Yvon Chartrand and Kuei-Ming Lin

The inspiration for this show comes from everyday realities on the streets of the Downtown Eastside and by characters and situations from the old tale of Romeo and Juliet.

 

This production was a highlight of the 2007 DTES Heart of the City Festival where it was presented as a work-in-progress.

The Vancouver Moving Theatre has created an original new tragic-comedy with the help of a hot team of Jessie award winning artists and their Downtown Eastside community. The incomparable Gina Bastone has not only written the play, with contributions from the ensemble and artists, but will also take on the roles of director and actor in the production.

A Downtown Eastside Romeo & Juliet also features exquisite masks made by comedy marvel Bastone, with original music by Ya-wen V. Wang, musical direction by Dorothy Dittrich and costume magic by the community’s very own Marina Szijarto. Featuring comedy and live music, this tragic-comedy portrays a community in upheaval, birds tumbling from their nests, and people falling in love in impossible situations. 

The closing date of the play coincides with the opening date of the Fourth Canadian Community Play Exchange Symposium (April 27-30).

Hosted and produced by Vancouver Moving Theatre, this symposium features four days of talks, sessions, workshops and presentations by national, local and Downtown Eastside community engaged artists.

Meanwhile, the Vancouver Moving Theatre is also pleased to announce that artistic director Savannah Walling and executive director Terry Hunter are recipients of the 2008 British Columbia Community Achievement Award.They will be presented with this award on April 23 at Government House in Victoria, by Premier Gordon Campbell and Lieutenant Governor of B.C., the Honourable Steven L. Point. This provincial award is in recognition of their significant contribution to arts based community development in their home community of the Downtown Eastside.

Highlights of their creative partnerships in the Downtown Eastside include the flagship Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival (2004 - present), and the groundbreaking and acclaimed community engaged theatre productions We’re All In the Together: the Shadows Project- Addiction and Recovery (2005-2007), and In the Heart of A City: The Downtown Eastside Community Play (2003).

A Downtown Eastside Romeo & Juliet will be on April 17 – 20 & 24 - 27, 2008 Thurs to Sat 8 p.m. with a Sunday 2 p.m. matinee at the Russian Hall (600 Campbell Ave.).

Call 604.689.0926 or visit www.firehallartscentre.ca for more info.