First, dig this: Live Were Around Me is an intimate, guided tour for an audience of three, a site-specific, roving theatre work that explores the notions of history and evidence in the context of the historic centre of Vancouver. Live Were Around Me is David’s toast to this city, a libation of place and experience,… Continue reading You know, there isn’t enough poetry about arts administration
Author: Simon Ogden
The Cultch’s last stand to save The York, and how you can help
The Vancouver East Cultural Centre has been battling to save Commercial Drive's historic York Theatre from demolition, thereby depriving Vancouver of another stunning medium-sized heritage cultural venue. I previously wrote about efforts to save the York, and about some of its history on Beyond Robson. The Cultch has found a benefactor who is willing to… Continue reading The Cultch’s last stand to save The York, and how you can help
Today’s post will be hosted from Toronto
During a visit to China this past Summer I managed to fill a bunch of otherwise-blank space here on TNS through the generosity of a bunch of very smart and agreeable guest bloggers. Among their number was Ian Mackenzie, the in-house marketer for Toronto's Praxis Theatre, and long-time author of the Canadian super-blog; Theatre is… Continue reading Today’s post will be hosted from Toronto
John Cleese on creativity
Boundaries of space, boundaries of time. It's as simple as that. To know how good you are at something requires the same skills as it does to be good at that thing. Best 10 minutes you'll spend on the internet all week. Click the image to view the video. H/T to Andrew at the London… Continue reading John Cleese on creativity
National Theatre marketing is hip like 1980
And I had planned on blogging all day today. London's National Theatre is hosting Steppenwolf's runaway hit August: Osage County right now, and they have added an interactive feature to their promotional site: a A:OC version of Pac-Man. It's the exact game that we all remember so fondly, except that you control the drug-addled head… Continue reading National Theatre marketing is hip like 1980
PuSh Festival puts out call for volunteers
Whoa, immersed as I have been in our latest production, I totally forgot that the magnificent PuSh International Performing Arts Festival is coming up fast. Get ready for it, Vancouver. PuSh is much more than an annual cultural feast for Vancouver: it is a broker of international partnerships, a meeting place for creative minds, a… Continue reading PuSh Festival puts out call for volunteers
Why theatre will never die
After a brief absence to put his company on the rails, Matt Slaybaugh of Theatreforte returns to the theatre blogoshere with a bang. Yesterday he quoted Simon McBurney on naturalism in the theatre, in a piece that is simply the best articulated essay on the uniqueness of the form that I think I've ever read.… Continue reading Why theatre will never die
This one goes to eleven: Victoria Bidewell
Last week I dealt with my post-play post-partum by going to see somebody else's work: In the Boom Boom Room, David Rabe's 1970s risk-taking opus about the wide-eyed, determined young go-go dancer Chrissy. In this roll Victoria owns the Studio 16 stage, and if you missed it, they're holding over December 3, 4 and 5.… Continue reading This one goes to eleven: Victoria Bidewell
A Progressive Federal Government is within our grasp
The Department of Culture, undaunted by the tragic reinstating of Harper's arts-hating minority government through the lowest voter turnout in the history of the universe, responds to the cons' latest boneheaded move by laying out a plan for us to push for a coalition government. H/T to Aaron at Tracking Righteousness for this excellent summation… Continue reading A Progressive Federal Government is within our grasp
Green Thumb Theatre has a blog (?!)
Did you know that Green Thumb Theatre has a blog? I didn't, until just now. How did I not know that Green Thumb Theatre had a blog? And to top it all off, it's awesome! For those of you unfamiliar with this company, GTT... Creates and produces plays that explore social issues relevant to the… Continue reading Green Thumb Theatre has a blog (?!)
Riding the elephant
Several people have engaged me in nervous overtones about parts of our recent interview with local theatre critic Peter Birnie (none, however, in the comments section. I've got to find a way to make that a more attractive prospect. Any ideas? Leave 'em in the comments section.), wherein he prognosticates dark times ahead for our… Continue reading Riding the elephant
New on the V-List: In the Boom Boom Room
For full details on this production, click here.
New on the V-list: Billy Bishop Goes to War
Click here for full details on this production
This one goes to eleven: Peter Birnie
I'm fascinated by our relationship with the critics. When I hear members of the theatre community talk about them, it's always with an amazing degree of passion, one way or the other. Nobody, it seems, is ever indifferent to them. I think it's great, and a good indication that they hold some position of importance… Continue reading This one goes to eleven: Peter Birnie
Great production pics: Billy Bishop in Deep Cove
Further to Rebecca's post on production pics, I love these ones sent to me by actor Damon Calderwood promoting his company's 30th anniversary production of the musical Billy Bishop Goes to War at the Deep Cove Shaw Theatre. I'm a sucker for anything WWII related, especially the RAF (I wanted desperately to be a Spitfire… Continue reading Great production pics: Billy Bishop in Deep Cove
Simon Ogden 