The Bus Stop Theatre Co-Op is accepting applications for their inaugural Playwrights Unit. Starting in November, selected playwrights will attend a monthly meeting and begin writing a brand new play. Members will act as a dramaturgy hivemind for each other’s developing scripts, housing a creative space to connect with other playwrights on a consistent and focused… Read More

A few months ago I read an article by Vancouver theatre critic Erika Thorkelson, who received some aggressive comments from playwright George F. Walker after she questioned the portrayal of women in his work. A few days ago, friends of mine returned from a trip to Antigonish where they took in the world premiere of Walker's new play For… Read More

So as I said on Facebook, it'd be silly of me review a play that my best friend wrote, featuring my life partner (or would it). Instead I sent along five questions to the wonderful Natasha MacLellan, Artistic Producer of Ship's Company Theatre and director of the magnificent piece, After Eepersip Disappeared by Kristin 'Tomato'… Read More

2b Theatre's Unconscious at the Sistine Chapel, by Michael MacKenzie and directed by Anthony Black, centres around a chance meeting between avant-garde novelist James Joyce (Tom Lute) and Doctor Sigmund Freud (Marcel Jeannin). The two are visiting the chapel with Joyce's pregnant wife Nora (Rebecca Parent) and Freudian sister-in-law Minna (Rosa Labordé).  A contemporary story-line intertwines with the historical… Read More

Hello friendos, long time no Presence. I'm back with a Post-Haste taste of Zuppa Theatre's show How Small, How Far Away (a revised and revamped incarnation of the play formerly known as The Attaining Gigantick Dimensions). That’s post-haste – with all possible speed. These short q&a’s with artists are meant to promote their fast-approaching projects. I… Read More

It’s really hard to think about how to review a show that is one person's intimate personal account and also when that one person is your buddy! What is the “point” of a review, really?  To dissect story-lines, to comment on acting ability, to hypothesize on direction choices?  To muse on taste, on expectations, on exactly… Read More

Leaving Wonderland, a new play by Shelley Thompson produced by LunaSea Theatre, was just one of those plays I went to with vivid expectations and left feeling slightly let-down.   I went in to the show knowing that Thompson plans on adapting it into a screenplay, and was already feeling a bit uneasy about that.… Read More

I was feeling conflicted about Angels & Heroes production of  girls! girls! girls!  before seeing it -- mega-intrigued by both script and set (back lot of the Bus Stop Theatre),  excited to see this constellation of actors working with director Richie Wilcox,  but I was also harboring a strange swirl of resistance and envy upon… Read More

Are you eager to hear from another Solo-Icious artist? You're in luck; this is the second instalment of the Solo-Icious Poste-Haste Presence!  Following my (e-mail) chat with Andrew Jackson, is a quick q&a with bar-tending and cocktail expert Shane Beehan, head bartender at the soon to open Lot Six Bar (aka #shanethebartender of Field Guide fame).  Beehan will… Read More

Hello theatre -- music -- sex-ed -- art fans! Welcome to another round of Post-Haste Presence!  That’s post-haste – with all possible speed. These are short q&a’s with artists to promote their fast-approaching  projects.  With the third incarnation of Solo-icious opening FRIDAY NIGHT, (which you can read more about here) I'm hoping to share with… Read More