving”
Huff is mind-blowing theatre” HALIFAX HERALD
TORONTO STAR
Iceland A ghost story for Christmas, the Belfry’s
Celine Stubel and Jan Wood, with Lauren
acclaimed 2012 production returns, along with
Alberico, Abby Baker, Ajay Parikh-Friese, and
some of the best-loved Dickensian characters of
Kyle Stahl as the Cratchit Children
all time. A story of love, generosity and second chances, it takes us through the darkness and into the light of true joy and celebration!
DIRECTED BY Ravi Jain
BY James Fagan Tait and Cathy Stubington
(WHY NOT THEATRE, TORONTO)
(RUNAWAY MOON THEATRE, GRINDROD, BC)
Winner of the Governor General’s Award
The premiere of a beautiful piece of puppet
John Ferguson SET DESIGNER
2012 SummerWorks Best New Play Award
theatre, celebrating the small ways in which
Nancy Bryant COSTUME DESIGNER
“an intelligent, gripping tale”
regular folks make a difference to the world.
Alan Brodie LIGHTING DESIGNER
THE GLOBE & MAIL
Starring Tom McBeath and Gerry Mackay,
Geordie Haley COMPOSER
Geoffrey Ewert, John Han, Jessica Hickman,
Jessica Hickman CHOREOGRAPHER
Brian Linds, Anton Lipovetsky, Amanda Lisman,
BY Nicolas Billon
21 Ways to Make the World Last Longer
Supported by
Season ticket holders can purchase a SPARK Pass at any time. Details are on your order form. Single tickets for SPARK shows go on sale December 1.
Supported by
New This Season For our 40th Anniversary Season
Kid Friendly Shows
we’ve made some big changes
To encourage you to bring the younger folk in
to make your Belfry experience
Season Ticket Benefits
your life to the theatre, we’ve tagged the shows that are kid friendly. We offer half price tickets
even better.
to people under 18.
Earlier Show Times
Childcare Matinees
Our Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening
We think it’s important that young parents can
performances will start at 7:30 pm.
get out and enjoy live theatre in Victoria, so we offer inexpensive tickets and free childcare
Friday Night Savings
performances for young families on select
We’ve dropped the price of our Friday night
Sunday afternoons.
subscriptions.
Belfry Futures Fund
Savings
Easy Ticket Exchanges
Extra Matinee
You’re part of our future. A portion of every
You’ll save up to 31% over this season’s single
Simply return your tickets to the box office
We’ve added a third midweek matinee to the
subscription and ticket purchase is directed
ticket prices.
24 hours prior to the performance (in
run of each performance.
toward the Belfry Futures Fund, a special reserve
person, by mail, fax or email) and we can
to ensure the long term vitality of our facility
Best Seats
book you into another performance of
and programming.
As a season ticket holder you are always at
the same play, subject to availability. An
the front of the line. You’ll always get the best
upgrade fee may apply.
Dining Discount Card
Savings Chart
Flexibility
Subscribe to the Saturday at 4 pm matinee
Package
Price
We have 8 different season ticket packages.
and you’ll receive a dining discount card,
Previews
$81 $116
One is sure to fit your budget and schedule.
entitling you to discounts at several local
Tuesday
$91 $116
restaurants.
Wednesday Matinee $116
$152
24%
Wednesday / Thursday $136
$176
23%
available seats.
Choice
4 single tickets
Savings (up to) 31% 22%
Want to pick and choose the shows you’d like
Upstage Magazine
Friday
to see? Consider our Flex Pass, four vouchers
Prior to each opening we’ll send you a
Saturday Matinee $146 $184
21%
you can use in any combination throughout
copy of our magazine (via mail or email),
Saturday Evening $151 $196
23%
the season.
designed to give you insight into each
Sunday Matinee $131 $160
19%
production and enrich your theatre experience.
$146 $196
26%
Speed-the-Plow
Iceland
by David Mamet
by Nicolas Billon
Chelsea Hotel – The Songs of Leonard Cohen
Huff
conceived by Tracey Power
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens adapted by Michael Shamata
The Valley
by Cliff Cardinal
21 Ways to Make the World Last Longer by James Fagan Tait and Cathy Stubington
by Joan MacLeod
Puttin’ on the Ritz - The music and lyrics of Irving Berlin
The Gay Heritage Project
conceived by Don Shipley
by Damien Atkins, Paul Dunn and Andrew Kushnir
BOX OFFICE / INFORMATION
250-385-6815 hello@belfry.bc.ca www.belfry.bc.ca 1291 Gladstone Avenue Victoria, BC, V8T 1G5 Administration 250 385 6835 40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON SPONSORS
PUBLIC FUNDERS
Charitable Registration Number 119215549 RR0001. All plays and players subject to availability. All ticket sales are non-refundable. Ticket prices are subject to change. GST is not included.