Pi Theatre and the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival present the English Canadian premiere of David Greig’s daring play, The Events. Inspired by the 2011 killing of 69 people at a summer camp in Utøya, Norway, the healing powers of love, forgiveness, and faith are thrown into doubt in one of the decade’s most incendiary and important works. The Events showcases Metro Vancouver’s vibrant community choir scene with a different choral group performing onstage each night, providing a consoling presence in the face of adversity.

Photo credit: Emily Cooper

The Events

Tickets: Available online now from $26.
Where: The Russian Hall (600 Campbell Avenue, Vancouver)
When: January 17 to 28, 2018 at 8:00pm with matinées January 20, 21, 27 & 28 at 2:00pm. Discussions and Talkbacks on themes of The Events will take place after every show.

Directed by Richard Wolfe with musical score by John Browne, The Events’ narrative follows Claire, a female priest and choirmaster, who has recently experienced a faith-shattering act of terror. As she struggles to understand the event that changed her life, we are asked to decide whether love and hope can survive in the wake of an inexplicable act of violence.

The work is not a biopic of the 2011 attack in Norway, nor is it filled with violent acts. Instead, it follows Claire’s attempt to understand how someone could cause so much harm, and how this leads her on a path to self-destruction. The play focuses on the reaction of communities to acts of aggression and the difficulty of moving on. Ultimately, Claire finds her peace, and retakes her place in the community.

In this English Canadian premiere, the role of Claire will be played by Luisa Jojic (Bard on the Beach), with recent National Theatre School of Canada graduate Douglas Ennenberg playing six characters opposite her. Each evening, a different community choir will join the two actors in The Russian Hall (a space frequently used for choir rehearsals). The choir serves as part spectator, part performer, as they represent the community and share songs both of their own choosing and composed especially for the production. Essentially, more than 220 community members from 12 different choirs will participate over the show’s run.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to opening night on January 18th at 8:00pm. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to #TheEvents presented by @pitheatre @pushfestival http://ow.ly/ZSa830hEmV8″ quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Saturday, January 13, 2018. Follow Pi Theatre on Facebook and Twitter.

Update The winner is Shelley Butcher!

Fort Langley National Historic Site proudly presents the 9th annual Vive les voyageurs Winter Festival, a celebration of the vibrant French-Canadian culture that thrives today in British Columbia, and first emerged in the region when the Hudson’s Bay Company arrived in 1827 at Fort Langley.

Vive les Voyageurs Winter Festival at Fort Langley

Where: Fort Langley National Historic Site (23433 Mavis Ave, Fort Langley)
When: January 20 & 21, 2018 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Admission: Free admission for youth 17 and under. $7.80/adult, $6.55/senior

Enjoy interactive cultural experiences from Métis dancers to maple taffy and so much more. Celebrate the importance of trappers, interpreters, and of course voyageurs who helped shape the history of this site.

Scheduled Activities

Follow Fort Langley National Historic Site on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Join the 12th annual Take a Hike Foundation Moonlight Snowshoe this February to support a fantastic cause. This is your chance to be part of an intimate and inspiring evening, alongside Take a Hike’s students and staff, on an evening of guided snowshoeing under the moon.

Take a Hike Foundation Moonlight Snowshoe

Where: Mount Seymour – The Hut (1700 Mount Seymour Road)
When: Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 5:00pm
Registration: Already 2/3 full! Register today »

The Moonlight Snowshoe raises funds and awareness for Take a Hike, a fulltime high-school program for youth who were previously disengaged from highschool. The event highlights issues facing youth, and showcases an innovative approach to education.

Register as a participant and fundraise (minimum $150) to join in this magical evening on the mountain. Donations over $10 are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

The evening will include the guided tour, food, live music, silent auction and prizes, and more all in support of a great cause!

The Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation helps enable at-risk youth to positively change their lives. Follow the Foundation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information.

Miss604 is a proud media partner of the Take a Hike Foundation Moonlight Snowshoe

The Massey Theatre presents the return of International Guitar Night, the world’s premiere touring festival that highlights the dexterity and diversity of acoustic guitar. For one show only, enjoy four of the most innovative and accomplished acoustic guitarists, each with a different style, each playing solo, and then teaming up together in duets and quartets creating an evening of acoustic musical magic.

International Guitar Night

When: Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 7:30pm
Where: Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave, New Westminster
Tickets: Available online for $35 Adult, $25 Students & Seniors, $15 children under 12

Gypsy jazz legend Lulo Reinhardt is returning as guest host for International Guitar Night’s 19th year, he will be joined by three new, incredibly dynamic musicians: Calum Graham, the young Canadian contemporary sensation; Marek Pasieczny, Poland’s innovative classical composer/ performer, and award-winning American guitarist Michael Chapdelaine. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Looking ahead to 2018, I thought it would be fun to look back 100 years to catch a glimpse of Vancouver in 1918, thanks to the City of Vancouver Archives.

18 Photos of Vancouver in 1918

CPR Station and Tracks
What would be Waterfront Station’s platforms and tracks today. Archives #CVA 21-13.

False Creek Seawall December 4, 1918
Before False Creek was filled in. Archives# CVA 371-2645.

False Creek Fill, Main Street January 31, 1918
Archives# Bu N540.081.

Canadian Northern Railway station under construction January 2, 1918
Today’s Pacific Central Station. Archives #Bu N540.077. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩