This won’t be the first time or last time you hear me say that the lower mainland is culturally rich with diversity. Not only are we ethnically mixed, but we open our doors to host some of the world’s finest arts, allowing us to see the world in a new way, a more educated way or simply to broaden our world and entertain us. For instance, Vancouver’s International Film Festival begins this month and runs into October and it has long been known to be somewhat of an edgy event. Our film festival does not draw the mega-stars that Cannes does but it does celebrate and welcome diverse and often challenging fare. You can expect films from all around the globe that include political documentaries and independent films that would not likely reach an audience without events like these. It has been such a hit here in Vancouver that the Film Society has built the Vancouver International Film Centre and Vancity Theatre to expressly show this type of cinema all year round.
September is the month that hosts VIFF and the films being presented this year all look amazingly interesting and cover a wide genre. For more information about the VIFF, please check out their website.
Vancouver International Film Festival
This month we also welcome actor’s for the stage to Vancouver. The Vancouver Fringe Festival began September 4th and runs through the 14th at stages all across the city. Fringe Festival participants come from all across the country, with some international entries, though most of the entries come from our own vast talent pool right here in Vancouver. Here is an excerpt from the Fringe Festival’s own web-site to help new comers get the idea of what they are all about.
“The Vancouver Fringe is a celebration of theatre for everyone featuring more than 700 performances by 89 artists over 11 days from September 4 to 14, 2014. The Fringe employs an “everyone is welcome” selection technique—the Mainstage shows are literally drawn out of a hat, giving all artists a chance to participate. The Vancouver Fringe also features unique site-specific theatre where artists stage their work in the nooks and crannies of Granville Island, as part of the Fringe Onsite Program.”
To read more about this amazing event please click here and I’ll pop you over their website.
Whether you are fan of stage or screen this coming month offers a ton of chances to get out there and open yourself to new talent. Below you will find a list of local theatre’s that are all showing something unique. Maybe you will find exactly what you have been looking for on your next night out.
Local Theatre's in the Lower Mainland.
The Orpheum601 Smithe St, Vancouver, BC
https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/the-orpheum.aspx
Performance Works
Vancouver, British Columbia
Website: www.beverleyelliott.net
Crooked Teeth Theatre
1895 Venables St
Vancouver, British Columbia
Website: www.crookedteeththeatre.com
The Arts Club Theatre Company has two theatres - http://artsclub.com/
Granville Island Stage
1585 Johnston Street (next to the Public Market)
Vancouver, BC
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
2750 Granville Street (@ 12th Avenue)
Vancouver, BC
Firehall Arts Centre
280 E Cordova St,
Vancouver, BC
firehallartscentre.ca
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
649 Cambie St,
Vancouver,
BC V6B 2P1
www.vancouver-theatre.com/theaters/queen-elizabeth-theatre/theater.php
The Cultch
1895 Venables St,
Vancouver, BC
thecultch.com
That is just a drop in the bucket. Vancouver has hundreds of hole in the walls, grand spaces and raw stages to catch all the action. Enjoy all that the world offers. Monthly events can be found here – take a read and see if one of these exciting events is for you!
http://www.tourismvancouver.com/do/entertainment/arts-culture/vancouver-theatre-guide/
