Friday November 2
Theatre/Comedy
DTES COMEDY and A DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE ROMEO & JULIET
Friday November 2, 8pm & Saturday November 3, 8pm
Russian Hall downstairs, 600 Campbell
What’s so funny about the DTES? Let’s find out in a fabulous evening of comedy! Opening the show are alumni from Stand Up for Mental Health including DTES resident and humourist Paul Decarie. Led by counselor and stand-up comic David Granirer, Stand Up For Mental Health teaches stand up comedy to people with mental illness and looks at the lighter side of surviving the mental health system.
The second part of the evening is a special treat: join us for a workshop presentation of Vancouver Moving Theatre’s A Downtown Eastside Romeo and Juliet, directed by comedy marvel Gina Bastone, The presentation’s comic vignettes are inspired by everyday realities on the streets of the Downtown Eastside and by characters and situations from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Each vignette represents a different direction and style in which the comic play could develop. We’re previewing these vignettes to test our techniques and get feedback from the public to help us create a strong, funny and truthful tragic-comic play.
Our show is created by Gina Bastone with contributions by Mike Stack, Doug Vernon, Savannah Walling and the ensemble cast: Grant Chancey, Yvon Chartrand, Paul Decarie, Kuei-Ming Lin, Elizabeth Murdoch, Mike Richter, Jim Sands, Priscillia Tait, Gena Thompson, Monica Trejbal, Lou Vodnak and Muriel “X” Williams. Artistic Director Walling and play Director Bastone are assisted by Vernon (stage manager) and Murdoch (production intern).
This workshop presentation is part of a one year theatre and community building project to create a 60 minute tragic comedy about a long-standing grudge between families from different social backgrounds and locate it in our community. Almost 100 community members have been involved in workshops and exploration to date. Created for the Downtown Eastside, the tragic-comic play premieres next spring at the Russian Hall, April 15-25, 2008. For more information call 604-254-6911. For this year, come and enjoy a cast and crew of 14 along with a live band – a DTES style of theatre inspired by the ancient tradition of Commedia Dell’Arte.
For this presentation Vancouver Moving Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of the BC Arts Council, BC Gaming, Spirit of BC Innovations Fund and the City of Vancouver Office of Cultural Affairs.
Pay as you can
Open House
VANCOUVER POLICE MUSEUM
Friday November 2, 12pm - 5pm
Vancouver Police Museum
240 E. Cordova
The museum is located in the former Coroner’s Court on the second floor of 238-240 E. Cordova Street. Built in 1932, the building is a municipally designated heritage structure. The collection consists of approximately 20,000 objects, papers, photographs and published materials relating to the history of policing in Vancouver. Approximately 40% of the collection is currently on display. There are exhibits about some of Vancouver’s most famous criminals and the men and women who enforce our laws. There are also special displays on some of the teams that make up the police force, including the Mounted Squad, the Dog Squad, the Marine Squad and others. For more information call 604-665-3346 or visit www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca. Everyone welcome. Free
History Walk
SINS OF THE CITY: VICE AND VIRTUE
with Chris Mathieson
Friday November 2, 4pm - 6pm
Meet at the Vancouver Police Museum
240 E. Cordova
In the city of Vancouver, the attitude toward sin and vice has changed over time, perhaps most notably in the Downtown Eastside. Currently society is examining the idea that vice is not just a moral issue but can be connected to poverty, health and changes in governing policies. Law enforcement officers have usually been in the front line of these changes. This walking tour takes you through the oldest parts of the city, exploring the early history of vice in Vancouver. Covering ten city blocks, the tour visits one of the earliest brothel districts, the location of the city’s first saloon, as well as the city’s first police station and jail. Opium dens, gambling houses and beer parlours are also featured topics of the tour. Limited spots. Today’s tour is pay as you can
Forum
MUNCH Session #8
COCREATING THE CREATIVE CITY
Friday November 2, 4pm - 7pm
Gallery Gachet, 88 E. Cordova
Join Mark Kuznicki (Toronto) to identify the tangible and intangible cultural spaces in our neighbourhood that collectively define our arts and heritage district. Learn about “creative city” theories, the possibilities for a self-organized community and opportunities and challenges in the DTES. “Open space” dialogue follows the presentation. Kuznicki is a researcher, writer and strategy consultant working at the intersection of technology, culture and policy. His expertise includes social media, the economics of peer-production and the social dynamics of creative communities. Presented by Fearless Media, sponsored by Stantec Engineering and the Downtown Eastside Community Arts Network. MUNCH includes a light meal. Pay as you can 0-5$
Mass
ALL SOULS DAY MASS
Friday November 2, 6:30pm
St. James’ Anglican Church
303 E. Cordova
The day after All Saints Day is All Souls Day and St James’ Church will hold a Mass for the Dead, with choir and soloists. The St James’ High Mass Choir, under the direction of Gerald Harder, will sing music including Missa pro defunctis – Anerio Plainsong propers. Everyone welcome
Theatre
GRAVITY
Friday November 2, 7:30pm
Chapel Arts, 304 Dunlevy
For description see page 9.
Information: www.urbanink.ca. $20/$15 Unwaged tickets: pay what you can
Art Exhibit
NOT MADE IN CHINA
Opening Friday November 2, 7pm - 10pm
November 2 - December 2
Gallery Gachet, 88 E. Cordova
New Voices Collective presents eight Chinese Canadians, a collective self portrait of non-prescriptive personal effects; and Twospeak, a two-channel HAM radio broadcast that attempts to correct an omission in a BC historical narrative. The New Voices Collective is: Johnson Chan, Viola Chan, Eugene Lin, Nancy Fong, Robert Parungao, Heather Joan Tam, Araya Vivorakij and Zizian Zhong. For more information call 604-687-2468 or visit www.gachet.org. Free
Art Exhibit
WOODWARD’S MEDIA ART EXHIBIT
Opening Friday November 2, 7pm - 10pm
November 2 - December 2
Gallery Gachet, 88 E. Cordova
Featuring photography and video of Woodward’s past, present and future. Artists: Yun Lam Li’s Reincarnation of W, Kate MacDonald’s W Lit, and Cameraman’s F is for Fantastic. Opening sponsored by the Centre for Creative Technology & Community Arts. For more information call 604-687-2468 or visit www.gachet.org. Free