the Belfry theatre – an insider’s guide www.belfry.bc.ca

upstageJanuary / March 2015

books / My life with a dog

theatre / why these plays?

spark / first look

volume 1 / issue 3

DOUBLE BILL

Belfry Theatre

who we are –Upstage is the Belfry theatre’s new magazine. our goal is to give you a leisurely, deeper look into our productions. with your tablet or computer you can view our expanded digital version of Upstage on our website or at issuu.com/belfry-theatre.

the Belfry theatre – an insider’s guide www.belfry.bc.ca

upstageJanuary / March 2015

books / My life with a dog

theatre / why these plays?

spark / first look

volume 1 / issue 3

DOUBLE BILL

Belfry Theatre

hellowelcome to the Belfry, the new year and our productions of The Best Brothers and How To Disappear Completely.

Contemporary, topical, charming and funny, these two very different plays share a common theme of mother-son relationships.

How To Disappear Completely comes to us from vancouver’s Chop theatre. this talented group of artists collaborated with itai, using his film footage and incredible gift of the gab, to create a beautiful and brave homage to his mother that has toured internationally.

daniel macivor’s The Best Brothers has been called his best play yet.

we’d love you to join us for a double bill evening at the belfry. tickets are on sale now at 250-385-6815 or at www.belfry.bc.ca

thanks.

uPstage is supported by –

our thanks to production sponsors for the Best Brothers and how to disaPPear ComPletely –

B4Playsaturday, January 24 at 11am

belfry theatre studio a 1291 gladstone avenue

Join cbc radio’s gregor craigie for a live talk show featuring the Best Brothers – actors ron pederson and John ullyatt – anita rochon from chop theatre and some very special community guests. free event.

the Best Brothers is a touching new comedy by daniel Macivor. a freak accident at toronto’s gay days parade leaves bunny best’s sons to mourn her, to celebrate her and to ponder the big questions like “who did she like best?” and “who gets the dog?”

how to disaPPear ComPletely is a remarkable play from Vancouver’s itai erdal. blending his love for lighting design and the true story of his mother in her final days, itai and his collaborators have created one of the most loving and compelling stories you will ever see.

nina michelson wrote the above quote and i am a big fan of the thought. it reminds me that any attempt to separate fiction and non-fiction in art is becoming increasingly difficult; that the massive amounts of information available to us is for the taking and reordering as we see fit; that it’s not always about the stuff that is said, but also the stuff that doesn’t exist – the stuff in the pauses, the stutters, the breaths.

the quote also confirms for me that every piece of theatre is an act of collaborative storytelling shared equally between its creators and its audience, an act of sharing that happens in the gaps as much as the material. this is especially true when telling true stories – and i do italicize true, as truth is in constant and delightful flux in this realm of edges not quite meeting.

this is not to suggest How to Disappear Completely is not true. it happened to itai and his family, he lived through the events, he made the choices. we as creators met for many weeks in the

studio, we sifted through these events as they were told to us, we built a script and meticulously fleshed out details to help with clarity. still, any ultimate truth remains in motion for the simple reason that everything changes the moment an audience hears it.

the audience member fills in the gaps. every word an actor offers an audience member should be offered under the contract that there is nothing passive to sitting out there in the dark. the act of watching is an act of translation – of a person taking the thoughts and movements of the actor and measuring them against and within the context of their own life experiences.

this translation is a great liberator in creating these objects we call documentary-theatre, since it allows us to tell as many stories as there are people to hear them. and in the case of itai – there are already endless amounts of stories. for well over half of the process of making How to Disappear Completely we spent the first hour of every day writing outlines for new shows, complete

box office / information 250-385-6815 www.belfry.bc.ca/tickets Jan / Mar 2015

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‘‘ Collage is pieces of things. their edges don’t meet.

Co-creator and director James long takes us on a journey through the creation of How To Disappear Completely.

cast & creatives

Jan / Mar 2015 box office / information 250-385-6815 www.belfry.bc.ca/tickets

with stage directions, design elements, titles and characters. not only did we have enough material for a 10 hour mini-series, it felt essential that in the case of a show that dealt with such specific issues and weighty emotional baggage, we find a way to include as many narrative angles and textures as possible. as a director (working with a great dramaturge in the Chop’s anita rochon), my primary tasks became first to organize the material to allow for as complete and complex a story as possible, and then to insert the correct amount of gaps or breathing spaces in the story to allow for individual audience experience.

in this kind of work, i like to leave the mechanics of the theatre as visible as possible. as we approach opening i spend as much time roughing up moments as i do polishing, in the belief that the broken bits or rough edges are essential in reminding the audienceof their job as active listener, that they are sitting in a shared space and they too get to create the story. it is this collaboration that keeps me working and watching the theatre. the rough edges and broken bits. i want to activate and engage and i want to play with others. for me, this is what keeps the art alive and breathing.

James long is a vancouver based actor, director and playwright.

(COLLagE Is pIECEs Of THIngs... continued ) why i chosethese plays

when programming for the Belfry theatre, i look for plays that are entertaining and smart and that help us to see the world from different perspectives. Both of the plays in our double Bill exemplify these qualities.

daniel macivor wrote The Best Brothers as a commission for the stratford festival, and they produced it in their studio theatre during the 2012 season.i saw that production and immediately felt that this was a play for the Belfry. it is one

of the funniest plays i have ever seen, while at the same time possessing a simple, sweet-natured charm, and delivering surprisingly moving lessons for life.

long an observer of contem-porary relationships, with all their attendant neurotic behaviour, bad manners and defensiveness, daniel has, with this play, added a gentleness and wisdom that makes his writing even more accessible and affecting. it even makes his humour – always in abundant evidence – that much more hilarious; we know and understand these characters, and are embarrassed and anxious for them both.

daniel macivor has long been one of this country’s most prolific and respected playwrights. winner of the siminovitch Prize for theatre and the governor general’s award for english language theatre, he is equally successfulas an actor, director and screenwriter. itai erdal, on the other hand, the writer and performer at the centre of

ron pedersonKyle Best

itai erdalperformer / co-creator / lighting designer

John ullyatthamilton Best

James longco-creator / director

daniel Macivorplaywright

anita rochonco-creator / dramaturge

glynis leyshondirector

emelia symington fedyco-creator / sound designer

peter hartwellset & costume designer

Jamie nesbittprojection designer

guy simardlighting designer

caryn fehrstage manager

brian lindssound designer

erin crowleyassistant stage manager

story highlightsemelia symington fedy, one of the co-creators of How To Disappear Completely, will perform her live performance yoga piece, Through The gaze of a navel, at this year’s sParK festival in march.

Buddy, daniel macivor’s italian greyhound, is the inspiration for enzo in The Best Brothers.

the stratford festival’s premiere production of The Best Brothers was remounted at the tarragon theatre.

how to disaPPear ComPletely

the Best Brothers

get engagedb4play podcastsif you can’t make B4Play in person you can hear the full interviews on our website (the respective show page) and our soundCloud page – soundcloud.com/belfrytheatre.

select segments from B4Play will air (usually during our opening week) on CBC radio’s On The Island.

free childcare perforMance sunday, feb 8during select sunday matinee performances, we offer free, professional childcare (ages 3 – 10) at the springridge early Childhood Centre at 1222 gladstone avenue, just a block from the Belfry (free parking is available right across the street in the victoria high school Parking lot).

we only have a limited number of spots available. to book your tickets and a spot for your kids, please call our Box office at 250-385-6815.

afterplay weeks feb 3 – 7 / feb 17 – 21following selected performances of The Best Brothers / How To Disappear Completely, we’ll host afterplay – a facilitated discussion where patrons can share their thoughts with fellow audience members. it’s a chance to “debrief” after the show and hear how other audience members experienced the play.

talkback thursday thursday, feb 5following the 8 pm performance of The Best Brothers / How To Disappear Completely, join the actors from the show and your fellow audience members for a 20-minute Q & a session.

www.belfry.bc.ca

get socialfollow us on facebook or

twitter to learn more during the run of

The Best Brothers and How To Disappear

Completely.

How To Disappear Completely, is a first-time writer and first-time performer.

throughout his theatricalcareer, itai has primarily been occupied as a lighting designer – and very successfully.an award-winning designer, he has worked here at the Belfry and right across the country, including the stratfordfestival, where he lit the original production of The Best Brothers. with his collaboratorsat the Chop theatre – Jamie, anita and emelia – he has turned this very personal story into an examination of relationships, life and death, art, and lighting design.

what is most astounding and engaging about How To Disappear Completely is itai’s performance – or lack thereof! i cannot figure out how he manages to be so real onstage – so totally himself. he has performed How To Disappear Completely innumerable times (including a run at the stratford festival – this is a very stratford double Bill!), and yet he has not created

a “version” of himself that he presents to audiences. he presents himself – exactly the way he is when you meet him in a bar or when working with him on a show. his immediacyand truthfulness are the source of this production’s charm, and one of the reasons we are so willing to take this journey with him.

i could have programmed How To Disappear Completely as part of the sParK festival – it is new and unique enough to fit that mandate. however, i was convinced that our mainstage audiences would love this piece as much as i do, and i wanted to ensure that as many as possible would see it. and so we have this unique evening of two plays, connected by their theme of mother-son relationships, by their charm and intelligence,and by creative artists who have been part of seasons past, returning with new gifts to share with us.

Michael shamataartistic director

belfry librarianwe’ve unleashed the gVpl librarians on our season scripts. for this double bill our librarian has compiled a list of books to help you get even more out of our production.

the Best Brothers book list

this is where i leave you by Jonathan tropper (2009)

bad dogs have More fun by John grogan (2007)

the art of racing in the rain by garth stein (2008)

Marley and Me: life and love with the world’s worst dog by John grogan (2005)

dogs Make us human: a global family album by J. moussaief masson (2011)

how to raise the perfect dog: through puppyhood and beyondby Cesar millan (2009)

why does My dog act that way? by stanley Coren (2006)

how to disaPPear ComPletely book list

extraordinary by david gilmour (2013)

the last lecture by randy Pausch (2008)

Manatees and dugongs of the world by Jeff ripple (1999)

stage lighting explained by neil fraser (2002)

Mothers and sons by Colm toibin (2007)

list Compiled by librarian hannah mitchell, gvPl.

books

free play readings

billy nothin’ by sean dixon monday, marCh 9, 7 pm

play reading tba monday, marCh 16, 7 pm

free Miniplaysthis year’s crop of miniplays are inspired by the work of theatre sKam, and the miniplayers are:Charles rossimpulse theatrerebecca hassBarbara Poggemilleryouth from Kate rubin’s theatre and drama schoolZopyra theatre

professional deVelopMent workshops

introduCtion to sound design with Brian linds

masK maKing with laura farn

PhysiCal aPProaChes to CharaCter with Jo leslie

Midway toga party! saturday, marCh 14Come as your favourite god, goddess or plebe.

Joan Peggs started volunteeringfor the Belfry in 1976, the year after the theatre opened! in those days the concession booth was located at the back of the seating area; Joan watched the performances perched on a stool behind the concession counter.

a play that stands out for Joan is the one-woman show maggie & pierre, written by linda griffiths and Paul thompson. Patricia oatman, who performed in the Belfry production, was absolutely outstanding, says Joan,

playing both Pierre and margaret trudeau.

as someone who has been coming to the theatre for almost four decades, it always surprises Joan when she meets long-time victorians who are visiting the Belfry for their first time. one reason she believes in the value of the theatre? “the Belfry supports a huge infrastructure, job-wise, in victoria.”

Joan commends the Belfry for its generosity to its volunteers.But let’s take a moment to appreciate how generous

Joan has been to the Belfry! in addition to her volunteer work, she makes a substantial annual donation and faithfully attends every agm as a voting member. this season, she’s joining our fundraising committee so she can help with event-planning.

we are fortunate to have Joan supporting the Belfry on all these levels. Joan is one of our 250 volunteers who welcome you to the theatre and pour you a drink at inter-mission. our volunteers help us provide a welcoming

atmosphere at the Belfry, and keep our ticket prices affordable for everyone in the community.

for information on the many ways to support the Belfry theatre, contact development manager susan stevenson at 250-385-6835, ext. 229 or development@belfry.bc.ca.

susan stevenson, development manager

for the full story please see our digital version of upstage at issuu.com/belfry-theatre

meet Joan peggs,volunteer and Belfry suPPorter extraordinaire “

the belfry supports a huge infrastructure, job-wise, in Victoria.

Jan / Mar 2015 box office / information 250-385-6815 www.belfry.bc.ca/tickets

sParK festival newsour annual spark festival starts March 9 and we want to let you know about some of the things we have planned so far.

Check our website for more details as they become available.

Jan / Mar 2015 box office / information 250-385-6815 www.belfry.bc.ca/tickets

how to buy ticketsby telephone 250-385-6815Please have your credit card ready, as well as the date and time of the performance you wish to attend.

onlinevisit www.belfry.bc.ca/tickets, and buy your tickets online, anytime.

in persondrop by our Box office.

we accept visa, mastercard, american express, debit card, cheques, and, of course, cash.

tickets on sale now at 250-385-6815 or www.belfry.bc.ca

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2015 Jan 18 19 20 24 11am b4play

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 4 pm b/d 8 pm b/d p 8 pm b/d p 8 pm b/d o 8 pm b/d 8 pm b/d

feb 1 2 3 4 5 6 72 pm b/d 1 pm b/d 4 pm b/d 8 pm b/d a 8 pm b/d a 8 pm b/d t 8 pm b/d a 8 pm b/d a

8 9 10 11 12 13 142 pm b/d cM 1 pm b/d 4 pm b/d 8 pm b/d 8 pm b/d 8 pm b/d 8 pm b/d 8 pm b/d

15 16 17 18 19 20 212 pm b/d 1 pm b/d sM booksmack 4 pm b/d 7 pm 8 pm b/d a 8 pm b/d a 8 pm b/d a 8 pm b/d a 8 pm b/d a

22 23 24 25 26 27 282 pm b/d 4 pm b/d 8 pm b/d 8 pm b/d 8 pm b/d 8 pm b/d 8 pm b/d

Mar 1 2 3 4 5 2 pm b/d c

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 7 pm play 8 pm boys 8 pm boys 8 pm boys 8 pm boys 8 pm boys reading 8 pm gaze 8 pm gaze 8 pm gaze 8 pm gaze 8 pm gaze

15 16 17 18 19 20 212 pm boys 7 pm 2 pm gaze play reading 8 pm god 8 pm god 8 pm god 8 pm god 8 pm god

apr 5 6 7 8 11 11am b4play

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 4 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya p 8 pm Vanya p 8 pm Vanya o 8 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya

19 20 21 22 23 24 252 pm Vanya 1 pm Vanya 4 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya a 8 pm Vanya a 8 pm Vanya t 8 pm Vanya a 8 pm Vanya a

26 27 28 29 30 May 1 22 pm Vanya cM 1 pm Vanya 4 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya

3 4 5 6 7 8 92 pm Vanya 1 pm Vanya sM 4 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya a 8 pm Vanya a 8 pm Vanya a 8 pm Vanya a 8 pm Vanya a

10 11 12 13 14 15 162 pm Vanya 4 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya 8 pm Vanya

172 pm Vanya c

p Preview o opening c Closing a afterplay t talkback sM special student matinee cM Childcare matinee

vanya and sonia and masha and sPiKe

Boys with Cars & let me Borrow that toP

through the gaZe of a navel

the god that Comes

the Best Brothers

how to disaPPear ComPletely b/d

250-385-6815 or www.belfry.bc.ca

belfry theatre 1291 gladstone aVenueVictoria, bc V8t 1g5

our thanks to season sponsors and government funders –

sParK

festival

2015

april 14 – May 17, 2015

“ “ “the god that Comescreated by hawksley workman and christian barrylive music and performance by hawksley workman

a tour de force... Calgary sun

Boys with Cars & let me Borrow that toPcreated and performed by anita Majumdar

... ease, elegance and intelligence. deePa mehta

through the gaZe of a navelcreated by anita rochon & emelia symington fedy

yoga satire. brilliant, brash, and wickedly wise. danielle laPorte,

author of THE DEsIrE map

“ vanya and sonia and masha and sPiKeby christopher durang

brainy and witty and clever and cute... variety

festival Pass –three vouchers validfor any show during sParK $69

coming up next –

single ticketson sale now!

belfry theatre

March 10 – 22, 2015