Season Guide September 2016–May 2017

WHAT:

WHY:

One of this country’s most admired and

Because gathering to tell stories is a part of being

respected professional theatre companies,

human; because we are curious by nature; because

specializing in contemporary plays and focusing

the theatre is the best place in the world to share

on Canadian work.

ideas; and because the work we do is good.

WHERE:

WHO:

In our beautiful and extremely intimate 274-

You – you helped to make last season a grand

seat theatre, made up of two renovated and

success, and we look forward to seeing you

re-purposed churches, in the charming and

again as our journey continues, together with

funky neighbourhood of Fernwood, in the city

Joni and Alice and Hannah and Joan and Kate

of Victoria, on an astonishing island off the west

and Erin and Deborah and Evalyn…and more

coast of our proud yet humble country.

and more and more. With warm regards,

2

Ivan Habel,

Michael Shamata,

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Capital Campaign It’s been 25 years since we built our lobby.

In the coming months, we’ll announce plans for

With thousands of performances and well over

our new improvements and will be asking for

a million patrons using it, our little jewel of a

your support.

building is starting to show some major wear and tear. This summer we replaced the theatre seats and next summer we’ll be making some major changes to our lobby - all designed to ensure your comfort, accessibility and enjoyment of this wonderful space. We are committed to operating with fiscal responsibility in all of our endeavours, and are on a sound financial footing, owning our

Your support, large or small, will enable us to take advantage of other available funding essentially doubling your contribution. If you would like to learn more about the Capital Campaign or how you can get involved, please contact Susan or Judi at 250-385-6835 or visit www.belfry.bc.ca/capital-campaign-1millionchallenge Thank you!

building outright. 3

MAINSTAGE 1

September 20— October 16, 2016

“…wit, intelligence, power and compassion…

female monarch. I love its modern dress and

superb...” TORONTO STAR

modern language. This play premiered last

“…funny and fanciful…entertaining and absorbing…” NATIONAL POST “…dynamic, engrossing…truly excellent theatre” POSTMEDIA

summer at the Stratford Festival, and I am proud that we are giving it its second production. MICHAEL SHAMATA

CAST

This contemporary re-imagining of the

Sean Baek, Oliver Becker, Ellis James Frank,

compelling relationship between Henry VIII

Anie Richer, Celine Stubel, and Mahalia Golnosh

and his last wife, Katherine Parr, is a witty and

Tahririha

powerful examination of sexual politics. It’s a dangerous game of chess with Henry’s offspring,

CREATIVE TEAM

Mary, Elizabeth and Edward as pawns.

Esther Jun Director

A co-production with the Great Canadian Theatre Company (Ottawa). WHY I CHOSE THIS PLAY

The moment I read this script, I knew it was a ‘Belfry play.’ Smart, contemporary, and witty, it confidently and proudly looks at history through a female lens. Katherine Parr’s brains are sexy to Henry, and her mentorship of the young Elizabeth paves the way for a strong

Shannon Lea Doyle Designer Martin Conboy Lighting Designer John Gzowski Sound Designer Jennifer Swan Stage Manager Jessica McLeod Assistant Stage Manager AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EVENTS B4PLAY ·

Saturday, September 17, 11 am

TALKBACK · Thursday, September 29 VOCALEYE ·

Sunday, October 16, 2 pm

SUPPORTED BY

5

MAINSTAGE 2

November 8— December 4, 2016 Hotel and wanted an excuse to invite some of WORLD PREMIERE

them back! What could be more fun than reexamining these remarkable songs and finding

“One of the greatest songwriters ever.”

new variations? MS

ROLLING STONE

“...Joni Mitchell may stand as the most important

CAST INCLUDES

and influential female recording artist of the late

Jonathan Gould, Evangelia Kambites, Linda

20th century.” ALLMUSIC

Kidder, and Anton Lipovetsky

“LA is my workplace. BC is my heartbeat.” JONI MITCHELL

CREATIVE TEAM

Michael Shamata Concept / Director

A romantic musical event built around the

Tobin Stokes Arranger / Musical Director

songs of Joni Mitchell. With hits like Big Yellow

Cory Sincennes Designer

Taxi, Chelsea Morning, Both Sides Now and You

Alan Brodie Lighting Designer

Turn Me On I’m a Radio, Joni Mitchell continues

Amy Jewell Stage Manager

to inspire artists ranging from Crosby, Stills,

Christopher Sibbald Assistant Stage Manager

Nash and Young to Kanye West; from James Taylor to Sarah McLachlan.

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EVENTS B4PLAY ·

Saturday, November 5, 11 am

WHY I CHOSE THIS PLAY

TALKBACK ·

Thursday, November 17

Simple: I wanted music in the season, and

VOCALEYE ·

Sunday, November 27, 2 pm

could think of no more iconic Canadian singersongwriter than our beloved Joni Mitchell. I also fell in love with the performers in Chelsea

SUPPORTED BY

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MAINSTAGE 3

January 20— February 19, 2017 and this audience. Gracie is that play – and it is a WORLD PREMIERE

beautiful study of a young girl as she gradually develops a sense of self and self-direction.

“One of the most important playwrights

Approaching Gracie’s situation with the same

working in Canada today” TORONTO STAR

absence of judgement that made The Valley so

“Joan MacLeod has written deeply complex

compelling, Joan has given us a moving portrait

characters who pulse with life and humour”

of a moral quandary. MS

CBC RADIO

CAST

Tucked away in a corner of our province is Bountiful, the largest polygamous community in Canada. With deep empathy and compassion, Joan MacLeod (The Valley) takes us into young Gracie’s world, where she has cause to question the faith she’s always lived by.

Lili Beaudoin CREATIVE TEAM

Vanessa Porteous Director Catherine Hahn Designer Narda McCarroll Lighting Designer

A co-production with Alberta Theatre Projects

Tobin Stokes Composer & Sound Designer

(Calgary).

Jennifer Swan Stage Manager Sadie Fox Apprentice Stage Manager

WHY I CHOSE THIS PLAY

How blessed we are to have playwright Joan MacLeod living in our midst! We commissioned Joan to write a play specifically for this theatre

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EVENTS B4PLAY ·

Saturday, January 21, 11 am

TALKBACK · Thursday, February 2 VOCALEYE ·

Sunday, February 12, 2 pm

SUPPORTED BY

The Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation 9

MAINSTAGE 4

April 18— May 14, 2017 to Victoria to perform Alice Munro, I was taken WORLD PREMIERE

with the idea of putting her words onstage. With their blessing and guidance, we have

“…you, dear Alice Munro, have come close to

chosen our own Munro stories, and we’ll all be

solving the greatest mystery of them all – the

able to revel in her sublime writing and blessed

human heart.” NOBEL PRIZE AWARD CEREMONY

humanity. MS

The master of the contemporary short story,

CAST INCLUDES

Alice Munro won the Nobel Prize for Literature

Caroline Gillis, Marci T. House, and Kevin Loring

in 2013. In this world premiere, we’ll perform two of Alice’s short stories, word-for-word, in a unique theatrical event that celebrates her exceptional language and the audience’s imagination.

CREATIVE TEAM

Anita Rochon Director Peter Hartwell Designer Alan Brodie Lighting Designer Antoine Bedard Sound Designer

WHY I CHOSE THIS PLAY

Jennifer Swan Stage Manager

I was approached by Word for Word, a theatre

Breanne Harmon Assistant Stage Manager

company in San Francisco. For over 20 years they have been putting short stories onstage

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

“word-for-word,” and they wanted to bring

B4PLAY ·

to the Belfry their Alice Munro show. While I

TALKBACK · Thursday, April 27

couldn’t justify bringing an American company

VOCALEYE ·

Saturday, April 15, 11 am Sunday, May 7, 2 pm

SUPPORTED BY

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This Little Light B O O K & LYR I C S

ERIN MACKLEM M U S I C & LYR I C S

B R A D L’ É C U Y E R

December 10—23, 2016

WHY I CHOSE THIS PLAY WORLD PREMIERE

This sweet and tuneful musical has been in development at the Belfry for over two years. It

This holiday season we’ll bring you this

has grown and blossomed, and is ready to be

melodious musical as a staged presentation.

shared! With its holiday setting, its emphasis

A beautiful way to celebrate the season and

on community and social responsibility, it is a

a special way to experience this brand new

perfect follow-up to last season’s production of

musical play, written specifically for Victoria and

A Christmas Carol. Plus it has wonderful songs!

Fernwood.

With the voices of CCPA’s Company C members,

Starring Company C from the Canadian College

together with community choirs, the Belfry

of the Performing Arts, and choirs from George

Theatre will be filled with gorgeous music at this

Jay Elementary, Central Middle School and

family time of the year. MS

Victoria High School, plus other special guests. CREATIVE TEAM

Jane Johanson Director Brad L’Écuyer Musical Director Bryan Kenney Lighting Designer Jessica McLeod Stage Manager

SUPPORTED BY

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STUDIO

February 21—March 12, 2017

WORLD PREMIERE

STARRING

Deborah Williams Life seems like one big To Do list for Minnie: a middle-aged, middle class, mildly medicated mother, wife and self-employed “daughter-forhire.” What she needs is a weekend away with her BFF.

CREATIVE TEAM

James Fagan Tait Director Carole Klemm Set Designer Erin Macklem Costume Designer Bryan Kenney Lighting Designer

WHY I CHOSE THIS PLAY

Malcolm Dow Sound Designer

Deborah Williams played dear, sad Sonia in

Jessica McLeod Stage Manager

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. One of the writer/performers of Mom’s the Word, and the Belfry’s Associate Artist, Deborah has been working with us on this play for a couple of years. I programmed it because it speaks to our audience with Deb’s wry, sardonic sense of humour, and her enormous heart. MS

SUPPORTED BY

15

March 12—26, 2017 SPIN

“By giving the women of the 1920s a voice, Moscovitch has given many contemporary women a voice as well.” GLOBE & MAIL]

by Evalyn Perry

THIS IS NOT A CONVERSATION

(Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Toronto)

by Itai Erdal, Dima Alansari & Ker Wells

“Part theatre, part music gig, part spoken word

(Elbow Theatre, Vancouver)

poetry, part documentary: whatever it is, it is

“Itai’s stories are personal, intimate, open and

brilliant.” TORONTO STAR

brave; they have a sensitive tone and turn to

“SPIN makes something beautiful out of taking

the very essence of human condition, namely

your life into your own hands.” GLOBE & MAIL “…a show with as much heart as it possesses design and brains.” CALGARY HERALD

WHAT A YOUNG WIFE OUGHT TO KNOW by Hannah Moscovitch (2b Theatre, Halifax) “Moscovitch, a 2014 finalist for the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, has added a painful, poetic piece of Canadian history to the literature of this country.” A HALIFAX HERALD 16

history, family, cultural background, social and political constraints.” ART VANGUARD

REVERBERATIONS by Brian Linds (Victoria) World Premiere. As an actor and sound designer, Brian has created a site-specific performance piece exploring sound as a narrative form. Reverberations reflects a man’s life through soundscapes in five different rooms of a house. Five performers respond to the sonic environments of each room. Developed with the assistance of the Belfry’s New Incubator Project.

WHY WE ARE HERE! created by Martin Julien and Brian Quirt (Nightswimming, Toronto) This is an invitation to sing with other people. No experience required but it is an experience.

Season Ticket holders can purchase Spring Vouchers to save on SPARK Festival tickets. Single tickets for SPARK shows go on sale this fall.

JOAN by Matthew Payne (Theatre SKAM, Victoria) For over thirty years Joan attended arts happenings in the city, finishing most evenings at Swan’s, dancing to live music. In 2007 she

Left; Liisa Repo-Martell and David Patrick Flemming in What A Young Wife Ought To Know - Photo by Timothy Richard Right; Evalyn Parry in SPIN - Photo by Jeremy Mimnagh

SUPPORTED BY

entered extended care after she fell and was declared incapable. Actor and playwright Matthew Payne decided he would be her voice. This journey is at the heart of this project. Theatre SKAM’s production of Joan will run at

CVV Magazine

The Metro Theatre as part of the SPARK Festival from March 17 to 23, 2017.

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Audience Engagement Live Events Throughout the season we’ll host a number of events that will deepen your experience at the Belfry or just plain astound you. Dates are listed on our show pages and online.

B4PLAY

TALKBACK THURSDAY

Live talk shows, hosted by CBC Radio’s Gregor

Meet the actors post-performance when they

Craigie, and featuring artists from the upcoming

return to the stage to answer questions and

show, along with experts from the community,

provide insight into the play.

have been designed to provide insight into each Mainstage production. Each event is recorded, podcast on our website and some segments are broadcast on CBC’s On The Island. AFTERPLAY

Facilitated discussions – audience member to audience member – following every evening Mainstage performance (except Opening Night and Talkback Thursday). These are a great opportunity to share your thoughts and hear how fellow patrons reacted to the show.

THE FLAME

A live storytelling event, hosted by actor/writer Deborah Williams, featuring real people telling real stories. These evenings feature musical guests and surprising stories from your friends and neighbours. BOOKSMACK

Librarians go head-to-head as they race against the clock to speed review their favourite books in these fun and competitive events, co-presented with the Greater Victoria Public Library.

Worldplay Presented by Puente Theatre and hosted by the Belfry, Worldplay is a festival of staged readings of plays from around the world. Worldplay runs in January / February each year and is an incredible opportunity to hear voices from around the world. Past festivals have featured work from China, Chile, Nigeria, Iraq, Egypt, Iran, Mexico, USA, Lithuania, Russia, South Africa, India, Syria, the Philippines and Barbados. A talkback follows each staged reading.

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Online + Print

Accessible Performances

PODCASTS

VOCALEYE

Hear and download the full interviews from

For our patrons with low or no vision, we

each B4Play and recent stories from The Flame

offer one VocalEye performance during each

at soundcloud.com/belfrytheatre.

Mainstage production. Trained Audio Describers

UPSTAGE MAGAZINE

Our free in-house magazine, providing insight into each Mainstage production and further enriching your experience is available by mail, email, on our website, and in the Lobby. Let us know if you would like an advance copy.

provide descriptions of the visual elements of the show, allowing people with low vision to enjoy the theatrical experience without missing any of the details. HEARING ASSIST

For patrons who are hard of hearing, the theatre is equipped with an infra-red hearing assist

In Person READING COPIES OF SCRIPTS

Read the play before or after you see it. We have scripts available at the Box Office, for reading in the Lobby. BUILDING TOURS

Explore our beautiful heritage building. Call

system. We have 6 devices available through the Box Office. FREE CHILDCARE PERFORMANCES

To help young parents experience the Belfry, we offer inexpensive tickets and free childcare for young families on select Sunday afternoons. To book your tickets and a spot for your kids (between 3 - 10 years old), please call our Box Office at 250-385-6815.

Erin Macklem at 250-385-6835 to book a free tour. Tours are dependent on our production schedule. SCRIPTS FOR SALE

New this year – the Belfry Bookshelf! Browse the new shelves in the lobby and purchase your own copies of Canadian plays, including local playwrights and playwrights who have been part of recent Belfry seasons.

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Tickets We offer you four ways to enjoy the Belfry.

SINGLE TICKETS

Single tickets for our Mainstage productions, This Little Light and Taking Off are on sale now. SPARK Festival tickets will go on sale later in the Fall.

SEASON TICKETS

You’ll receive one ticket for each Mainstage production with benefits including:

Ticket Information

SAVINGS - You can save up to 33% over single

SINGLE TICKET DISCOUNTS

ticket prices.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

BEST SEATS

- As a season ticket holder you are

always at the front of the line. You’ll always get the best available seats. FLEXIBILITY

- We have 8 different season ticket

packages. One is sure fit your budget and schedule. DINING DISCOUNT CARD

– 50%

UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE / POST SECONDARY STUDENTS – 25% SENIORS – 10% MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY – 25%

(with valid ID) BELFRY FUTURES FUND

- Subscribe to the

You’re all part of our future too. A portion

Saturday at 4 pm package and you’ll receive a

of every subscription and ticket purchase is

dining discount card - entitling you to discounts

directed toward the Belfry Futures Fund, a special

at several local restaurants.

reserve to ensure the long term vitality of our facility and programming.

SPRING VOUCHERS

For our Season Ticket Holders who wish to see

SERVICE CHARGES

work outside our Mainstage Series, we offer

We don’t really have any. If you would like us to

Spring Vouchers that you can use to see This

mail your single tickets to you in advance, we

Little Light, Taking Off, or our always exciting

will charge you $1.50 to cover postage and the

SPARK Festival. Spring Vouchers are just $20

cost of the envelope. That’s all.

each, and you can add as many vouchers as you wish to your Season Ticket package.

TICKET EXCHANGES

Tickets may be exchanged for another FLEX PASS

performance (within that production/subject to

Our Flex Pass, four vouchers you can use in any

availability) providing they are received at the

combination, gives you the opportunity to pick

Box Office (in person, by mail, fax or email) 24

and choose the shows you’d like to see. Perfect

hours prior to the performance for which they

for those who like to travel. You can book your

were issued. Exchanges are $1 per ticket (free for

seats at any time.

season ticket holders). If exchanging for a higherpriced ticket, you will be asked to pay the difference.

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How to Buy Tickets

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, debit card, cheques, and, of course,

BY TELEPHONE

cash.

250-385-6815

BOX OFFICE HOURS

Please have your credit card ready, as well as the date and time of the performance

During Performance Weeks Monday 9:30 am – 5 pm

you wish to attend.

Tuesday – Thursday 9:30 am – 6:30 pm

ONLINE

Friday – Saturday 9:30 – 7:00 pm

Visit www.belfry.bc.ca/tickets, and buy

Tuesday – Sunday one hour prior to curtain

your single tickets online, anytime.

time for in-person sales and pickups only.

IN PERSON

During Non-performance Weeks

Drop by our Box Office, 1291 Gladstone

Monday – Friday 9:30 am – 5 pm

Avenue at Fernwood.

Season Ticket Savings Chart Package

Price

4 single tickets

Previews

$86 $120

Tuesday

$96 $120

Savings (up to) 28% 20%

Wednesday Matinee $121

$180

33%

Wednesday / Thursday $141

$196

28%

Friday

$156 $212

26%

Saturday Matinee $156 $212

26%

Saturday Evening $156 $212

26%

Sunday Matinee

$141

22%

Flex Pass

$166 Variable

$180

All ticket sales are non-refundable. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice. GST is not included.

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Map Pembroke

Pembroke

Gladstone

P

Stanley

Caledonia

Gladstone

Fernwood

Chambers

Victoria High School

Vining

Camosun

Grant

Balmoral

ie

gb

Pandora

Be

Getting Here FREE PARKING

BUS SERVICE

You may park free of charge in the Victoria

The Belfry is serviced directly by the 22 Haultain

High School parking lots during any evening

/ Burnside Bus. Routes 1, 2,10, 24, 25, 27 & 28 all

or weekend performance. During our weekday

stop within three blocks of the theatre. Routes

matinees, that parking lot is reserved, and your

11 & 14 stop within five blocks of the theatre.

car will be towed. Please use the street parking indicated on the map. If you park in zones marked “Residential” you will be ticketed.

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BICYCLES

There are a number of bike racks in the courtyard outside the theatre.

Seating Plan

MAIN FLOOR

MAIN FLOOR

G

F

E D

3

2

1

2

1

C

3

2

1

B

1

A

8

9

8

9

8

9

8

9

7

8

6

5

4

3

2

1

6

5

4

3

2

7

6

5

4

3

7

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5

4

7

6

5

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5

4

3

2

1

4

3

2

1

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 1 8

9

8

7

6

5

19 20 21 22 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 23 18 1 9 2 0 2 1 22 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 23 7 18 24 19 20 21 13 12 14 11 15 10 22 16 1 7 18 23 19 24 20 21 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 22 7 18 2 3 19 20 24 21 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 22 16 17 23 18 19 24 9 10 11 12 13 20 7 8 14 21 15 16 22 B 17 18 19 A

G

F

E D C

STAGE STAGE

BALCONY BALCONY

D

7

6

C

10

B

5

C

14 15 16 1 7 1 12 13 8

B

A

8

7 5

5 4

4 3

3 2

2

1

1

A

B

A

B

C

30 8 29 27 2

27 28 25 26

31 9 30 28 2

D

6

5

6

7

6

7

8

2

1

25

27

4

24

26

26 25

24 23

D

25

24

3

C

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A

8

11

20

D

22

4

15 16 17 18 13 14 19

20

21

10

12

21

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24

9

11

18

B

A

15 16 17 18 19 13 14 20 12

A

3

9

10

12 13 14 15 1 6 17 10 11

C

B

11

9

D

D

9

8

STAGE

STAGE

Design & Illustrations by Jeff Kulak / Photos - Michael Shamata and Ivan Habel (2) / Celine Stubel in The Last Wife (4) / Lili Beaudoin in Gracie (8) / Deborah Williams in Taking Off (12) - Photos by Jo-Ann Richards, Works Photography / Keay & Associates Architecture Ltd (3) / Special Thanks to Diana Nielsen, Erin Macklem and Pacific Opera Victoria.

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Get your tickets today! 250-385-6815 [email protected] www.belfry.bc.ca

1291 Gladstone Avenue Victoria, BC, V8T 1G5 Administration 250-385-6835

THE LAST WIFE

WHAT A YOUNG WIFE

by Kate Hennig

OUGHT TO KNOW

I THINK I’M FALLIN’—

by Hannah Moscovitch

THE SONGS OF JONI MITCHELL

THIS IS NOT A CONVERSATION

Conceived by Michael Shamata

by Itai Erdal, Dima Alansari & Ker Wells

THIS LITTLE LIGHT

JOAN

Book & Lyrics by Erin Macklem,

by Matthew Payne

Music & Lyrics by Brad L’Écuyer GRACIE

by Joan MacLeod TAKING OFF

by Deborah Williams

REVERBERATIONS

by Brian Linds WHY ARE WE HERE!

by Martin Julien and Brian Quirt ALICE MUNRO STORIES

SPIN

by Evalyn Parry Charitable Registration Number 119215549 RR0001.

SEASON SPONSORS

PUBLIC FUNDERS

All plays and players subject to availability. All ticket sales are non-refundable. Ticket prices are subject to change. GST is not included.