PHOTO: End of Greatness – Trailer edited by Allison Hrabluik with video shot by Dan Loan

We are very excited to share this beautiful trailer for End of Greatness, edited by Allison Hrabluik and shot by Dan Loan.

End of Greatness is a new, 75-minute multidisciplinary performance by friends and longtime collaborators Veda Hille and Maiko Yamamoto. The show focuses in on microscopic intricacies — mosses and mushrooms on the forest floor — then zooms out to embrace cosmological concepts and vast systems, while remaining centred on the human relationship at the heart of the piece. Through songs, dialogue, mythology, art objects, movement and cake, End of Greatness attempts to ease audiences into accepting the dire elements of our current culture, inviting them to hold hands and step forward into whatever is coming next. Bringing together new music, writing, rituals and offerings, End of Greatness is a generous sharing of memories, experience and knowledge, demonstrated onstage by Veda and Maiko, together with the audience.

With collaborators Thom Gill, Julia Chien, Geoffrey Farmer, Hitoko Okada, Jeff Harrison, Katarina Skår Lisa, Keely O’Brien, Jan Hodgson and Jessica Han, End of Greatness premiered in April at The Cultch in the Historic Theatre.

“Transcendent…Ambitious. Meditative. I loved it…End of Greatness offers relief — and wonder.” –Colin Thomas, Fresh Sheet Reviews

“This is polyvagal theatre.” –ellis cheadle

“A group of shit hot artists doing what they do best.” –Justine A. Chambers

For more info or for touring inquiries, please contact maiko@theatrereplacement.org

East Van Panto: Hercules in workshop!

PHOTO: East Van Panto: Hercules – Jacob Woike and Panto Kiddo Rosalind Beaver by Emily Cooper

Last week we had a real fun time in the first workshop for East Van Panto: Hercules! Our core creative team of Writers Pedro Chamale with Marcus Youssef, Composer and Musical Director Veda Hille and Director Chelsea Haberlin have been scheming and dreaming with us on Hercules, and it was exciting to bring folks together for a first read and listen! From our Producer, Jamie King (JK):

“It was an exciting week getting us ready for this year's Panto! Pedro, Marcus, Chelsea and Veda are exploring themes of strength, masculinity and friendship in this wild retelling of the Greek myths! We brought together our design and tech team members, as well as a lovely group of readers who asked great questions like: "How will we ever do that?" and "Who is cleaning that up?!" Science World will be getting yet another facelift, courtesy of Hades in the story (sorry to the big soccer ball) and we’ll use the new Vancouver subway tunnels as the scene for the Labyrinth. (Did I go home and rewatch the Bowie classic that week? Yes). Veda has already whipped up songs that will travel us from the 80s to the present day — it’s an incredible playlist. We can’t wait to share it all with you at the York Theatre later this year!”

Joining us for our 14th Panto is an incredible creative team, with a mix of returning and new collaborators: Choreography by Amanda Testini, Lighting by Sophie Tang, Sound by Brad Danyluk, Set by Shizuka Kai, Costumes by Stephanie Kong and Scenic Illustration by Cindy Mochizuki.

Featuring returning East Van Panto alum Meaghan Chenosky, Jason Sakaki and Raugi Yu with new company members Sara Vickruck and Jacob Woike!

Get ready for a rip-roaring, myth-busting, protein-shaking Panto packed with laughter, music and East Van magic! See you at The York this holiday season! Presented by The Cultch.

**Last year, tickets sold out very quickly! Subscription tickets are available now, with single tickets available July 13th — mark your calendars! And thank you for supporting the East Van Panto.

Artstic Producer Kyle Loven’s field notes from FTA

PHOTO: Maiko and Kyle in Montréal

TR has been on the road lately, with AD Maiko Yamamoto in Copenhagen, Denmark for CPH Stage and Götaland, Sweden for West Coast Stage, and then in Montréal for FTA, where she was joined by Artistic Producer Kyle Loven.

From Kyle:

“Maiko and I had the great pleasure of attending Festival TransAmériques in Montreal last week. What a generous few days of being hosted by the thoughtful team at FTA! 

We saw some beautiful works (see Bardaje by Lukas Avendaño if you ever have the chance), shared touring info for End of Greatness, and built connections that will continue through our upcoming HOLD ON LET GO and Accelerator Lab programs. We even saw Evan Webber's The Chains that began at HOLD ON LET GO!

Most importantly, I saw firsthand the friendships, respect and trust that Maiko has nurtured throughout the arts world. We ran into fellow-BC artists, reconnected with national colleagues, and met with international presenters. In all interactions, Theatre Replacement's reputation was one of exciting experimental work, an important organization known for the care and opportunities we provide to generations of performance-makers. 

It was an honor to represent TR and I'm excited to see where these interactions take our work!” 

PHOTO: From Bardage by Lukas Avendaño at FTA

Theatre Replacement is staying close to Lókal!

PHOTO: Lókal Associate Artists: Brokentalkers, Kriðpleir, Erna Ómarsdóttir, Kviss Búmm Bang and Theatre Replacement

We are incredibly honoured and thrilled to be a new Associate Artist of LÓKAL! TR and LÓKAL have collaborated in numerous ways throughout the years. We look forward to continuing to grow our critical friendship and have some exciting plans for future projects!

This is yet another way in which Theatre Replacement is committed to being part of an international conversation — this has been so key to TR’s artmaking, intentions and evolution, and we look forward to expanding this opportunity with our artists here.

Based in Iceland, LÓKAL connect artists, producers and other interested bodies and entities through creative processes. They produce, mentor, support and create, in hopes to shine a light on the times we are living in. LÓKAL began its activities as a performing arts festival in 2007 with the aim of introducing significant trends and trends in foreign performing arts to Icelandic audiences and Icelandic performing arts to foreign festival goers. The organization is interested in both local conversations, as well as ideas and perspectives coming from all corners of the world. LÓKAL is led by Ragnheiður Skúladóttir and Bjarni Jónsson.

LOKAL’s Associate Artists include Brokentalkers, Kriðpleir, Kviss Búmm Bang and Erna Ómarsdóttir. TR is ecstatic to be in such excellent company!

Thank you to Neworld and PL 1422 for the Rumpus Awards!

PHOTO: Dawn Petten at the Rumpus Awards – by Amanda Sum

A huge thank you to Neworld Theatre and Progress Lab 1422 for celebrating our dear Vancouver scene with the Rumpus Awards. It was a wonderful and celebratory evening that we all really needed! It was also very special to have an award named after our AD — the Maiko Yamamoto Cool Mom Award — and even more special for Maiko to give this honour to the incredible and super-deserving Dawn Petten! We are so grateful to have Dawn in our close circle at TR — her performances and leadership in our East Van Pantos have been a huge part of what makes them so, so special! She is one of the most inspiring moms out there. To Dawn. And to our sweet scene here in Vancouver! Congrats to all the winners!