Check The Program

We review Other Guys Theatre's premiere of Alan Morgan's Walk the Line (1:17), Hapax Theatre's production of Daniel MacIvor's In on it (4:07), plus chat with playwright Kristin Atwood and director Kathleen Greenfield about SNAFU's Dance Theatre's new documentary play Calling Home: Stories from Military Families--and even get a scene preview from the show (7:28). We also offer our hot takes on some of the recent 2019/2020 season announcements (15:56), chat artsy news (24:28), and look ahead at the next couple weeks (28:10).

We do a recap of the Belfry's Spark Festival (1:02), chat about some local artsy news (Rock the Shores! Save Hermann's! The latest in the RMTS back and forth! How David Foster can save Victoria's arts scene! Starts at 13:50) and then chat with local performer, playwright and puppeteer Ingrid Hansen about her summer gig working at a top-secret Sesame Workshop show in NYC (21:51).

What happens when our creative work takes you in a whole new direction? We speak with Mercedes Bátiz-Benét and Mike Delamont (11:23), two local artists who have tackled this quandary (and whose work can be seen at Langham Court and the Belfry's Spark Festival this month). Plus a review of That Elusive Spark at Langham Court Theatre (1:25) and a peek at the City of Victoria's proposed public-art budget and a look ahead at arts events (25:20).

We review Phoenix's Trojan Women (1:03), Theatre SKAM's  7eventy 7even (5:09) and Pacific Opera Victoria's La Traviata (11:49), including an interview with UVic English Professor Erin Kelly talking about the trope of fallen women and the virgin/whore dichotomy in the arts (14:39). We also chat about what bad touring theatre could mean for our civic arts venues (24:47) and take a look at some of the many arts and culture events rounding out the rest of February (28:20).

Our first ever bonus content! Here is Amanda's full interview with Lindsay Delaronde, a multidisciplinary Iroquois Mohawk artist who recently wrapped up a two-year term as the City of Victoria's first-ever Indigenous Artist in Residence. Thanks to Lindsay for taking the time to share with us.

Amanda, John and Sarah review Bears at the Belfry (1:07) and speak with Lindsay Delaronde, who recently wrapped up a two-year term as the City of Victoria's first-ever Indigenous Artist in Residence (10:24).

Happy New Year! We review 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Langham Court Theatre, which runs until February 2 (1:08) and chat about the Victoria Symphony's Music of Star Wars (8:04) and how film music/scores fit into the symphony programming's past, present and future. For our feature section, we learned a lot about the history of queer theatre festivals in Canada (15:05) via interviews with Alan Chaffe (who is doing a PhD on Canadian queer theatre festivals at UVic) and Sean Guist ( the curator of Intrepid Theatre's OUTstages queer theatre festival, which opens February 1).

Reviews of the Belfry's Griffin and Sabine (1:15), Atomic Vaudeville's holiday pantomime at the Roxy (7:12) and Charles Ross' new One Man Stranger Things show (12:20), plus a discussion of changes at the Royal and McPherson Theatres that will have a big impact on some local arts groups (14:59).

Reviews of Theatre Inconnu's Trad (1:03), Canadian College of Performing Arts' Penelopiad (6:20), Dance Victoria's Dance Me and the Nutcracker (10:08) and the Victoria Operatic Society 's Rent, which included a discussion about diversity and representation in theatre (16:15). Plus, a look ahead at the holidays (28:15).

John, Sarah, Melanie and Amanda review Langham Court's Goodnight Mr. Tom (1:00), the Drowsy Chaperone at UVic's Phoenix Theatre (6:28) and the Belfry's Mustard (9:44), plus a preview of Impulse Theatre's Peek Fest (17:35), mini reviews of a couple visual-art shows (Madrona Gallery's Shuvinai Ashoona and the Makeshift textile festival) (26:00) as well as Phantom Signal and Kevin McDonald at the Metro (28:05) and a look ahead at the next couple weeks in local arts.

We review Blue Bridge Theatre's Billy Bishop Goes to War (1:21), have a little discussion about theatre-snacking etiquette (6:36) and talk a bit about the AGGV Brainstorm exhibit, which looks towards the gallery's upcoming expansion and renovation (10:33). Also, a chat with Jen Nichols, Community Outreach Coordinator with the CRD's Arts & Culture Support Service, about their new capacity-building sessions for arts groups (14:56) and a look at some visual art, music and theatre shows coming up.

Melanie, John, Sarah and Amanda review Mamahood: Bursting into Light at the Phoenix (1:02), Pacific Opera Victoria's Fidelio (5:35) and William Head on Stage's The Crossroads: A Prison Cabaret (11:18). Plus plenty of talk of the Victoria municipal election (17:14) and the ProArt - Victoria Mayoral Candidate Forum on the Arts that occurred last week. Theme music by Croatia: croatia.bandcamp.com/

Amanda, John, Melanie and Sarah talk with venerable arts supporter Janis La Couvee (0:58s) about her retiring and leaving Victoria and the past, present and future of the Victoria theatre scene she's covered so diligently over the past 10+ years, plus reviews of A Doll's House, Part 2 at the Belfry (18:33), Langham Court Theatre's Blithe Spirit (23:13) and Frankenstein at Theatre Inconnu (26:21). Plus a look ahead at the next couple weeks in cultural happenings (30:44). Theme music by Croatia: croatia.bandcamp.com/ Closing tune by Astrocolor: http://www.astrocolormusic.com/

Our extra long fall preview episode! We do a Victoria Fringe recap (1:01), and then delve into arts offerings this fall (8:13), including the Belfry, Phoenix Theatre, Langham Court, Pacific Opera Victoria, Victoria Operatic Society, Intrepid Theatre, Canadian College of Performing Arts (we have an interview with new managing director Caleb Marshall starting at 15:49), Theatre Inconnu, Ballet Victoria, Dance Victoria, Victoria Symphony, Impulse Theatre, Deluge Gallery, William Head on Stage, Legacy Gallery, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Madrona Gallery, MediaNET, Open Space, and the Butler Book Prize. We also look at what is coming up this weekend, which includes Rifflandia (40:08) HUMP! Film Festival (43:50), as well as some other one-off and music picks. Theme music by Croatia: https://croatia.bandcamp.com/ Closing tune from Diamond Cafe: https://diamondcafe.bandcamp.com/

The team chats about the John A. MacDonald statue removal from Victoria City Hall (1:00), reviews of Theatre SKAM's Concord Floral (8:30) and Blue Bridge's Sweeney Todd (14:16). We also talk about the Victoria Fringe, what we are most excited to see, and how we are planning on tackling reviews (21:40).

A rapid-fire review episode for a busy July! Melanie, Sarah, John and Amanda chat about Blue Bridge's Drawer Boy (1:12), Illicit: A Shadow Story (5:49), Andrew Bailey's Brain Machine (11:00), Theatre SKAM's SKAMpede (15:03), and The Tempest and Pericles at the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival (20:10). Plus, could a revamp of Centennial Square make for more downtown site-specific art (25:58) and a look at upcoming arts events for July and early August (27:57).

Sarah, John, Melanie and Amanda are back with a look back at faves from last arts season (including shows from the Belfry, SNAFU Dance Theatre, Nicola Gunn, Pacific Opera Victoria, Dance Victoria, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and Rifflandia/Atomique) (0:56), some gripes about the lack of a comprehensive arts calendar in Victoria, featuring an interview with Karen Lee Picket of the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival (14:51), some artsy news re: Vancouver Island School of Art, Open Space, and local Telefilm Canada Talent to Watch winners (25:18) and a quick preview of a busy July (28:50), with Atomic Vaudeville's Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Blue Bridge's The Drawer Boy, Andrew Bailey's Brain Machine, CFUV's Eventide concerts, SKAMpede, Shakespeare Fest's Pericles and the Tempest, Paper Street Theatre's Yes and Yesteryear, Suddenly Dance's Bomberman, Pride events and more.

After a vacation break, Amanda, Melanie, John and Sarah review UnoFest (2:30), Blue Bridge Theatre's All My Sons (7:04), Langham Court's Chorus of Disapproval (11:04) an update on Open Space (15:46) and a look AGGV's Supernatural and Lindsay Delaronde's Forgive (17:26). Plus an update on the new Malahat Review editor (21:26), the tale of duelling Jazzfests (23:11) and a chat about OutStages (25:43), Skafest (27:51), the Gettin' Higher Choir (28:10) and a call for some summer theme show ideas (31:36).

John, Amanda and Melanie review Theatre Inconnu (0:33), Blue Bridge (3:52), Victoria Operatic Society (8:34), Confabulation (10:53), Canadian College of Performing Arts (13:43) and Dance Berserker Dance (15:13). We also chat about Carey Newman winning the Inaugural ProArt Alliance 2018 Regional Arts Award (19:11), updates on Open Space update (21:54) and the Vancouver Island School of Art (23:01), the UVic Visual Arts MFA show reclaiming empty storefronts (23:45) and a preview of Intrepid Theatre's UNO Fest of solo performance (25:05).

John, Amanda, Melanie and Sarah review Pacific Opera Victoria (0:46), Dance Victoria (4:44), Puente Theatre (7:33),the Belfry (9:28), Langham Court (13:25) and the Camosun College and UVic visual art grad shows (On the Cusp and Good Grief!) 16:27. They also discuss the news that Vancouver Island School of Art needs to find a new home (18:21) and speak with the arts community about the proposal to create an arts hub in the old Courthouse in Bastion Square (19:41), including interviews with Ian Case (director of ceremonies and events and Farquahar Auditorium at UVic and longtime professional artist), Matthew Payne (artistic producer, Theatre Skam) and Mercedes Bátiz-Benét (artistic director, Puente Theatre). Plus a look ahead (30:33) to Theatre Inconnu, Uno, Paper Street's Improv Festival, Get Out Cabaret, and some '90s nostalgia.