Saturday, September 29, 2018
TOUR: Busted Up: A Yukon Story in CARCROSS - Oct 2, 2018
Open Pit Theatre and The Carcross Tagish First Nation Learning Centre are bringing Busted Up: A Yukon Story to Carcross, YT!
Photo courtesy of Alistair Maitland Photography
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Carcross Tagish First Nation Learning Centre
7:30pm (doors at 7:00pm)
**Pay-What-You-Decide
Busted Up: A Yukon Story premiered in Whitehorse in 2017 as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations, and the Yukon Art Centre's 2017/18 season.
Set right here in the Yukon, a plethora of real-life characters whose opinions and stories are as varied as their age and ethnic backgrounds reveal themselves: how they ended up in the territory, why they stayed, their beliefs, their roots and their fears.
Throughout the play, the juxtaposed voices of these people gather and evolve around the relationships between aboriginal people and settlers, natural resource extractions, the growing immigrant population and the fast paced changes Canada's north is experiencing.
The result is a powerful play full of humor, violence, absurdity, and tenderness.
Après avoir passé trois ans à récolter, transcrire et amalgamer des entrevues, la compagnie de Whitehorse Open Pit Theatre est prête à partager Busted Up: A Yukon Story.
Une variété de personnages avec des opinions et histoires aussi divergentes que leurs âges et leurs racines se dévoilent: comment se sont-ils retrouvés au Yukon, pourquoi sont-ils restés, leurs croyances et leurs peurs.
Au cours de la pièce, les voix juxtaposées de ses personnages se développent autour des thèmes criants d’actualité tels que les relations entre autochtones et non autochtones, extractions de ressources naturelles, la croissance de populations immigrantes et les changements qui percutent le nord canadien.
Le résultat est une pièce de théâtre pleine d’humour, de violence, d’absurde et de tendresse.
“…it simultaneously brought me to laughter and broke my heart.”
“ L’intersection des histoires des différents personnages tissent un portrait qui représente le Yukon que j’aime et j’habite, avec toutes ses complexités et ses contradictions.”
“Funny, poignant, silly, sombre. Phenomenal.”
Cette pièce fait partie du “Yukon Verbatim Project” au cours duquel plus de 60 entrevues ont été récoltées dans huit différentes communautés du Yukon, y compris Whitehorse. Nos 6 acteurs jouent plus de 20 personnages et n’utilisent que leurs mots exacts, tels que transcrits des entrevues. Aucun mot n’a été modifié ou ajouté au script.
Merci d’encourager le théâtre local et Open Pit Theatre dans leur première mise en scène.
The play was created as part of The Yukon Verbatim Project, which consisted of gathering over 60 interviews from eight communities including Whitehorse. Our six actors will be playing over 20 real life Yukon characters and will use only their exact words as transcribed during the interviews. No words have been altered or added to the script!
Thank you for supporting local theatre, and Open Pit Theatre’s first big theatrical premiere.
Busted Up: A Yukon Story was developed with support from the Yukon Arts Centre.
TOUR: Busted Up: A Yukon Story in WHITEHORSE - Oct 3, 2018
Open Pit Theatre will be concluding the Busted Up: A Yukon Story 2018 tour in Whitehorse at The Yukon Art Centre!
Photo courtesy of Alistair Maitland Photography
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Yukon Art Centre
7:30pm (doors at 7:00pm)
**Pay-What-You-Decide
Busted Up: A Yukon Story premiered in Whitehorse in 2017 as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations, and the Yukon Art Centre's 2017/18 season.
Set right here in the Yukon, a plethora of real-life characters whose opinions and stories are as varied as their age and ethnic backgrounds reveal themselves: how they ended up in the territory, why they stayed, their beliefs, their roots and their fears.
Throughout the play, the juxtaposed voices of these people gather and evolve around the relationships between aboriginal people and settlers, natural resource extractions, the growing immigrant population and the fast paced changes Canada's north is experiencing.
The result is a powerful play full of humor, violence, absurdity, and tenderness.
Après avoir passé trois ans à récolter, transcrire et amalgamer des entrevues, la compagnie de Whitehorse Open Pit Theatre est prête à partager Busted Up: A Yukon Story.
Une variété de personnages avec des opinions et histoires aussi divergentes que leurs âges et leurs racines se dévoilent: comment se sont-ils retrouvés au Yukon, pourquoi sont-ils restés, leurs croyances et leurs peurs.
Au cours de la pièce, les voix juxtaposées de ses personnages se développent autour des thèmes criants d’actualité tels que les relations entre autochtones et non autochtones, extractions de ressources naturelles, la croissance de populations immigrantes et les changements qui percutent le nord canadien.
Le résultat est une pièce de théâtre pleine d’humour, de violence, d’absurde et de tendresse.
“…it simultaneously brought me to laughter and broke my heart.”
“ L’intersection des histoires des différents personnages tissent un portrait qui représente le Yukon que j’aime et j’habite, avec toutes ses complexités et ses contradictions.”
“Funny, poignant, silly, sombre. Phenomenal.”
Cette pièce fait partie du “Yukon Verbatim Project” au cours duquel plus de 60 entrevues ont été récoltées dans huit différentes communautés du Yukon, y compris Whitehorse. Nos 6 acteurs jouent plus de 20 personnages et n’utilisent que leurs mots exacts, tels que transcrits des entrevues. Aucun mot n’a été modifié ou ajouté au script.
Merci d’encourager le théâtre local et Open Pit Theatre dans leur première mise en scène.
The play was created as part of The Yukon Verbatim Project, which consisted of gathering over 60 interviews from eight communities including Whitehorse. Our six actors will be playing over 20 real life Yukon characters and will use only their exact words as transcribed during the interviews. No words have been altered or added to the script!
Thank you for supporting local theatre, and Open Pit Theatre’s first big theatrical premiere.
Busted Up: A Yukon Story was developed with support from the Yukon Arts Centre.
CALL FOR VIDEO SUBMISSIONS: Filipino Performer
Open Pit Theatre is requesting VIDEO SUBMISSIONS from Filipino performers of all ages and genders for our upcoming northern tour of Busted Up: A Yukon Story.
Busted Up: A Yukon Story is a verbatim play set in Canada's north and features an ensemble of seven performers who each play a variety of characters. The play premiered at The Yukon Art Centre in 2017, is touring the Yukon in 2018, and will be touring outside of the Territory in 2019/20.
Please email a photo and resume to auditions@openp.it. At which time, we will provide auditions sides and video instructions.
The deadline for video submissions is July 1, 2018.
The contract dates are: September 16 - October 7, 2018. Flights, shared accommodation, and per diems will be provided.
We are seeking performers who are comfortable with a large amount of text, can play multiple characters, and are willing to explore heightened physicality.
Click HERE for information about the show.
TOUR: Busted Up: A Yukon Story in HAINES JUNCTION
Photo courtesy of Alistair Maitland Photography
Open Pit Theatre will be travelling to Haines Junction for one performance of Busted Up: A Yukon Story on Tuesday, September 26, 2017.
The show is being performed at the St. Elias Convention Centre and begins at 7:30pm.
There is a $5.00/person admission fee.
We hope to see you there!
After three years of gathering interviews, transcribing, and editing, Whitehorse’s Open Pit Theatre is ready to share Busted Up: A Yukon Story as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations, and the Yukon Art Centre's 2017/18 season.
Set right here in the Yukon, a plethora of real-life characters whose opinions and stories are as varied as their age and ethnic backgrounds reveal themselves: how they ended up in the territory, why they stayed, their beliefs, their roots and their fears.
Throughout the play, the juxtaposed voices of these people gather and evolve around the relationships between aboriginal people and settlers, natural resource extractions, the growing immigrant population and the fast paced changes Canada's north is experiencing.
The result is a powerful play full of humor, violence, absurdity, and tenderness.
Après avoir passé trois ans à récolter, transcrire et amalgamer des entrevues, la compagnie de Whitehorse Open Pit Theatre est prête à partager Busted Up: A Yukon Story.
Une variété de personnages avec des opinions et histoires aussi divergentes que leurs âges et leurs racines se dévoilent: comment se sont-ils retrouvés au Yukon, pourquoi sont-ils restés, leurs croyances et leurs peurs.
Au cours de la pièce, les voix juxtaposées de ses personnages se développent autour des thèmes criants d’actualité tels que les relations entre autochtones et non autochtones, extractions de ressources naturelles, la croissance de populations immigrantes et les changements qui percutent le nord canadien.
Le résultat est une pièce de théâtre pleine d’humour, de violence, d’absurde et de tendresse.
“…it simultaneously brought me to laughter and broke my heart.”
“ L’intersection des histoires des différents personnages tissent un portrait qui représente le Yukon que j’aime et j’habite, avec toutes ses complexités et ses contradictions.”
“Funny, poignant, silly, sombre. Phenomenal.”
Cette pièce fait partie du “Yukon Verbatim Project” au cours duquel plus de 60 entrevues ont été récoltées dans huit différentes communautés du Yukon, y compris Whitehorse. Nos 6 acteurs jouent plus de 20 personnages et n’utilisent que leurs mots exacts, tels que transcrits des entrevues. Aucun mot n’a été modifié ou ajouté au script.
Merci d’encourager le théâtre local et Open Pit Theatre dans leur première mise en scène.
The play was created as part of The Yukon Verbatim Project, which consisted of gathering over 60 interviews from eight communities including Whitehorse. Our six actors will be playing over 20 real life Yukon characters and will use only their exact words as transcribed during the interviews. No words have been altered or added to the script!
Thank you for supporting local theatre, and Open Pit Theatre’s first big theatrical premiere.
Busted Up: A Yukon Story was developed with support from the Yukon Arts Centre.
Thank you to our show sponsors: DRIVING FORCE, Canada Flooring, Duncan Sinclair, The UPS Store, Milestone Environmental Contracting, and Northern Vision Development
September 2017: Intro to Devising Theatre with Jessica Hickman
Are you interested in creating original theatre?
Have you ever been drawn to creating a new theatrical work for events such as Theatre in the Bush? Or the Homegrown Theatre Festival? Or Brave New Works? Or Nuit Blanche?
Unsure of how to begin?
In this three hour hands-on workshop, you will be introduced to a variety of approaches for devising original theatre. Collectively we will explore each technique, discuss how to assess the work, and brainstorm ways that it could be expanded further.
The instructor, Jessica Hickman, will be drawing on her training experiences with Frantic Assembly, the Movement Theatre Studio NYC, and the creators of Then She Fell (an award winning immersive theatre show in Brooklyn). Jessica is the co-artistic director of Open Pit Theatre, is directing Busted Up: A Yukon Story, and teaches at The Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, BC.
It will be a fun afternoon of theatrical playtime and who knows, you might walk away with an idea for your next piece!
Date: Sunday, September 17, 2017
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Dojo Studio - Heart of Riverdale
Cost: $25.00 (Cash or Cheque @ the door)
*Absolutely no experience required.
* No RSVP or registration required - just show up! Doors open at 1:30pm.
PERFORMANCE: Busted Up: A Yukon Story - TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
After three years of gathering interviews, transcribing, and editing, Whitehorse’s Open Pit Theatre is ready to share Busted Up: A Yukon Story as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations, and the Yukon Art Centre's 2017/18 season.
Set right here in the Yukon, a plethora of real-life characters whose opinions and stories are as varied as their age and ethnic backgrounds reveal themselves: how they ended up in the territory, why they stayed, their beliefs, their roots and their fears.
Throughout the play, the juxtaposed voices of these people gather and evolve around the relationships between aboriginal people and settlers, natural resource extractions, the growing immigrant population and the fast paced changes Canada's north is experiencing.
The result is a powerful play full of humor, violence, absurdity, and tenderness.
Après avoir passé trois ans à récolter, transcrire et amalgamer des entrevues, la compagnie de Whitehorse Open Pit Theatre est prête à partager Busted Up: A Yukon Story.
Une variété de personnages avec des opinions et histoires aussi divergentes que leurs âges et leurs racines se dévoilent: comment se sont-ils retrouvés au Yukon, pourquoi sont-ils restés, leurs croyances et leurs peurs.
Au cours de la pièce, les voix juxtaposées de ses personnages se développent autour des thèmes criants d’actualité tels que les relations entre autochtones et non autochtones, extractions de ressources naturelles, la croissance de populations immigrantes et les changements qui percutent le nord canadien.
Le résultat est une pièce de théâtre pleine d’humour, de violence, d’absurde et de tendresse.
“…it simultaneously brought me to laughter and broke my heart.”
“ L’intersection des histoires des différents personnages tissent un portrait qui représente le Yukon que j’aime et j’habite, avec toutes ses complexités et ses contradictions.”
“Funny, poignant, silly, sombre. Phenomenal.”
Cette pièce fait partie du “Yukon Verbatim Project” au cours duquel plus de 60 entrevues ont été récoltées dans huit différentes communautés du Yukon, y compris Whitehorse. Nos 6 acteurs jouent plus de 20 personnages et n’utilisent que leurs mots exacts, tels que transcrits des entrevues. Aucun mot n’a été modifié ou ajouté au script.
Merci d’encourager le théâtre local et Open Pit Theatre dans leur première mise en scène.
The play was created as part of The Yukon Verbatim Project, which consisted of gathering over 60 interviews from eight communities including Whitehorse. Our six actors will be playing over 20 real life Yukon characters and will use only their exact words as transcribed during the interviews. No words have been altered or added to the script!
Thank you for supporting local theatre, and Open Pit Theatre’s first big theatrical premiere.
Busted Up: A Yukon Story was developed with support from the Yukon Arts Centre.
Thank you to our show sponsors: DRIVING FORCE, Canada Flooring, Duncan Sinclair, The UPS Store, Milestone Environmental Contracting, and Northern Vision Development
WORKSHOP: Intro to Devising Theatre with Jessica Hickman
Are you interested in creating original theatre?
Have you ever been drawn to creating a new theatrical work for events such as Theatre in the Bush? Or the Homegrown Theatre Festival? Or Brave New Works? Or Nuit Blanche?
Unsure of how to begin?
In this three hour hands-on workshop, you will be introduced to a variety of approaches for devising original theatre. Collectively we will explore each technique, discuss how to assess the work, and brainstorm ways that it could be expanded further.
The instructor, Jessica Hickman, will be drawing on her training experiences with Frantic Assembly, the Movement Theatre Studio NYC, and the creators of Then She Fell (an award winning immersive theatre show in Brooklyn). Jessica is the co-artistic director of Open Pit Theatre, is directing Busted Up: A Yukon Story, and teaches at The Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, BC.
It will be a fun afternoon of theatrical playtime and who knows, you might walk away with an idea for your next piece!
Date: Sunday, September 17, 2017
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Dojo Studio - Heart of Riverdale
Cost: $25.00 (Cash or Cheque @ the door)
*Absolutely no experience required.
* No RSVP or registration required - just show up! Doors open at 1:30pm.
Emerging Theatre Director Opportunity
Do you know any young aspiring theatre directors?
Someone who is a natural leader and may want to direct a play or musical in the future?
Open Pit Theatre is offering a youth mentorship opportunity (ages 16-25) for someone who would like to assist the director during rehearsals for Busted Up: A Yukon Story. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to observe rehearsals, collaborate as required, have one-on-one sessions with the director to ask questions, and witness how a professional theatre contract works.
The successful candidate will receive a small honorarium, and will be able to participate in a variety of ways, depending on what they would like to get out of the process.
To apply, applicants should send an expression of interest to jessica@openp.it answering the following questions:
- Who are you? (Tell us about yourself).
- What interests you about this opportunity?
- What would you be interested in learning from this opportunity?
- What is your availability for the dates outlined below? Busy? Free?
The deadline for submissions is Friday, August 4, 2017.
Here is an outline of the rehearsal and tech dates. The successful candidate will be able to participate as much or as little as they can based on their own availability (aka if you are in school etc) and will be chosen based on their expression of interest.
Rehearsals = August 15 - September 8 (Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm)
Tech = Sept 9/10 (9am-5pm) & Sept 12/13/14 (1pm-10pm)
Opening Night = September 14
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email!
Last round of interviews for Busted Up: A Yukon Story
Our playwright Geneviève will be at the Old Fire Hall in Whitehorse on April 10-13 to hold the last rounds of interviews for Busted Up: A Yukon Story. She is looking to chat to people about their relationship to land in the Yukon. If you've got a little bit of time and something to say, get in touch with her at genevieve@openp.it. Looking forward to hear from you!
Vancouver/Victoria/Calgary AUDITION POSTING
Open Pit Theatre is now accepting actor submissions for the premiere production of Busted Up: A Yukon Story. The production is a part of Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations and will take place in Whitehorse, YT in September 2017.
Busted Up: A Yukon Story is a verbatim play set in Canada's far north, and features over twenty real life Yukon characters whose opinions and stories are as varied as their age and ethnic backgrounds. Throughout the play, the juxtaposed voices of these people gather and evolve around the relationships between aboriginal people and settlers, natural resource extractions, the growing immigrant population and the fast paced changes Canada's north is experiencing. The result is a powerful play full of humor, violence, absurdity, and tenderness.
- Contract dates: August 15th - September 24th, 2017
- Possible one-week extension: September 25th - October 1, 2017
We will be holding auditions in Vancouver, Victoria, and Calgary to find six actors to perform over twenty characters. We encourage actors of Indigenous backgrounds, and those who self-identify as members of underrepresented communities to apply. Our characters represent a large span in ages, therefore we also encourage actors of all ages to apply.
Open Pit Theatre’s aesthetic is very physical, and therefore all actors must be comfortable experimenting and using movement as a means of storytelling. This does not mean that you need to be a trained dancer. We are seeking actors who are open to physical contact with other performers, and those who can handle a physically demanding rehearsal process. All performers will play up to six different characters.
VANCOUVER AUDITION:
- Deadline to submit = Monday, April 10 - 5:00pm
- Audition Day = Saturday April 15
- Callbacks = Sunday, April 16
- Audition Location = Carousel Theatre
VICTORIA AUDITION:
- Deadline to submit = Monday, April 17 - 5:00pm
- Audition & Callback Day = Sunday, April 23
- Audition & Callback Location = Metro Theatre
CALGARY AUDITION:
- Deadline to submit = Monday, April 24 - 5:00pm
- Audition Day = Saturday April 29
- Callbacks = Sunday, April 30
- Audition Location = Lunchbox Theatre
The auditions will be held by co-director Jessica Hickman and will be comprised of a 15-minute individual audition, followed by a 45-minute group movement audition.
Submission Instructions:
- Please submit a resume and a recent photograph via email to Selene Vakharia (project producer) at selene@smrtpopups.com. Please indicate your audition city and name in the subject line of your email. For example: VANCOUVER SUBMISSION - Jane Doe.
- Equity and non-Equity artists are encouraged to submit. We will be engaging all Equity artists under the D.O.T policy agreement.
Thank you to all who submit, however only those selected will be invited to audition at this time.
Important Note: We are not accepting video submissions at this time.
Whitehorse AUDITION POSTING - Call for Performers
Open Pit Theatre is accepting actor submissions for the premiere production of Busted Up: A Yukon Story in Whitehorse, YT. The production is a part of Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations and will take place at The Old Fire Hall in September 2017. This is a professional contract and compensation will reflect current industry and Equity standards.
- Contract dates: August 15th - September 24th, 2017 (six weeks with a possible one week extension)
- Contract rehearsal hours: 9am-5pm, Tuesday - Sunday
Busted Up: A Yukon Story is a verbatim play set in Canada's far north, and features over twenty real life Yukon characters whose opinions and stories are as varied as their age and ethnic backgrounds. Throughout the play, the juxtaposed voices of these people gather and evolve around the relationships between aboriginal people and settlers, natural resource extractions, the growing immigrant population and the fast paced changes Canada's north is experiencing. The result is a powerful play full of humor, violence, absurdity, and tenderness.
We will be holding auditions in Whitehorse, Vancouver, and Victoria to find six actors to perform over twenty characters. We encourage actors of Indigenous backgrounds, and those who self-identify as members of underrepresented communities to apply. Our characters represent a large span in ages, therefore we also encourage actors of all ages to apply.
Open Pit Theatre’s aesthetic is very physical, and therefore all actors must be comfortable experimenting and using movement as a means of storytelling. This does not mean that you need to be a trained dancer. We are seeking actors who are open to physical contact with other performers, and those who can handle a physically demanding rehearsal process.
- Whitehorse Audition dates: Saturday, March 25 & Sunday, March 26
- Whitehorse Callback date: Sunday, April 1
- Whitehorse deadline to apply: Wednesday, March 22 at 5:00pm
The Vancouver and Victoria auditions will take place mid-April. Dates and times TBC.
The auditions will be held by co-directors Jessica Hickman and Geneviève Doyon and will be comprised of a 15-minute individual audition, followed by a 45-minute group movement audition.
Submission Instructions:
Please submit a resume and a recent photograph via email to our producer Selene Vakharia at selene@smrtpopups.com.
If you do not have a performance resume, then please outline your experience in the body of your email.
If you do not have a headshot, then please attach a photograph that currently looks like you.
Please also include the following information in your email:
Your full availability on March 25, March 26 & April 1 so that we can attempt to schedule your audition slot within that time frame.
Please indicate if you are Equity or Non-Equity.
Please indicate your age (or age range if you prefer to not reveal the specific year)
Please indicate if you speak a language other than English.
Preparation:
Upon receipt of your submission, our producer will send you an audition side with 8-10 small character monologues from the play. Please choose and prepare two of the offered monologues for your individual audition. All of our actors will be playing characters of different ages and ethnicities, so please choose two contrasting characters.
We have been working on this play for three years, and we are very excited to finally share it with our community! We hope to see you at the auditions!
For more information please visit our website at www.openp.it.
If you have additional questions or concerns please email Selene at selene@smrtpopups.com
JOB POSTING: Producer
Open Pit Theatre is currently accepting applications for a Producer for the premiere of Busted Up: A Yukon Story as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations. The approximate dates of the contract will be from March 1, 2017 to October 1, 2017 with the time commitment increasing as we move towards opening.
The Producer is responsible for realizing the visions of the Co-Artistic Directors within the overall budget and time constraints. This includes seeking sponsorships, budget management, artist liasoning, and overseeing additional hired production staff such as the production manager, and stage manager.
In addition to management and financial skills, the Producer will have an overall knowledge of all production disciplines and how they interact during the production process.
Contract Dates:
March 1, 2017 to October 1, 2017 (working as required to achieve proposed project goals & timelines)
- Rehearsals: August 14 - September 14
- Whitehorse Performances: September 15 - 23
- Dawson City Performances (TBC): September 25 - 30
Qualifications and Required Skills
- experience and/or education in theatre management
- strong financial experience including management of large project budgets
- experience with developing and executing a sponsorship campaign
- knowledge of Equity contracts and negotiations
- experience booking flights, accommodation, and artist liasoning
- experience planning and booking a tour
To apply please submit a cover letter, resume, and salary expectations to Jessica Hickman at jessica@openp.it.
The deadline for submissions is Sunday, January 15, 2017 at 12pm.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to send us an email. We would be happy to talk more about the position and/or project if that is helpful. It is going to be a very exciting project, and we are looking forward to building our team!
Open Pit Theatre receives $45 000 from Canada 150
We're excited to share that Yukon MP Larry Bagnell announced on October 21st that Open Pit Theatre was successful in obtaining funding from Canada 150 to produce our verbatim play in 2017!
Open Pit Theatre has been developping the first verbatim play of the territories since 2014 and is thrilled to receive this generous support from Canadian Heritage for the production of this unique northern piece of theatre.
Photo Credit: Thibaut Rondel (L'Aurore Boréale)
Press Release:
Our Communities: At the Heart of Celebrations for the 150th Anniversary of Confederation in 2017
October 21, 2016- Whitehorse – Department of Canadian Heritage
The Honourable Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament (Yukon), today announced $45,000 in funding to the Open Pit Theatre for their Yukon Verbatim project. He made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Open Pit Theatre has spent the last two years recording over sixty interviews with Yukon residents in the communities of Ross River, Teslin, Carcross, Keno, Dawson, Mayo, and Whitehorse for the Yukon Verbatim Project. Interviews focused at gathering the broadest and most accurate Yukon perspectives were conducted in all sorts of locations; wall tents, yurts, log cabins, outhouses, conference rooms, offices, and coffee shops. Playwright, Geneviève Doyon (co-artistic director of Open Pit Theatre), took the interviews (which ranged from thirty minutes to six hours in length) and wove together themes from individuals of various age, race, ethnicity, gender, location, and social background into a play. Thanks to the Canada 150 Fund, Open Pit Theatre will be able to present a full production of this exciting and unique play; showcasing both the harmonious and conflicting views existing in the Yukon today.
The Government of Canada is providing this funding through the Canada 150 Fund. To make 2017 a year that all Canadians will remember, the Government of Canada will continue to invest in local, regional, and Canada-wide projects.
The 150th anniversary of Confederation gives Canadians the opportunity to celebrate our shared values, our achievements, our majestic environment and our country’s place in the world. It is also an ideal opportunity for Canadians to get involved in their communities.
As we prepare for a year of celebration, the Government of Canada invites all Canadians to take part in activities surrounding the Canada 150 countdown. This is an opportunity for all of us to express what it means to be Canadian and how we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
Quotes
“In 2017, Canada will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all that it means to be Canadian. The Government of Canada will create opportunities for Canadians to participate in local, regional, and national celebrations. Communities across the country will proudly take part in the festivities throughout the year to mark this significant anniversary in Canada’s history. Join the celebration—it’s happening in your community too!”
—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage
“In typical northern style, Yukoners are reminding all Canadians that we have a proud story and history of accomplishment to tell, demonstrating the Yukon is larger than life. The 150th anniversary of Confederation is an opportunity for communities to acknowledge the many facets of Canada’s diversity.”
— The Honourable Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament (Yukon)
“Open Pit Theatre's play is the very first verbatim play north of 60. It is an authentic and honest piece of theatre that portrays our community today and asks important questions about our future."
— Caili Steel, President, Open Pit Theatre
Quick Facts
· Open Pit Theatre is a professional theatre company dedicated to exploring new approaches to play development and focused on providing the Yukon with play development, public workshops, and co-productions.
· The Government of Canada’s vision for the 150th anniversary of Confederation includes four major themes: diversity and inclusiveness, the environment, young people, and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
· The Canada 150 Fund, established in April 2015, has an overall budget of $210 million.
· Through this fund, the Government of Canada will continue to invest strategically in activities that support the 150th anniversary vision and promote the direct involvement of Canadians.
Fundraiser: SILENT HORROR FILM NIGHT
Bust out your 1920s outfits, give it a spooky twist, and get ready for a unique multidisciplinary evening of films, music, improv and much more!
Saturday, October 22nd
The Old Fire Hall
Doors @ 7:30pm
Tickets $20
Discover short horror silent films from the 1920s while kick-ass musicians Daniel Janke, Paul Bergman and Olivier de Colombel improvize a live soundtrack and as top notch improv actors Brian Fidler, Mary Sloan and George Maratos make up the dialogue before your eyes.
The amazing Alistair Maitland will be capturing everyone's outfits with a 1920s horror photobooth! We will be serving tasty drinks! You can win prizes from many local businesses including flights from Air North!
We will be presenting excerpts from the following silent films:
LE SPECTRE ROUGE (1907) by Segundo de Chomón.
A demonic magician performs a magic show in the depths of Hell itself, however his mistreatment of his female assistants incurs the wrath of a good spirit who starts to interfere. Some ground-breaking special effects are on display here (including miniature women in glass bottles) in this early example of a “trick” film which even predicts the invention of the TV. The film was shot in black & white, and the colours were later hand-screened onto each print via a stencil process which originated in 1904 and was used throughout the silent film era.
NOSFERATU (1922) by F.W. Murnau
Released as an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula with names and other details changed because the studio could not retain the rights to the novel. Part 5 synopsis; Fear and sickness was spreading through the town as people are dying. The agent Knock became a scapegoat for all unexplained deaths. Ellen reads the book of vampires and learns that a young woman must give her blood to a vampire to distract him until the first light of day appears.” Ellen lures the vampire Nosferatu in as Knock is arrested, and he dies as the dawn appears.
THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (1920) by Robert Weine
Arguably the first horror film. Considered the quintessential work of German Expressionist cinema, tells the story of an insane hypnotist who uses a somnambulist to commit murders. Themes include irrational authority (preluding the Nazi Party), the destabilized contrast between sanity and insanity, the subjective perception of reality, and the duality of human nature. Features a dark and twisted visual style, with sharp-pointed forms, oblique and curving structures and landscapes that lean and twist in unusual angles.
THE MAN WHO LAUGHS (1928) by Paul Leni
An adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name (also wrote The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables). A melodrama, at times even a swashbuckler, but so steeped in Expressionistic gloom that it plays like a horror film. Plot centres around Gwynplaine, the son of an English nobleman who has offended the king. The monarch sentences his father to death and calls upon a surgeon to disfigure the boys face into a permanent grin, “to laugh forever at his fool of a father." His wide and mirthless grin inspired the Joker character in the original Batman comic book series.
THANK YOU to our main event sponsors:
Jazz Yukon
Yukon Brewing
Alistair Maitland Photography
And to our Make a Plane Game sponsors:
AirNorth
Potluck Food Coop
Yukon Brewing
Baked Cafe
Mack's Fireweed
Yukon Film Society
The Guild Hall Theatre
Breath of Life Yoga Studio
This event is a fundraiser for our mighty theatre company! We've got some REALLY exciting projects coming up in 2017 and could definately use a hand making them happen.
Open Pit Theatre @ Theatre in the Bush!
Ramshackle Theatre has invited Open Pit Theatre to create and perform a new piece as part of Theatre in the Bush for the Magnetic North Theatre Festival. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets!
Set deep in Yukon’s boreal forest Theatre in the Bush takes the ritual and mad magic of a bush party and distills it into an interactive, multidisciplinary event. Against a backdrop of scrubby spruce, pine and willow, audiences are led through the woods to see original performances that artists cook up over the course of a week. Featuring a line up of the best and brightest Yukon creators and special guests from across the country, Theatre in the Bush offers playful, daring theatre,dance, underwear fights, spoken word, gourmet food, bonfires and music mixed with a healthy dose of folksy Yukon charm. Traditionally held on the fall equinox, our 2016 event will be presented under the midnight sun on June 11th and 12th.
Come and see our new work, and also a plethora of other amazing interactive performances set in the woods! Some of the performers are local, and others are national artists who will be visiting the north as part of the festival. Check out this line-up!
Local Performers and Installation Artists:
Miche Genest
Jordy Walker
Geneviève Doyon
Jessica Hickman
Eric Epstein
Tara Kolla Hale
Barb Hinton
Joclyn McDowell
John Streicker
Emily Woodruffe
National Artists:
Cliff Cardinal
Lucas Myers
Conor Wylie
Musical Guests:
Ryan McNally and Brigitte Desjardins
Made in Yukon Showcase @ Magnetic North Theatre Festival
Open Pit Theatre is happy to announce that they will be presenting the company at the Made in Yukon Showcase as part of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival. The showcase is designed for local companies and artists to showcase their work to the national and international delegates that will be visiting Whitehorse for the festival.
We will be outlining our company history, our creation aesthetic, and our upcoming shows.
The Made in Yukon Showcase will take place at the Kwalin Dun Cultural Centre on Monday, June 13th at 6:30pm. We hope to see you there!
Projection Design Workshop with Jamie Nesbitt
PROJECTION DESIGN WORKSHOP
Whitehorse, YT
May 6-8, 2016
Open Pit Theatre invites you to attend a Projection Design Workshop facilitated by award winning projection designer Jamie Nesbitt. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn and experiment with image treatment, mapping and create your very own projection designs. This week-end workshop is intended for videographers, multimedia artists, performers, musicians, directors, set and lighting designers and anyone interested in learning a new skill!
Join us for a creative week-end with one of the most in demand projection designers in Canada!
Photo courtesy of Jamie Nesbitt
Thank you to the Cultural Industry Training Fund for making this workshop possible!
May 2016: Projection Design Workshop with Jamie Nesbitt
After attending a 3-hour workshop led by projection designer Jamie Nesbitt in Victoria, Open Pit Theatre was inspired to offer an extended version here in Whitehorse.
From May 6-9, 2016 a hands-on workshop was offered to Yukon videographers, multi-media artists, theatre directors, photographers, and theatre creators.
The workshop introduced participants to the art and use of projections. Jamie outlined how and when projections can be used for those wishing to incorporate projections into their art - whether it be for theatre, performance art, visual art, music performances, or public events. Each participant was provided temporary access to the software that Jamie uses to design his projections, and from there learned the basic skills of projection design. We covered image sourcing, mapping, editing, and execution.
Jamie is an award winning designer and has worked in every major theatre across Canada and we were very lucky to have him as our guest! Here is a link to his website: www.jamienesbitt.com
Thank you to the Cultural Industry Training Fund for making this workshop possible!
PRESS:
What's Up Yukon article: CLICK HERE
Incubator Project at The Belfry Theatre
Open Pit Theatre just spent a week in Victoria, BC at The Belfry Theatre developing a new work currently called Mary Marry. Ten local performers participated in a week long development workshop where we explored the relationship between family history, verbatim text, and ensemble physicality. Over the next six months more interviews will be collected, and the material generated during the workshop will be incorporated into the script.
