Duo Agathe et Adrien from Quebec bring to town their fabulous show N.ormes for the Warrior Festival on now at the Cultch.
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It's circus meets modern dance in this beautiful and hypnotizing one hour performance that stretches the limits of the human body and imagination. With gorgeous light design and a bare stage, witness two bodies as they jump and spar, balance and break, and eventually merge into one sprawling mass.
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Thank goodness for the Cultch and their efforts in bringing in quality shows like Barbu from Quebec's Cirque Alfonse. It makes me want to go visit Quebec and see all the circuses there! But luckily, all I had to do to see this spectacular spectacular is go down the street to the Historic Theatre for a wild night of breathtaking entertainment that had my toes curling and my voice howling with laughter and sheer terror.
Expect the unexpected at this fantastic mind-blowing evening that has the performers soaring above the crowd - literally! We were seated right on the stage so had an up close and personal experience with it. At first I was worried my sightlines weren't going to be good because I had a tall person sitting in front of me and the seats are all one level on the floor, but luckily, the show finds its way to all nooks and crannies of the theatre. Bet not everyone got a shoulder massage like we did from one of the performers!
The only thing I did not like was a part with a cracking whip, which I don't particularly enjoy the sound of, so didn't think it was necessary unless it was to just elevate my stress level, in which case, mission accomplished! Otherwise, it's an absolute wonderful show that I want to tell everyone to go see, and I would go back to again myself! And I would get seats in the first two rows, centre!
Barbu is on now at The Cultch until June 23!
On now at the York Theatre is an escape into the lush world of a Maori legend. Te Tangi a te Tui is a circus of movement and a circus of language. The show is told completely in the Maori language, supplying a sensory delight for the ears. Add in singing and musical instruments, and the sonic soundscape is just as important as all the visuals happening before your eyes.
Prior to the show, ticket holders were emailed a link to an audio file of the show in English. It is highly recommended that you do the homework before attending. I myself did not do that and found myself fairly lost in terms of the storyline, as there is no translation available on stage.
It is a beautiful and breathtaking show. Te Tangi a te Tui is on now at The York until October 29.
(All photos by David Cooper.)
What better way to herald in the Autumn season than with the annual Vancouver Fringe Festival!? It takes place September 7 - 17.
Fringe can be hit or miss, and that's part of the fun! But here are some featured shows to help you on your way:
Thursday, Sept 7th, 8:45pm, Friday, Sept 8th, 5:00 pm, Saturday, Sept 9th, 6:30 pm, Monday, Sept 11th, 8:45 pm, Tuesday, Sept 12th, 7:15 pm
Femmillennial explores the intersection of the modern femme
persona and generational evolution. A third question also persists: what do we
value as work? Three virtuosic Toronto-based dance artists will invite you into
this world: Kiera Breaugh, Dana MacDonald and Claire Whitaker.
This Show Will Change Your Life
September 8th at 8:00pm / September 9th at 9:30pm / September 10th at 2:30pm / September 13th at 9:15pm / September 15th at 5:00pm / September 16th at 3:30pm
Anne Geddes: The Unauthorized, Untrue Biography
Friday, September 8 at 6:15 p.m / Saturday, September 9 at 3:00 p.m / Monday, September 11 at 5:15 p.m.
Tuesday, September 12 at 9:00 pm / Saturday, September 16 at 7:15 pm / Sunday, Sept. 17 at 6:15 pm
Follow Andy Dufresne as he navigates the Shawshank prison
system along with Red and the gang, while singing parodies of the greatest hits
from the incomparable Johnny Cash. Laugh, cry, and tap your feet as we
respectfully ridicule the film that is still rated #1 on IMDb.com.
FRI Sept 8 @ 6:15 PM / SAT Sept 9 @ 4:15 PM / SUN Sept 10 @ 4:30 PM / TUES Sept 12 @ 8:50 PM / THUR Sept 14 @ 5:00 PM / SAT Sept 16 @ 6:45 PM
A one-woman storytelling show about the private parts of her life told through secrets. A funny, touching and thought-provoking show that takes the audience on a journey of love, loss and secrets. Will she find a path to forgiveness and stop history from repeating itself? We all have secrets, all of us, some are just bigger than others.
Three Acts of a Woman: Birth - Life - Tomorrow
September 7, 2023 5.00pm / September 9, 2023 8.10pm / September 13, 2023 7.00pm / September 15, 2023 7.00pm / September 16, 2023 4.15pm / September 17, 2023 4.45pm
September 7, 2023 5.45pm / September 10, 2023 6.15pm / September 11, 2023 7.00pm / September 13, 2023 7.15pm / September 16, 2023 10.15pm / September 17, 2023 4.30pm
A night of existential stand-up performed by an id. Using
Vaudeville-cum-Fosse dance moves to investigate one woman's ambivalent and
tortured relationship to the male gaze, which she alternately cozies up to and
execrates, it is a catharsis of self-hatred, body dysmorphia, and
self-aggrandizement. A vigorous dose of lipstick smears and shoulder pads. A
marriage between Joan Rivers and gastrointestinal turbulence. A struggle to
hold space for the existential pressure of a bun. A boopity boop.
September 8, 2023 5.00pm / September 9, 2023 6.30pm / September 11, 2023 5.00pm / September 15, 2023 6.45pm / September 16, 2023 2.00pm / September 17, 2023 2.00pm
The Generic Males’ multi-award winning Off-Broadway show
comes to Vancouver Fringe for the first time to give us just what we need:
another god-damn show about men. It’s fathers and sons, it’s war and death. It
takes us into the beating heart of the failing patriarchy as it descends into
acrobatic absurdity.
Welcome to this one-woman world of whimsy, where Greased Lightning meets Cool Rider! It’s Grease and Grease 2, all smooshed together in a musical love letter where you can be even more what you feel. Eleven-year old Megz (with a Z, get it right!) is having a Grease viewing party… and when people show up, the fun begins!
September 7, 2023 5.00pm / September 9, 2023 9.40pm / September 10, 2023 1.00pm / September 13, 2023 7.15pm / September 14, 2023 10.10pm / September 16, 2023 8.00pm
Candice Roberts claims to be a recovering people pleaser and says that Clown School Saved Her Life. LARRY is used to explore her experiences growing up as a female in rural BC, Canada in the 1980s and to transform family challenges into laughter and joy. Culled lovingly from the male archetypes that surrounded her during her upbringing, Larry compassionately examines the limitations of the gender binary, aging as a woman, and the complexities of being human.
All tickets for the Fringe are available online!
Up from down under is the theatre / circus / drag troupe Briefs Factory International with a show that's been six years in the making! Landing at the York Theatre is their piece, Dirty Laundry.
A trio of German women are currently owning the stage down at the York Theatre with their show Raven, a circus performance on the regrets of motherhood.
Wait, what? A circus with a storyline? I was intrigued to see how this was going to go and was extremely impressed with this piece. We are treated to scenes that involve a contortionist who elevates body dysmorphia to a whole new level or a laundry-folding session turned into a party for one. There are moments dealing with judgement when it comes to being a mom. The main thorough line is that high-wire balancing act of juggling motherhood with a career, the guilt of being seen as selfish and not a good maternal figure.
There is so much in this tightly packed show runs; it an hour with no intermission. You will find humour, joy, and sadness, alongside daring feats of circus performance, in this reflective and entertaining show sure to make you gasp and sigh and smile.
Raven by Germany's still hungry is on now at The York Theatre until April 30.
