ARTS INSIDERS

WE ASKED THOSE IN THE KNOW TO REVEAL THEIR SEASON’S HIDDEN GEMS

“I’m very excited to be back at Touchstone and for our opening production,

I have an awe-inspiring cast of seven women—many of Vancouver’s greatest actresses, some familiar with one another, such as recent

Jessie award winners Laara Sadiq and Adele Noronha, and some who have been waiting to get on-stage together forever, such as Colleen Wheeler and Nicola Cavendish. Imagine…” says Roy Surette, artistic director of Touchstone Theatre. “Although

was originally produced at the Firehall in the ’90s, the mastery of Indigenous playwright Drew Hayden Taylor is still relevant and riveting today,” says Firehall Arts Centre g.m. Susan Shank. “The entire season is shaping up to be extremely exciting. I am especially thrilled for the world premiere of UBCTF’S own Jacqueline Firkins’s adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel The characters are delicious, the plot is full of intrigue, and the story has a surprise around every corner!” says Stephen Heatley, head of the department of theatre and film at UBC.

“Six teenagers kidnapped by their parents and sent to a wilderness camp as a last resort to straighten them out—eloquent, edgy and real theatre that resonates,” says Kathryn Shaw, director of Studio 58. “So excited to be jumping back into the room with the amazing Deb Williams and Carmen Aguirre as we work together to take to the next level as the opener in this year’s Micro Performance Series. Deb’s honesty and insights combined with Carmen’s extraordinary life experience keep us laughing and sometimes crying throughout every rehearsal, every day. Working with these two master storytellers as we dig into the complexity of female relationships is hilarious but also personally revelatory,” says Sherry J. Yoon, artistic director of Boca del Lupo. is a work of epic proportions and Puccini’s final masterpiece…featuring a massive chorus, orchestra, and one of the most beloved tenor arias in all of the operatic repertoire,” says Leslie Dala, associate conductor and chorus director of Vancouver Opera.

HAPPY PLACE (Presented by Touchstone Theatre, Ruby Slippers Theatre, and Diwali B.C. from October 19 to 29 at the Firehall Arts Centre) 9 the Truth

Happy Place, Brothel Number (Presented by the Firehall Arts Centre from November 11 to December 2 at the Firehall Arts Centre) Only Drunks and Children Tell (Presented by UBC Theatre from November 9 to 25 at the Frederic Wood Theatre) Wives and Daughters. WILDERNESS (Presented by Studio 58 from November 16 to December 3 at Studio 58) YOU ARE IT (Presented by Boca del Lupo in late November at the Fishbowl) You Are It TURANDOT (Presented by Vancouver Opera from October 13 to 21 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre) “Turandot