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Vancouver Sun
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver theatre: Here are the six best plays to see in June
Ah, June. Summer sunshine (maybe) and summer theatre. Musicals, comedies, more musicals and comedies, and a few outliers. June in Vancouver means Bard on the Beach — three shows this year are comedies. And Theatre Under the Stars — two musicals. And the Arts Club's summer musical. Funnyman Colin Mochrie at the Improv Centre. Theatre in the Country's musical. A post-apocalyptic musical from Renegade Arts. An embarrassment of musical and comic riches. Here are my picks for June: Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. When: To June 22 Where: Jericho Arts Centre Tickets & Info: $15-$35 at No one is funnier than Oscar Wilde, who here applies his incomparable wit to a fin de siècle tale of political scandal and blackmail. The kind of material the Vancouver Playhouse would once have produced now frequently gets done, and done well, by United Players. Starring Hayley Sullivan, Cat Smith and Chris Cope. After 11 seasons at the Shaw Festival, d irector Moya O'Connell knows the period style. When: June 5-15 Where: York Theatre Tickets & Info: From $29 at From New Zealand's The Dust Palace, The Cultch's season-ender features acrobats creating their own costumes onstage in real time: 'from sewing machine to circus routine.' In this 'anti-cabaret cabaret,' the show's four performers take turns playing the designer and the Sexy Meat Puppets who wear the clothes and do the routines. One reviewer described it as a celebration of 'the half-naked body in the tiniest leotards I have ever seen.' When: June 10-Sept. 20 Where: Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park Tickets & Info: From $35 at Bard on the Beach opens its season with one of Shakespeare's finest romantic comedies, featuring witty lovers Beatrice and Benedick. A couple of Bard veterans, the divine Jennifer Lines as Beatrice and hilarious Scott Bellis as goofy Constable Dogberry, make this a guaranteed winner. I don't know about the 'additional text by Canadian playwright Erin Shields' to enhance the near-serious subplot. But director Johnna Wright has a good track record with Bard comedies. When: June 12-Aug. 3 Where: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage Tickets & Info: From $39 at Local TV star Rachel Drance (The Flash, Virgin River) plays a pregnant small-town waitress in a bad marriage whose pie-baking skills save her. Warning: Extramarital sex! Adapted from the 2007 movie, the stage play has music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles and an A-list supporting cast including Ben Elliott, Josh Epstein, Jennie Neumann and Tom Pickett. The Arts Club's Ashlie Corcoran directs. When: June 18-22 Where: SFU Goldcorp Centre Tickets & Info: $5-$50 at Neither musical nor comedy, this Neworld Theatre documentary production partners with Victoria's Climate Disaster Project and SFU students to share the stories of Canadians who have lived through climate change disasters, and help individuals and communities cope. Created by Sebastien Archibald, Gavan Cheema and Kelsey Kanatan Wavey, and directed by Chelsea Haberlin with a facilitated talkback after each performance. When: June 29-Aug. 16 Where: Malkin Bowl, Stanley Park Tickets & Info: $35-$69 at When I reviewed Theatre Under the Stars' production of Legally Blonde: The Musical in 2012, I called it sexist, silly and riddled with stereotypes. But also funny, clever and utterly delightful. Malibu princess Elle wreaks havoc at Harvard Law School (as if they don't have enough troubles right now). With Abby Woodhouse as Elle, Madeleine Suddaby as Paulette, and Peter Jorgensen as Professor Callahan. Jayme Armstrong directs.
The Spinoff
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Haus of Yolo successfully struts its stuff in new suburban space
The new circus show from The Dust Palace isn't just a fun night out, it's an introduction to an exciting new space in Tāmaki Makaurau, writes Sam Brooks. As a resident of the very centre of Auckland's central business district, I often forget that there are spaces beyond the view of the Sky Tower where exciting and new art is being performed. '1010' is just a postcode, not a designation of where all the cool stuff is happening. Last week's preview night of circus show Haus of Yolo, in a revamped suburban Ellerslie arts space, is a reminder of that. The concept of Haus of Yolo (stylised in all caps) is a fun one. A sparkly green jacket is passed around the cast – Eve Gordon, Lizzie Tollemache, Luis Meireilles and Jaine Mieka – possessing each in turn with a megalomaniacal fashion designer persona. Think Jim Carrey's The Mask. This jacket is intent on making a new fashion line to be featured in Vogue, and no innuendo or pantomimery will get in its way. While the concept is fun, the audience is really here for the circus. The Dust Palace has been Tāmaki Makarau's leading circus company for over a decade now, with as many shows to their name as they have years under their belt. Their brand – high-level circus framed by narrative – is a strong one, and they continue in that vein here. The narrative is a nice-to-have, the circus is the essential excellence here. The circus delivers. The company's director Eve Gordon is, as ever, spectacular. Even though I've seen them onstage many times, it's still a thrill to see them be seemingly effortlessly lifted into mid-air and spin, swish, and contort into shapes that fly in the face of what the human body should be capable of. Meireilles and Mieka were new to me, however, and Mieka's acts on the silks and with the hoops were particularly impressive, blending pure athleticism with remarkable grace and beauty. Tollemache provides the magic (and I mean that literally) of the show, with segments that punctuate the audience's questions of 'How are they doing that?' with, 'No, but seriously, how are they doing that?' One of the highlights of the show is getting introduced to a new space, Ellerslie Arts, which The Dust Palace is now the resident company-slash-owner of. The space used to be the home of the Ellerslie Theatrical Society, which wrapped up its community activities in 2023, and it mixes the feel of a community hall with a professional space. It has that classic pros' arch and a cute little bar window, but a lick of paint and professional rig elevate it. Haus of Yolo seems designed to make the most of this space. It's easily the most intimate space I've seen this kind of circus in. I'd estimate the venue seats just above a hundred people, with each of those hundred being mere metres from the performer, and the ensemble makes sure to use every inch of floor space, mingling among the audience seated underneath the proscenium arch and marching down to those seated in the proverbial (and probably literal) cheaper seats. Circus is an artform that we're traditionally told soars in massive spaces, where thousands of people can feed in their energy to the performance of one person, doing physics-defying stunts and spectacle-driven acts for us. We see it in places like Spark Arena, Civic Theatre, or Q Theatre's Rangatira space. For logistical reasons, places like Basement Theatre or BATs Theatre can't really accommodate the form. The intimacy of Ellerslie Arts highlights another part of circus, and frankly the main appeal of the artform for me, now. You can see the intense focus on each performer's face as they perform, and you can feel the ensemble giving each other energy. When Tollemache sits at the lip of the stage, jacket donned, you really feel the focus that she's giving to Gordon and Meireilles as they contort and intertwine in mid-air. Circus is high stakes enough as it is, with the performers risking injury in the same space as the audience, but being this close to the action gives it another level. The Dust Palace have cottoned on to a winner with its new space, and I'm frankly excited to see the potential of it. There is, perhaps, one game too many for the audience to follow. One of the most impressive parts of the show – the fact that the cast is speed sewing the garments that they then have to wear onstage – often gets lost despite some helpful camerawork showcasing it. It's the one downside to the intimacy of the space, that there's sometimes too much show for the space to contain it. On the whole, though, the preview night of Haus of Yolo showed me more of what the Tāmaki Makaurau performing arts needs most. As people are being priced out of the central suburbs, we need more spaces to host both them and the things they want to see. Put simply: Ellerslie Arts is one of those spaces, and Haus of Yolo is definitey one of those shows.
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Tauranga First To Hear The Call Of The Tūī: Te Tangi A Te Tūī Tickets On Sale Now
A powerful production fusing kaupapa Māori storytelling with breathtaking contemporary circus opens its Te Ika-a-Māui / North Island tour in Tauranga this August. Tickets are now on sale for Te Tangi a Te Tūī, which will have its only public performance in Tauranga on Wednesday 6 August at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre. A dedicated schools matinee performance will follow on Thursday 7 August. Performed entirely in te reo Māori, the work blends kapa haka, aerial artistry and acrobatics into a deeply moving performance that celebrates identity, whakapapa and cultural reclamation. 'Baycourt is proud to support culturally rich productions like Te Tangi a Te Tūī, particularly those that create space for rangatahi to see their language, identity and stories reflected on stage in creative and resonant ways,' says Baycourt Manager Reena Snook. Inspired by the evolving song of the native tūī, the show is a collaboration between master storytellers and kaupapa Māori performing arts company Te Pou Theatre, and world-class cirque innovators The Dust Palace. Audiences fluent in or on a journey with te reo Māori will enjoy full immersion. Those newer to the language will receive an English-language synopsis and radio play upon booking to ensure accessibility and connection. With just one public performance and tickets expected to sell quickly, Tauranga audiences are encouraged to book early to avoid missing out. "Described as transformative and visually spectacular, Te Tangi a Te Tūī is a must-see work of Aotearoa theatre," says Snook. Tickets are available now at
RNZ News
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The Dust Palace finds home in dedicated hub
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. The country's leading circus theatre company, The Dust Palace, has two reasons to celebrate. They're about to open and tour their new show Haus of Yolo and secondly, following a new partnership with the local council, The Dust Palace has now moved into a new venue in Ellerslie, Tamaki Makaurau. The former theatre will be a dedicated hub for circus arts, cabaret and live performance; serving both artists and the surrounding community. Eve Gordon spoke to Culture 101's Perlina Lau about the benefits of having the new space for artists and performers. Haus of Yolo will open at 138 Main Highway, Ellerslie from the 15th to the 18th of May before heading to Kerikeri, Hastings and Canada.
Scoop
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Te Tangi A Te Tūī Takes Flight On Te Ika-A-Māui Tour
Press Release – Elephant Publicity Drawing together kaupapa Mori storytelling and contemporary cirque, Te Tangi a Te T unfolds as an evocative meditation on identity and resilience, in the face of colonisation. The result is a dazzling synthesis of form and meaning at once This August, the powerful theatrical experience Te Tangi a Te Tūī will soar across Aotearoa for a much-anticipated Te Ika-a-Māui tour. Presented by Te Pou Theatre and The Dust Palace, in association with PANNZ (Performing Arts Network of New Zealand), this groundbreaking work brings together the resonance of te reo Māori storytelling and the visceral beauty of circus. Following its international premiere in Vancouver and an acclaimed Aotearoa season at Te Pou Theatre during Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki, Te Tangi a Te Tūī now travels to five North Island centres, inviting audiences across the motu to experience a work that is visually arresting, emotionally stirring, and deeply rooted in te ao Māori. Co-written by longtime collaborators Amber Curreen (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Te Roroa) and Tainui Tukiwaho (Te Arawa, Tūhoe), the work fuses kapa haka, acrobatics, and breathtaking aerial artistry to tell a story of reclamation, remembrance and return. Tūī soaks up the world around it & responds in song. Though beautiful, his tune now is a faint echo of what it once was when Aotearoa was blanketed in the ngāhere, flutes of patupaiarehe filled the trees & Māori alone walked gently upon their mother. Drawing together kaupapa Māori storytelling and contemporary cirque, Te Tangi a Te Tūī unfolds as an evocative meditation on identity and resilience, in the face of colonisation. The result is a dazzling synthesis of form and meaning – at once poetic, political, and unforgettable. Performed entirely in te reo Māori, the production surrounds audiences with the richness of the language and its cultural resonance. Those who are fluent or on their te reo Māori journey will enjoy the full immersion experience. Those with limited knowledge of te reo Māori and wishing to engage more deeply will be provided with a full English-language synopsis and radio play upon booking. This ensures the work remains accessible to all, allowing audiences to connect with the performance at whatever level suits them. ' Te Tangi a Te Tūī is about our collective remembering,' says co-writer and co-director Tainui Tukiwaho. 'It's about reclaiming language, whakapapa and the stories that have been waiting patiently for us to return to them. And we're doing it in a way that celebrates Māori innovation, power and wairua.' Producer Rachael Dubois (The Dust Palace) echoes this sentiment: 'This work lives at the intersection of everything we love – high-calibre physical performance, kaupapa Māori storytelling, and deep collaboration. It's an incredibly special show, and audiences who see it are going to be moved, challenged, and inspired.' 'A masterclass in kaupapa Māori storytelling and physical theatre… unlike anything else on the Aotearoa stage.' — Theatreview 'Visually spectacular and emotionally resonant. The standing ovation was immediate and well deserved.' — NZ Herald 'A transformative, deeply moving experience. The power of te reo Māori and circus together is breathtaking.' — Radio New Zealand This collaboration between Māori-led performing arts company Te Pou Theatre and contemporary circus innovators The Dust Palace, Te Tangi a Te Tūī is supported by PANNZ as part of its mission to bring bold, original Aotearoa stories to communities around the country. Amber Curreen, co-writer and co-director, is a driving force in Māori theatre and a champion of kaupapa Māori creative leadership. As Pou Whakahaere of Te Pou Theatre, she has led the development of numerous new works and initiatives. Tainui Tukiwaho, also co-writer and co-director, brings over 20 years of stage and screen experience to the project, with a reputation for fearless storytelling and uplifting Māori voices. With its soaring physicality, poetic power and fierce cultural heart, Te Tangi a Te Tūī is a landmark work of Aotearoa theatre. A celebration of whakapapa, te taiao, and the enduring voice of our tūpuna, this is a story that calls us home. Tickets go on sale in May. Visit for booking details and resources. Rotorua Sir Howard Morrison Centre Sunday 10 – Monday 11 August Taranaki TSB Showplace Thursday 14 – Friday 15 August tsb-showplace Whangārei Forum North Tuesday 19 – 20 August Forum-North Kerikeri Turner Centre Friday 22 – Saturday 23 August
