In dialogue with the diverse cultural issues of new play Confessions of the Other Woman, urban ink productions is hosting a series of community-centered panels entitled “Redefining Normal: an Intercultural Dialogue Series”.
The play Confessions of the Other Woman is written by third generation Chinese Canadian artist Valerie Sing Turner, and is described by the playwright as “a post-identity work; a celebration of the complexity inherent in every human being; a place in which otherness or one’s culture can be empowering if fully embraced, making us more than the sum of our parts.”
The play boasts an outstanding intercultural cast never before seen on Vancouver’s main stage: Kevin Loring, Nlakapmux First Nation; Valerie Sing Turner, third generation Chinese-Canadian; Matt Ward, second generation Afri-Guyanese Canadian. And is co-directed by urban ink Artistic Director Diane Roberts, and visiting Director, Gerry Trentham.
February 29 – March 11 at Performance Works
1218 Cartwright St Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8
(604) 687-3020
This discussion of the co-directing process of working within an interdisciplinary + intercultural space, is facilitated by Max Reimer, the Artistic Managing Director, of the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company.
Panelists: Diane Roberts + Gerry Trentham, co-directors of Confessions of the other Woman
March 3 | 1 PM – Water: Legacy & Transformation
The guest speakers will share stories about their history, using water as a theme to address questions of ancestry, immigration and Indigenous ways of knowing.
Panelists:
• Dr. Rita Wong, Associate Professor in Critical + Cultural Studies at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design
• Diane Roberts, AD of urban ink productions
• Christine Hunt, environmental activist, First Nations woman and former candidate for BC legislature
Facilitated by Rosemary Georgeson, actor, community facilitator and Aboriginal Community Director, urban ink productions.
The Salmon Dreams Drum Circle will also perform to set the mood for this very cultural and crucial panel.
March 4 | 12:30 PM – Love, Relationships and Other Complications
Through their poetry read before the play, and a talk back afterwards, the guest speakers will explore how taboos and stereotypes have impacted intercultural relationships past and present.
Guests:
• Evelyn Lau, third poet Laureate of Vancouver
• Fiona Tinwei Lam, award winning poet and cultural critic
• Chris (C.E) Gatchalian, Queer Asian poet, writer, playwright and Artistic Director of Screaming Weenie productions
March 7 | 8 PM – Love & Marriage in the New World
Our panelists will engage in a discussion around the intricacies of love in the modern age in a way that is sure to stir up more questions than answers. From the single, married life, divorced and remarried life, we will examine the challenges, and where to find support. Does the ancient past offer suggestions? If so how do we make it applicable to today?
Guest Panelists:
• Married couple, Farah Nazarelli yoga radio producer & host, Dustin Anderson children’s performer
• Sue Horning, owner Unity Yoga
• Stéphane Boisjoly, E.r.y.t. broadcaster, yoga teacher and sailor
• Sobey Wing, cultural healer and creator of Love, Sex and Intelligence dialogues, facilitates the panel.
March 10 | 2 PM – Race, Gender and Representation in the Media
In conjunction with International Women’s Day, our panel will explore and debate issues of identity and gender as they are portrayed in various forms of media and society. A dialogue circle sponsored by the City of Vancouver’s Dialogues Project
Guest Panelists:
• Marie Clements, founding Artistic Director of urban ink productions and award winning playwright
• Loretta Todd of Metis Cree origin, award-winning director, writer and producer
• Mina Shum, internationally celebrated and award winning filmmaker
• Dr. Valerie Mason John, author, playwright, performer, and winner of the MIND book of the year award, Kekinusuqs
• Rupinder Sidhu, videographer, artist and community facilitator.
You can purchase tickets here.
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