Arts & Culture

Gateway announces its season of programming

By Hannah Scott, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Published 4:39 PDT, Tue September 28, 2021

Last Updated: 11:37 PDT, Mon October 18, 2021

Following a challenging 18 months, Gateway Theatre’s creative team is looking forward to the upcoming season with optimism.

The theatre announced its programming on Saturday, as well as unveiling a mural that has been taking shape on its exterior wall thanks to the work of artist Carmen Chan. And the upcoming season, which will include some untraditional offerings as opposed to only seated in-person productions, has required creativity and adaptability to plan.

“For us as an organization, really learning how to connect with our community in a different way has been challenging and exciting, and I think in some ways a gift,” says director of artistic programs Barbara Tomasic. “It’s forced us to really investigate who our audiences are and what they would have needed this year to feel connected and joyful and still a part of the Gateway.”

Tomasic says the creative team began planning many months ago, and had to be flexible given the uncertainty of capacity limits and other public health restrictions. Above all, they didn’t want to have to cancel anything.

The season will kick off with a unique community event, bringing last year’s Hallows’ Eve paper theatre kit to life with a large, interactive version at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery and Aberdeen Centre. In February, another community event will bring Lunar New Year stories to people through a walk-through experience.

“I’m really excited about exploring a different way of sharing Gateway with our community,” says Tomasic. “I think that’s something that we’ve learned during COVID for sure. It’s a direction that we’ve been wanting to take here, and we’ve been moving in that direction for a while.”

The annual holiday show will be something of a return to its usual format, with in-person audiences welcomed inside Gateway’s theatre for the first time since February 2020. Proof of vaccination will be required, and audience members must wear masks. There will also be a reduced capacity inside.

“We’ve learned that to leap without looking at this point is not prudent,” says Tomasic of the plans, which she calls “cautiously optimistic.”

The holiday show will also be streamed online, making it accessible to more patrons.

“We spoke to some patrons who were not comfortable coming to the theatre,” Tomasic explains. “We also wanted to (offer a virtual option) in case some things change drastically and we can’t offer it to a live audience at all.”

While the expense of digital streaming is a new consideration for the Gateway team, Tomasic says they have not only budgeted for it, but also been able to provide work to more people in the industry to help with filming. The show has already been cast, and is custom built around seven artists who sing and play instruments. Work on costumes and set pieces has also started, and “It feels like there’s life in the theatre right now,” says Tomasic.

“I really love everything that’s coming into our space this year. It really has the feeling of hope and joy and community and really connecting with people on a level that is much needed right now.”


2021-2022 season at a glance

Hallows’ Eve pop-up theatre
Artwork by Keely O’Brien, story and characters by Jasmine Chen
Oct. 23-24, 2021 at Gulf of Georgia Cannery
Oct. 30-31, 2021 at Aberdeen Centre
Free family-friendly community event
Following last year’s successful Hallows’ Eve Paper Theatre Kit, this beautifully illustrated miniature theatre is coming to life! Heading to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery’s Haunted Sea event and to Aberdeen Centre, a life-size version of this theatre will allow families to be transported into the whimsical world of Hallows’ Eve. The stage is all theirs to play on and bring to life a handful of fun-loving, adventurous characters.

A Broadway Holiday
Directed by Barbara Tomasic
Musically directed by Jenny Anderson
Production design by Sophie Tang
Costume coordination by Melicia Zaini
Stage managed by Susan Miyagishima
Created by Christopher King and Barbara Tomasic
Dec. 16-23, 2021
Performed for a live audience in the MainStage with a digital stream available.
This festive concert features Broadway hits such as “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and many other favourites that will get the whole family singing along. It is a chance to create unforgettable memories and together celebrate everything we love about Broadway and the holiday season. A digital, on-demand version will be available too.

Lantern Festival
Created by Stephanie Wong and Marina Szijarto
February 2022
Immersive walk-through experience celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year
Ring in the Chinese Lunar New Year with bright lights, exciting sounds, and vibrant colours to ward off the ferocious monster, Nian. Walking through this immersive experience, patrons will learn the traditional tale of Nian and other rituals, and make the journey from darkness and fear into celebration and light.

Certified
Written and performed by JD Derbyshire
Directed by Roy Surette
Lighting design by Jillian White
Sound design by Dana Ayotte
March 8-20, 2022
Performed for a live audience in Studio B
Comedian and certified insane person JD Derbyshire turns the audience into a mental health review board in this memoir-play trying to break the stigma around mental health. It is irreverent fun, hilarious and heart-aching journey through the mental health system.

Gateway Theatre also announces New(to)Town Collective as its 2021-2022 Company in Residence. The Residency will support New(to)Town's continued exploration of pedagogy, physical theatre, and accessibility in theatre training. In addition, Gateway Theatre will be supporting the development of New(to)Town member Davey Calderon's Big Queer Filipino Karaoke Night.

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