Theatre
BENEATH THE SURFACE
Friday October 30, 7pm
Theatre Temp, Templeton Secondary School, 727 Templeton
Pay what you can
The Festival is honoured to partner with the native theatre company Imagi’Nation (AD, Jenifer Brousseau) and Templeton Secondary School to present Beneath the Surface, an original teen suicide prevention play developed in response to the tragic suicide of a young native student from Britannia Secondary. Performed by an all-native cast, the purpose of this powerful and moving presentation is, in the words of Jenifer Brousseau, ‘to educate youth [and community] and bring awareness and understanding on related topics about how to heal through art and live in optimal health.’ Talking circle to follow.

Book Launch and Celebration
FROM THE HEART OF A CITY: Community Engaged Theatre and Music Productions from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside 2002 to 2013
Thursday October 29, 7pm – 9pm
PTC Test Kitchen, 739 Gore, 2nd floor
Free

Join Vancouver Moving Theatre and Playwrights Theatre Centre (PTC) to launch the book From The Heart of A City, a celebratory history and resource of community-engaged theatre and music productions created by, for and about Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside between 2002-2012: I Love the Downtown Eastside; In the Heart of a City: The Downtown Eastside Community Play; Condemned – The Carnegie Opera; East End Blues & All That Jazz; We’re All In This Together; The Returning Journey; A Downtown Eastside Romeo and Juliet; Bruce – The Musical; Storyweaving; and Bread & Salt.

Whether you’re in the book or you were part of the audience of more than a decade of theatre and music productions – or just want to find out more about them – you are invited to celebrate the launch of the book edited by Savannah Walling, Terry Hunter and John Endo Greenaway. There will be a panel discussion on Community and Theatre, featuring contributing writers Renae Morriseau, James Fagan Tait, Ethel Whitty and John Endo Greenaway, moderated by Heidi Taylor (PTC) – followed by an opportunity to mingle and interact with “pop-up” mini-events, including art activity with special guest Ruth Howard from Toronto’s Jumblies Theatre.

Book Launch & Celebration
INVISIBLE HEROES: Aboriginal Stories from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside
Thursday October 29, 1pm – 3:30pm
Carnegie Learning Centre, 3rd floor, 401 Main
Free

The beloved Carnegie Learning Centre is launching its new book Invisible Heroes: Aboriginal Stories from Vancouver’s DTES. This book is a collection of stories from our ‘Invisible Heroes’, a group of community-nominated aboriginal community members who are making daily positive contributions in many areas of neighbourhood life. The ‘Invisible Heroes’ group met for six months to explore storytelling and to reflect on personal journeys: their stories document the personal and the political. The book will be made available to learning centres across the country as curriculum material that reflects the experience of inner-city aboriginal community members. Join us in celebrating the launch of the book, and the courage and resilience of our ‘Invisible Heroes.’ Meet the authors, hear their stories, join in the discussion. Stanley Paul, one of the Invisible Heroes, is featured on this year’s Festival program guide cover!

Theatre
Wednesday October 28, 8pm
InterUrban Gallery, 1 E. Hastings, entrance on Carrall Street
Also October 29 & 30
Tickets at the door, sliding scale: 5¢ to $20
Set on the #20 Bus, For a Muse of Fire weaves quirky dialogue, wild humour and personal stories with adaptations from William Shakespeare. Led by Luisa Jojic, this is the second creation by the community theatre group that brought us Much Ado About Something (2014). The Muse of Fire team, made up of folks who live and work in the Downtown Eastside, is dedicated to exploring the themes of community, diversity and homelessness through the art of theatre. For a Muse of Fire is presented by Creativa International, in partnership with Lookout Emergency Aid Society, RainCity Housing and Vancouver Moving Theatre/Heart of the City Festival, with support from the City of Vancouver. There will be a talkback discussion following the performance. For more info go to www.creativainternational.com