CURRENT PRODUCTIONS
TREE DRUM (IN DEVELOPMENT)
"TREE DRUM" is told by Bill Beauregarde (Cree/Enoch.) It explores the personal life story and experience of Indigenous theatre artist Bill Beauregarde, who was taken from his family at the age of three. Bill shared the story with long-time friend and theatre artist, Susanna Uchatius (Austrian/Eastern European), that at 9 years old, while in a group home, the crab apple tree in the backyard repeatedly called to him. It wanted to be a drum. So, Bill cut the tree down and made his first drum. This was the beginning of a remarkable journey - an intuitive discovery of who he is.
After sharing conversations over the past three years,the "TREE DRUM's" branches grew. The story of the journey stretched from the past represented by two youth, Clayton Shanoss (Nisga,Gitxsan) and Isaiah Heyoka, and into the future, as acknowledged Elder, Bill Beauregarde, keeps the drum heartbeat alive.
At The Firehall Arts Centre
280 E Cordova St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1L3, Canada
May 9 to 14 at 7:30 pm, May 10, 13, 14 at 2:00 pm
Relaxed Performance - May 10, 2 pm
All shows ASL interpreted
For tickets, please email boxoffice@firehallartscentre.ca or call 604-689-0926.
Image Description: Tree Drum Poster: Indigenous drum with a drawing of a tree in the middle.
SURVIVING SAMSARA
(IN DEVELOPMENT)
December 15th 2021, artists Kagan Goh, Susanna Uchatius and Jay Hirabayashi presented a workshop version of Kagan Goh's Surviving Samsara.
Surviving Samsara spans two decades as Kagan Goh struggles to survive the highs of mania and the lows of depression, tossed up and down on the restless seas of Samsara. Kagan exposes the damaging effects of the stigma of mental illness, and explores manic depression not only as a disorder, but as a spiritual emergence -- a vehicle for personal growth, healing, and transcendence. Kagan’s deeply personal stories illustrate his transformation from victim to survivor to activist.