Matilda the Musical at The Arts Club

Add a Comment by Jen Murtagh
Disclosure: Review — Views and opinions are those of the author. Media review tickets were provided by The Arts Club. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.

Guest post contributed and written by Jen Murtagh.

As a child I reveled in Roald Dahl’s writing, enjoying his darkly comic style, villainous adult characters and the unexpected twists and turns his books always seemed to take. It’s one of the many reasons I was so excited to bring my daughter to see The Arts Club’s rendition of Matilda The Musical, playing now at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Theatre.

Arts Club Matilda the Musical
Arts Club Theatre Company: Matilda the Musical. Set and costume design by Cory Sincennes and lighting design by Gerald King. Photo by David Cooper

Matilda the Musical is the adaptation of one of Dahl’s most beloved books and is a funhouse fairy tale of a story with characters you may remember like Miss Honey, Miss Trunchbull and Matilda Wormwood. It is true enough to the book, ensuring to captivate those loyal readers, yet sophisticated enough as to engage those who may not know the story and are in need of a night of comic relief. It is sweet, smart and wickedly fun.

Directed by Daryl Cloran, Matilda tells the story of an extraordinary little girl whose bravery and brilliance helps her take charge of her own destiny. She will happily choose books over TV any day and discovers her telekinetic powers for good, helping her classmates navigate the dreadfully delightful, Miss Trunchbull. Played by the hilarious John Ullyatt, Miss Trunchbull is the headmistress of Crunchem Hall whose motto is Children are Maggots.

You will come to loathe her grotesque parents, including her sleazy car salesman father and ballroom dance crazy mother, whose hilarity and over the top selfishness seem beyond absurd, if not for a Roald Dahl book.    

Matilda the Musical
Corben Kushneryk, Lauren Bowler, Ben Elliott, and Thailey Roberge. Set and costume design by Cory Sincennes and lighting design by Gerald King. Photo by David Cooper

I found myself smiling the entire evening as I listened to the hilarious and clever songs of Tim Minchin, with personal favourites including “Miracle”, “Revolting Children” and “When I grow up”. The Arts Club have assembled a dynamic and talented cast of both children and adults in Matilda who will surely find ways to captivate your heart and leave you coming back for more of their upcoming productions. 

Matilda the Musical at The Arts Club

Where: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage (2750 Granville St, Vancouver)
When: On now until July 14, 2019
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Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival: Win Tickets

Comments 10 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival (“TWFF”) returns June 21 to June 25, 2019 to the Vancity Theatre. TWFF is an annual non-profit arts and cultures initiative started in 2007, and over the years, it has become the largest film festival focusing on Taiwanese cinema in North America.

Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival

Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival 2019

Where: Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour St, Vancouver)
When: June 21 to June 25, 2019
Tickets: Available online now for individual films or in ticket packs

Over the past years, TWFF has presented more than 100 Taiwanese films and invited many filmmakers to Vancouver. This year’s lineup featured documentaries, dramas, thrillers and comedies.

Win Tickets to See The Plastic Bag

I’m giving away tickets to the screening of The Plastic Bag, on Saturday, June 22 at 6:00pm.

The Plastic Bag

The beautiful Little Liuqiu Island is the natural habitat for the endangered green sea turtle. Xiao Lu is passionate about green sea turtles and is wholeheartedly dedicated to conservation research. As an anti-plastic activist, Xiao Lu encountered a series of dilemmas which led to many disagreements and the eventual breakup with her boyfriend.

As green sea turtles hatch and head into the ocean, only one in a thousand hatchlings will survive and safely grow into adulthood. It takes as many as 50 years for green sea turtles reach sexual maturity and at that point, they return to their nestling beach to lay eggs. But what will become of their habitat after 50 years? Tourism has stimulated the economy of beautiful Little Liuqiu Island but how will it find a balance between tourism and marine conservation?

Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Click below to post an entry on Twitter
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to a film screening at the Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival @vancouvertwff #VancouverTWFF http://ow.ly/w7x430oW9Qv” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

Follow the Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more info. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

UPDATE The winner is Nick!

Queer Arts Festival in Vancouver

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

The 11th Annual Queer Arts Festival (“QAF”), Vancouver’s artist-run, professional, multi-disciplinary roister of queer arts, culture and history, takes place this year from June 17 to June 28, 2019.

Queer Arts Festival in Vancouver

Queer Arts Festival Vancouver 2019

This year’s festival theme rEvolution gathers together artists who dissemble, push and transgress; art as the evolution of the revolution. QAF has assembled nearly 100 artists and more than 20 events and programming showcasing a variety of differing media on exhibit at the Roundhouse Arts Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews) in Vancouver’s Yaletown.

Here are some event highlights:

Art Party! Gala Opening Reception
Tuesday, June 18, 2019 @7:00pm

Roundhouse Exhibition Hall (181 Roundhouse Mews)
Tickets: Free
QAF opening night galas are one of Vancouver’s best attended visual arts events, making this a party you don’t want to miss!

Technical Knockouts
On now until Saturday, June 22, 2019
Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews) Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews)
Tickets: Free
A female-centred music production drop-in lab for queer, Indigenous and allied youth led by Kinnie StarrDJ O Show and Tiffany Moses. ASL interpretation available upon request.
Calling all queer, Two-Spirit, and allied poets, lyricists, performers, truth-tellers and music-makers! Want to take your passion for words and music in a new direction? The Queer Arts Festival is here to help with the return of Technical Knockouts Emerging Artist Lab; a free, creative workshop series that invites you to tell your story, experiment, and access professional resources and mentors.

Kinnie Starr
QAF’s Technical Knockouts music lab mentored by Kinnie Star

Relational Revolutions – Visual Art Exhibition
Monday, June 17 to Wednesday June 26, 2019 
Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews)
QAF’s signature curated visual art exhibition for 2019, Relational Revolutions, posits a rumination on the theme of rEvolution and extends an invitation to recalibrate our desires, how we hope, how we sense, how we love, and above all to re-examine our relationships with each other, with the land, with time, with form and with space. Curator Elwood Jimmy, of the Thunderchild First Nation, is an artist, facilitator, cultural manager and writer. This exhibit will showcase an eclectic array of artists including Thirza Cuthand, Raven Davis, Vanessa Dion Fletcher, Alexandra Gelis, Jessica Karuhanga, Lisa Myers, David Ng, Jessa Chse, and Ty Sloane.

Diaspora with the Frank Theatre
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 @ 7:00pm
Tickets: Pay what you can
Roundhouse Exhibition Hall (181 Roundhouse Mews)
The Frank Theatre presents a reading of Diaspora: an interdisciplinary, devised performance created by queer refugees and immigrants.

Queer Songbook Orchestra. Photo Tanja Tiziana
Queer Songbook Orchestra. Photo Tanja Tiziana

Queer Songbook Orchestra
Friday, June 28, 2019 @ 7:00pm
Tickets: $30-$40
Roundhouse Exhibition Hall (181 Roundhouse Mews)
Celebrated national chamber ensemble Queer Songbook Orchestra unearth the queer backstories and personal narratives inspired by music of the past several generations. Weaving together stories told by local narrators with arrangements by Canada’s foremost composers.

Stonewall 50 Glitter is Forever
Friday, June 28, 2019 @ 9:00pm
Roundhouse Exhibition Hall (181 Roundhouse Mews)
Tickets: Free with your Songbook ticket, otherwise $15-$20
On the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that launched modern-day Pride, Vancouver Pride Society, Zee Zee Theatre, and The Frank Theatre join QAF’s final blowout, gathering together to revel in a half- century of queerevolution. Stonewall was a riot – now, we dance!

For more information, follow the QAF on Twitter and Facebook.

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

It’s Father’s Day weekend in Vancouver and local attractions and restaurants have special events planned to help you celebrate dad. Miss604 is proud to sponsor the BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival on Friday (free) and Saturday (ticketed) at Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park. This event and more things to do in Vancouver this weekend are listed below:

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend

Friday, June 14, 2019
Sponsored by Miss604: BC Highland Games and Festival
Vancouver Canadians Baseball at the ‘Nat
La Kermesse (School Fair)
The Price is Right Live at the River Rock
Pi Provocateurs Presents Theatre Conspiracy’s Stray
Il Mercato Italian Market
A Journey Of Self-Awareness Through Comedy
Shipyards Night Market
Richmond Night Market
The Bandmaid’s Tale
The Arts Club Presents: Matilda the Musical
Vancouver Men’s Chorus The 70s Show
Bard on the Beach

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Free Outdoor Dancing in Vancouver for Summer 2019

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

The city comes alive in the summer with a lineup of affordable festivals, concerts, and events. One of the most vibrant, is free outdoor dancing in Vancouver! Take a lesson, watch some pros, enjoy music and movement at the Vancouver Art Gallery’s plazas, Robson Square, and Jim Deva Plaza. Here are the two main organizers:

Free Outdoor Dancing in Vancouver

Salsa Dance Robson Square
Salsa at Robson Square – Photo by John Bollwitt

Dance in Transit Schedule

When: Fridays and Saturdays, July 5 to August 9, 2019
Where: Robson Square, VAG South Plaza, VAG North Plaza (šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square) and Jim Deva Plaza on Davie
Follow Dance in Transit here »

Friday, July 5 @ 6:30pm to 9:00pm at Jim Deva Plaza
The first outdoor event of this season features the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on July 5th at Jim Deva Plaza. Warm up with some Zumba and DJ MiXXX playing Top 40, some oldies, and some requests.
Saturday, July 6 @ 8:00pm to 11:00pm at Robson Square
Carnaval del Sol Bachata edition
Friday, July 12 @ 7:00pm to 10:00pm at VAG South Plaza
Tango edition
Saturday, July 13 @ 8:00pm to 11:00pm at Robson Square
Kizomba edition
Friday, July 19 @ 7:00pm to 10:00pm at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square
Bhangra edition
Saturday, July 20 @ 8:00pm to 10:00pm at Robson Square
Salsa edition
Saturday, July 27 @ 8:00pm to 11:00pm at Robson Square
Friday, August 9 @ 7:00pm to 10:00pm at at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square
Urban Kiz edition with Zumba warmup

Salsa Dancing @ Robson Square, Aug. 7, 2011

Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square

When: July 7, 14, 21, 28 and August 4, 11, 18, 25, 2019
Where: Robson Square
Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square is an annual series of FREE outdoor salsa dances held at Robson Square in downtown Vancouver (since 2006) during the summer months of July and August.

Each event starts with a free beginner dance lesson at 3:00pm, followed by social dancing 3:30pm to 5:00pm and performances 5:00pm to 5:30pm. Then it’s a free dance for all from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.