For the past few years, I’ve chosen a theme – not only personally, but also for my arts and cultural experiences. For 2015, it’s Innovation and Collaboration. I’ll be looking to highlight arts groups and individuals who push boundaries, invest in new approaches, re-invent the wheel, and collaborate with others in the fields of art, dance, theatre, film and music.
I’ve been waiting since the crowd-pleasing Tall Timber for another evening with The Other Guys Theatre Company. Lovers of Pete Seeger rejoice as they bring their adaptation of his book, The Incompleat Folksinger to Victoria Jan. 8-18. Adapted by Ross Desprez and Mark Hellman, with musical direction by Tobin Stokes, it is the perfect night for the folkie in all of us. Seeger passed away in 2014, but his legacy lives on. TicketRocket.org
A Place to Listen series continues to astonish by the variety of music profiled at their monthly concerts, the third Wednesday of the month. Have you ever wondered about experimental music? This is your opportunity to experience something completely different. Jan. 21 a concert of text scores by Michael Pisaro, Stefan Thut and Jason Brogan, realized by Mathieu Rhulmann, Lance Olsen Austin, and Joda Clement. Aplacetolisten.ca
Langham Court Theatre, now in its 86th season, presents the latest work by British playwright Alan Bennett, the biting farce People, Jan. 15-31. What happens when an aging dowager can no longer manage her aging manor house and rents it out unwittingly as a location for a porn film? Langham has a solid reputation for doing great justice to farce and People is bound to be hilarious and pointed fun. Langhamtheatre.ca
Sin City the Improvised Serial returns Jan. 13 for Season 5 with a series that is rumoured to be about space. Join an intrepid and talented group of the city’s premier improvisers in this perfect blend of theatre and improv. Completely unscripted, the story will provide you with a new appreciation for improvisation, and an inordinate amount of belly laughs. Directed live by Ian Ferguson. sincityimprov.com
The ground breaking centre of art song study, Vancouver International Song Institute presents All Around the Circle: An Evening of Lieder and Song Jan. 17 at the Phillip T Young Recital Hall (UVic) with international calibre artists including Benjamin Butterfield, Tyler Duncan, Martha Guth, Erika Switzer and Laura Loewen. Proceeds to benefit student scholarships.
Francophone arts and culture is alive and well in Victoria—home to more than 30,000 francophones and francophiles (lovers of all things French). The Francophone community radio station CILS hosts the second Festival de Films Francophones – F3Vic – in the community theatre at École Victor-Brodeur – Jan. 23-25. All films are sub-titled in English. More information: f3vic.wordpress.com
Theatre for Living in collaboration with Vancouver Island Health Authority and Hulitan Family Services brings Maladjusted, a powerful interactive play about humanizing mental health to Victoria for one night only Jan. 31 at the Songhees Wellness Centre, 1100 Admirals Road. Tickets and more info: 778- 977-3180.
The region’s newest arts council, Township Arts Council in Esquimalt, has ventured into a wide array of programming that has proven to be extremely popular. You’ll need to move quickly if you want tickets to the next TCAC Township Classics concert at the English Inn Jan. 25 – there are only 80. Reservations: townshiparts@gmail.com
Janis La Couvée is a community builder, writer and arts advocate.
