Upstage - Bang Bang

A GREAT PLACE TO READ ABOUT GREAT THEATRE · OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 2019

VOLUME 6 / ISSUE 2

“Kat Sandler stirs the pot beautifully… one of the funniest things to hit local stages in ages —W I N N I PEG FREE PRES S

”

Hello!

Welcome to the Belfry and our production of Bang Bang.

Bang Bang is directed by Kelly Thornton, the new Artistic Director at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg, and the show has been gathering some great reviews in advance of its run here in Victoria.

We’re also excited to introduce you to our cast: Sébastien Heins, Tom Keenan, Beverly Ndukwu, Alex Poch-Goldin and Warona Setshwaelo who will all be making their Belfry debuts in Bang Bang.

If you are digitally inclined, head over to our Storylines page for Bang Bang www.belfry.bc.ca/storylines-bang-bang

B4Play

Sheila Munro and Gregor Craigie Photo by Don Craig

where you can watch Kat Sandler’s TED Talk about writing and learn more about the show.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 AT 11 AM

As always, we look forward to seeing you at

BMO Studio Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Avenue

the theatre.

Free Event. A live talk show hosted by CBC Radio’s Gregor Craigie

COVER PHOTO: KAT SANDLER

and featuring interviews with Sébastien Heins (Actor), Kelly Thornton (Director), Dr. Moussa Magassa (Human Rights Education Advisor, University of Victoria / Co-chair for Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee) and Constable Meighan de Pass

is produced four times per year and can be found at branches of the Greater Victoria Public Library, the Belfry and online at issuu.com/belfrytheatre. If you would like a digital copy please drop us a line at hello@belfry.bc.ca.

Join Us

(Media Relations Officer, Sidney/North Saanich RCMP).

You can watch the livestream of B4Play on facebook and the event will be podcast at belfry.bc.ca/podcasts.

A CO P THE R RODUC TIO OYA L N WIT CENT MANI H RE, W TO B A INNIP THEA EG TRE

instagram.com/belfrytheatre

vimeo.com/belfrytheatre

facebook.com/belfrytheatre

twitter.com/belfrytheatre

BELFRY THEATRE 1291 GLADSTONE AVENUE VICTORIA, BC V8T 1G5 WWW.BELFRY.BC.CA

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

Bang Bang is generously supported by

Upstage is supported by SEASON SPONSORS

Tickets 250-385-6815 / tickets.belfry.bc.ca

LAUGHING AND C RYI N G AT T H E SAME TIME

By Del Manak, Chief Constable, Victoria Police Department

LAUGHTER IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TRANSFORMATIONAL FORCES

Bang Bang explores how bias can shape potential outcomes before

THAT THE STAGE OFFERS. By bringing together those who are divided,

we even talk with one other. Our Fair and Impartial Policing (FIP)

shared laughter helps strangers become friends, and enemies

program helps police officers recognize and work against implicit

become allies. Comedy also helps us take closer, much-needed

and unconscious bias; themes central to Bang Bang. Working in

glances at the messy and “hard to look at” failures in our society

conjunction with a leader in this field, Dr. Lisa Gunderson, we became

which can threaten to overwhelm us with grief and anger.

the first department in B.C. to train all of our members and staff in FIP.

That’s why I can tell you, as the Chief Constable of the Victoria Police Department, that VicPD is proud to offer our encouraging voice to the Belfry Theatre’s production of Kat Sandler’s Bang Bang.

This program is now mandatory for all B.C. police officers, and VicPD officers now “train the trainers” who then bring this program into police departments across the province.

In this groundbreaking play, Kat explores violence between police

We all feel the impact of mental illness in our communities, another

officers and marginalized groups, racism, privilege, occupational

theme Bang Bang explores. To address this, every VicPD officer is

stress injury, mental illness, addiction, challenging friendships

trained in Crisis Intervention and De-escalation (CID). This training is

and family relationships. These issues are at the forefront of

so important that it is integrated into all of the training we do. CID

much of the conversation about the role of policing today across

training is a core component of our officers’ mandatory annual reality-

Canada. There will be times in this play where you will find yourself

based training and is a skill our officers use every day to help resolve

laughing out loud at one moment, and perhaps crying the next.

incidents safely. Our officers and staff also take part in yearly Road to

Whether out in the public, among my officers and staff, or in private discussions, these issues are part of my daily, ongoing

Mental Readiness training to help recognize and manage the impacts of the unique stresses of our workplace.

reality. As the first South Asian police chief at Canada’s oldest

While Bang Bang focusses on violence against Black members of

municipal department west of the Great Lakes, I’m personally and

our community, similar lessons echo in the stories we hear from our

deeply aware of the themes that this play explores.

Indigenous community. Indigenous members of our community

I’ve lived them.

have faced systemic discrimination and violence for generations, often at the hands of the police –who are supposed to protect them.

These are issues that we need to talk about, and talk through,

We have much work to do to reconcile our pasts, build new, trusted

together, so we can all act in ways that move us forward. This play

relationships and find a shared future. The Spirit Has No Colour

is a small part of that ongoing way forward.

training that all of our officers take part in helps our officers serve with knowledge of the cultural and historical experience of the Indigenous

There are many things that the people of the Victoria Police

people we serve.

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Department are doing to begin to address the concerns that Kat raises in her play.

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It’s not just about training however. We’re part of ongoing conversations with our entire community. Many newcomers to

Cast & Creatives

Canada and Victoria routinely share their concerns with us and other community partners about interacting with the police. Whether newlyarrived or “born and raised” here, everyone needs to know that they are safe and will be treated with respect by my officers and staff. That’s why our officers were proud to work with the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) to create and perform a discussion-focused, interactive theatrical production that explored racial bias.

It was that ICA theatre production that reinforced to me, personally,

Sébastien Heins

Tom Keenan

Beverly Ndukwu

JACKIE SAVAGE

TIM BERNBAUM

LILA HINES

the power of theatre to allow us to hold space for these complex, difficult, but vital issues. As you enjoy Bang Bang, there will be moments where you don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or both.

I encourage you to open yourself to all the complicated, messy parts of this play. The laughter and the tears, the comedy and the rage are part of the experience we all share as we journey through these challenges, together.

Alex Poch-Goldin Warona Setshwaelo

Kat Sandler

TONY CAPPELLO

KAREN HINES

PLAYWRIGHT

Kelly Thornton

Adam Parboosingh

Joseph Abetria

DIRECTOR

SET DESIGNER

COSTUME DESIGNER

Scott Henderson

Brian Linds

Jacquie Loewen

LIGHTING DESIGNER

SOUND DESIGNER

FIGHT DIRECTOR

Audrey Dwyer

Eric Rae

Jennifer Swan

CONSULTING DIRECTOR

APPRENTICE DIRECTOR

STAGE MANAGER

Enjoy the show.

Del Manak, CHIEF CONSTABLE, VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Why I Chose This Play

Bang Bang deals with a number of hot-button issues, including racial profiling, police shootings, voice appropriation, mental health, trust and betrayal. All part of the contemporary zeitgeist. The fact that it deals with them through the vehicle of humour allows the playwright to push the boundaries and be even more audacious.

Kat Sandler is a smart and gifted playwright. She has mixed together the serious and the trite, the surprising and the cliché, characters we have never seen onstage with characters we might call “types.” It makes for a heady concoction that throws us off balance—eventually making us unsure of who wants what and why.

And it is just so damn funny.

A white playwright addressing topics of this nature could easily have been so wrong. But Sandler takes us on a roller-coaster ride that leads us to a moving and thought-provoking ending that definitely feels right.

Michael Shamata, Artistic Director Tickets 250-385-6815 / tickets.belfry.bc.ca

Zahra Larche ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

LIVE EVENTS

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Our round-up of events happening at the theatre over the next four weeks.

B4PLAY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 AT 11 AM

Belfry Librarian The wonderful librarians at the Greater Victoria Public Library have compiled a list of books and videos to help you get even more out of our production of Bang Bang.

BMO Studio Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Avenue Free Event. A live talk show hosted by CBC Radio’s Gregor Craigie and featuring interviews with Sébastien Heins (Actor), Kelly Thornton (Director), Dr. Moussa Magassa (Human Rights Education Advisor, University of Victoria / Co-chair for Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee) and Constable Meighan de Pass (Media Relations Officer, Sidney/ North Saanich RCMP). You can watch the livestream of B4Play on facebook and the event will be podcast at belfry.bc.ca/ podcasts.

TALKBACK THURSDAY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7

Meet the actors post-performance when they return to the stage to answer questions and provide insight into the play.

AFTERPLAY Facilitated discussions – audience member to audience member – will follow every evening performance of Bang Bang (except Opening Night and Talkback Thursday). These are a great opportunity to share your thoughts and hear fellow patrons’ reactions to the production and the ideas it presents.

VOCALEYE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17 AT 2 PM

For patrons with low or no vision, we offer this VocalEye performance during Bang Bang. Trained Audio Describers provide descriptions of the visual elements of the show, allowing people with low vision to enjoy the theatrical experience without missing any of the details.

FREE CHILDCARE PERFORMANCES SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 AT 2 PM / SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23 AT 4 PM

Parents of children (between 3 and 10 years old) can see a show at the Belfry, and we’ll take care of your children for free.

The adventures of a Black girl in search of God

by Djanet Sears (2003) Locking up our own: crime and punishment in black America

by James Forman (2018) Beyond these walls: rethinking crime and punishment in the United States

by Tony Platt (2019) Policing Black lives: state violence in Canada from slavery to the present

by Robyn Maynard, (2017) Curb your enthusiasm (season 6) [DVD] by Larry David (2007)

You can’t touch my hair: and other things I still have to explain

by Phoebe Robinson (2016) Broad city. Season 1 [DVD] (2014) Meaty: essays

by Samantha Irby (2018) Suspicion nation: the inside story of the Trayvon Martin injustice and why we continue to repeat it

by Lisa Bloom (2014) Dear Martin

by Nic Stone (2017) White fragility: why it’s so hard for White people to talk about racism

by Robin DiAngelo (2018) So you want to talk about race

by Ijeoma Oluo (2018)

Children are cared for by a trained, professional Early Childcare Educator, just a short stroll from the theatre, and free of charge.

Childcare space is at a premium so we ask parents to reserve in advance, at least 1 week prior to your chosen performance.

To learn more, please email us at hello@belfry.bc.ca, or call the box office at 250-385-6815 to reserve tickets and free childcare.

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SPOTLIGHT ON SUPPORTERS

Celso Mendoza Celso visiting the Roman ruins in Alexandria, Egypt, 2019.

Celso Enriquez Mendoza is a scientist who takes

He has also had more time to pursue his love of

a keen interest in music, theatre and visual

travel, nature and different cultures. Museums are

arts. He worked as a scientist for Canadian

always on his travel itinerary.

federal departments and was a Visiting Scientist at Stockholm University. He was awarded Distinguished Alumnus by his Alma Mater, University of the Philippines (BS Agriculture), and did his graduate studies at Iowa State University (MS and Ph.D.) Celso says he was always interested in theatre, which developed further when his university fraternity, Upsilon Sigma Phi, produced plays and musicals including Stalag 17, Aloyan (a folkloric musical), and West Side Story. To Celso, theatre means the pleasure of learning about people and history while enjoying the performances.

After retiring, Celso ran a four-star bed and breakfast in Rockland, near Government House.

Celso enjoys taking his friend from White Rock, an Emeritus Professor of UBC in English Literature, to see plays and operas in Victoria.

Seeing Shirley Valentine with the “marvelous” Nicola Cavendish at the Belfry years ago was a personal highlight. Celso also remembers the Belfry’s 2014 production of The Rez Sisters as a powerful portrayal of Indigenous women’s struggles.

Asked what motivates him to be a donor, Celso says:“I think the Belfry is an outstanding part of Victoria’s culture. Aboriginal topics and wonderful classic plays and modern themes should be equally represented on the local stages. I always admire Michael Shamata’s programs. I am impressed that he has also directed for Pacific Opera Victoria.”

We thank Celso for his ongoing generous support and participation.

For information on the many ways to support the Belfry Theatre, including monthly giving, the Vi Armstrong Play Creation Fund, or the “name a seat” program, contact Susan Stevenson at 250-385-6835 ext 229 or development@belfry.bc.ca

Tickets 250-385-6815 / tickets.belfry.bc.ca

Calendar

We have joined Canoo!

Bang Bang PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

October 29–November 24, 2019 Tuesdays – Thursdays at 7:30 pm Wednesday Matinees at 1 pm (November 6, 13, 20) Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm

Belfry Theatre is proud to announce that we are a new member of Canoo.

Canoo (formerly known as the Cultural Access Pass program) is a mobile app that helps new Canadian citizens celebrate their citizenship by providing free admission to over 1400 museums, science centres, art galleries, parks, theatres, and historic sites across Canada.

Sunday Matinees at 2 pm

The app offers free admission for every new citizen and up to four children, every time they visit during their first year of citizenship. The Canoo app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.

Free Childcare Performances Sunday, November 10 at 2 pm Saturday, November 23 at 4 pm

Our Belfry 101 Students

Saturday Matinees at 4 pm

Audience Engagement Schedule B4PLAY · Saturday, October 26 at 11 am TALKBACK THURSDAY · November 7 AFTERPLAY · Following all

evening performances* VOCALEYE · Described performance

Sunday, November 17 at 2 pm * Except Opening Night and Talkback Thursday

How to buy tickets By telephone 250 385 6815

Please have your credit card ready, as well as the date and time of the performance you wish to attend.

Online

Visit belfry.bc.ca/tickets and buy your tickets online, anytime.

In person

Drop by our Box Office.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, debit card, cheques, and, of course, cash.

Belfry 101 is our signature program for secondary school students and this year we have 32 participants from public schools across the region.

In addition to their regular Thursday evening sessions as an Ensemble (where students see Belfry plays, meet the actors, discuss each play and do theatre workshops) a smaller group of grade 11 & 12s, the Belfry 101 Collective, will spend their March Break engaging in a play-building process resulting in a collective creation presented as the final event of the Belfry’s SPARK Festival.

Alma Perreault, Zuhaib Muneer, Liam Gleason, Sofia Neilson-Miller, Ava Kasianchuk, Callum Rudyk, Goldie Beckett, Waylon Asp, Franklin Kent, Daniela Orellana González, Monica Xin, Carly Grace Young, Faith Squier, Robyn Kotorynski, Hayden Eveleigh, Ruby Dawn Wallace, Elisabeth Slogotski, Mathieu Robert, Molly Barkasy, Alice Micheli, Chiara Fattorini, Federica Pagliassotto, Soleia Izmer-Morey, Jessica Luo, Anna Rescigno, Rachel Hansen, Samuel Park, Samuel Walmsley-Byrne, Brandon Wong, Kai Merriam, Paige Murray, Asa O’Connor-Jaeckel / Photo by Peter Pokorny

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Up Next

December 3–22, 2019

A CO P T H E R R O D U C T IO O N W IT C E N T YA L M A N H IT RE, W IN N IP O B A T H E A EG TRE

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

BANG BANG SPONSORS

SEASON SPONSORS SEASON SPONSORS

PUBLIC FUNDERS

Belfry Theatre 1291 GLADSTONE AVENUE VICTORIA, BC

V8T 1G5