Photos from ACTIVE ACCESS DESIGN EARLY RESEARCH: DIRECTION & DESIGNERS 
Conceived by Jack Paterson with Anika Vervecken, Paul D. Power (disability, Deaf and MAD Arts) and Hannah Siden
Creative Hub: Work at Play Header.

The intention of the Creative Hub is to reduce barriers for performing arts creators to engage in artistic exploration and creation that is ultimately geared towards a public relationship with audience and community. The Creative Hub is a home for the arts, a mutually-supportive community of artists who feel a sense of connection to Presentation House Theatre and one another.

The Creative Hub has transformed how Presentation House Theatre collaborates and shares performing arts with our communities. Creative Hub artist members from across performance disciplines fill our spaces, work on their own creative projects, and share their skills and expertise with each other. This flourishing Creative Hub model is now well established at PHT. It continues to fill our spaces with creative energy and adapts as the program evolves.

Presentation House Theatre’s Creative Hub is made up of two programs: Creative Residency and Energy Exchange.

Artists must apply to the Creative Hub for each individual project being proposed. Current or past Creative Hub artists must also reapply for which they will receive a streamlined interview process.

Applications for the Creative Hub are currently open.

Energy Exchange applications are due Sunday, November 3rd, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST.
Creative Hub: Creative Residency Header.

Presentation House Theatre is excited to announce the three residency artists and companies: multimedia dance artist Aryo Khakpour and theatre collectives happy/accidents (Anais West, Angelica Schwartz, Stephanie Wong) and Monster Theatre (Carly Pokoradi, Ryan Gladstone, Tara Travis).

Photo of ​​Aryo Khakpour.

Aryo Khakpour

Aryo Khakpour (he/him) is an interdisciplinary performer, director and dramaturg. Born and raised in Tehran, Aryo has been involved in multiple theatre, dance, and film productions in Vancouver, Canada, since 2006. He co-founded The Biting School in 2013 and was company-in-residence at the PuSh Festival and The Dance Centre from 2018-2019. Aryo is an infrequent sessional instructor at Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts.

In his practice he explores dynamics of power, implications of ideologies, repetition of mythologies, and cultural adaptation. An intersectional feminist, Aryo interrogates the patriarchy and its harmful effects on people. His practice is heavily physical and surrealistic; it moves from theatre to performance art to dance to film and back to theatre; it deals with pain and pleasure; it is sex-positive; and aims to queer the status quo. Aryo was trained in devised practices of non-hierarchical collective creation — this is his favourite way of creating work.

Aryo is the recipient of the 2024 Theatre Replacement Accelerator Lab Fellowship, which focuses on international touring within the context of experimental theatre and interdisciplinary performance, and building relations with the international arts network.

Corporeal Liberation: a Cinema Machine is a research project that combines collected moving and still images with body/motion tracking to create an interactive system for expanded cinema. Driven by active spectatorship and participatory performance, this multi-narrative installation explores and brings to light histories hidden under oppression.

Photo of theatre collective happy/accidents (from left to right: Anais West, Angelica Schwartz, and Stephanie Wong).

happy/accidents

happy/accidents was established in 2017 by Angelica Schwartz with the aim of fostering alternative theatre on Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg, MB). Shortly thereafter, Artistic Associate Erin Meagan Schwartz joined the company and together, they produced three impressive shows. In 2020, happy/accidents expanded nationally with the appointment of Stephanie Wong as Co-Artistic Director, alongside Angelica.

Under the leadership of Angelica and Stephanie, happy/accidents has produced an additional three digital works, and is presently developing its first stage production of Blood Wedding (Working Title) with the two Co-Artistic Directors. The duo is committed to reimagining the landscape of theatre leadership and creating alternative works that instill optimism amidst existential uncertainty.

happy/accidents’ vision is rooted in a determination to push boundaries, challenge norms and create new possibilities in the world of theatre. Their focus on positivity and hope, and their ability to innovate, is evident in their productions, earning them recognition in the industry.

Created by Anais West, Angelica Schwartz, and Stephanie Wong, Blood Wedding (Working Title) is a multidisciplinary drama inspired by Federico García Lorca’s ‘Blood Wedding’, and his avant-garde satire, ‘The Public.’ With surrealism and biting humour, it follows a group of queer and trans artists navigating the perils of working in institutionalized theatre. During a production of ‘Blood Wedding,’ a revolt begins in the company, forcing the trans assistant director to reckon with their ambition, their artistic integrity and their responsibility to the queer community. ‘Blood Wedding’ asks: does the old theatre need to be buried, so that a new theatre can rise? It is a meta-theatrical love letter to a queer ancestor, using Lorca’s legacy to challenge transphobia and catalyze a better future. oppression.

Photo of Carly Potaki from Monster Theatre.
Photo of Ryan Gladstone from Monster Theatre.
Photo of Tara Travis from Monster Theatre.

Monster Theatre

Monster Theatre’s mandate is to create original plays that challenge preconceptions, excite imaginations and embody the way of the Monster: strange, twisted and bizarre on the outside, but always with a noble heart. Founded in 2000, we have toured hit shows such as Til Death: The Six Wives of Henry VII, Juliet: A Revenge Comedy, & Who Killed Gertrude Crump? During PHT’s Creative Residency, Carly Pokoradi, Ryan Gladstone, and Tara Travis will be developing a brand new immersive, experiential, installation piece, likely the largest and most technically dynamic project we’ve tackled to date. The Parlour (Working Title) will explore fear and the spirit world. What engenders fear? Is it physical? Emotional? What kind of audience wants to feel afraid? Why are so many of us desperate to believe there’s a way to make contact with the other side? Loosely inspired by the Spiritualism Movement, this participatory “table play” takes place at a seance in which two actors guide an intimate audience through an evolving psychological thriller, as they all attempt to communicate beyond the veil. We are excited to collaborate with magician Travis Bernhardt, who will mentor the team to develop new illusions and technical effects that cause our audiences to doubt their very senses (whether they believe in ghosts or not). It is this razor-edged space between hard-headed skepticism and desperate faith on which we hope to balance the audience’s experience.

The Creative Residency initiative encourages artists to create a new work, re-imagine an old idea, or engage in the development of a creative practice that will form the basis of a potentially important work of art. The Creative Residency provides artists with access to rehearsal studios, a fully equipped theatre space, and artistic support. Projects will be supported for a minimum of 2 years, as we provide the opportunity for artists to see their work through to the next stage of development. Presentation House Theatre will commit to a formal presentation of the project, when it’s ready, of at least $5,000. Presentation may occur in a variety of forms, based on the needs of the work and capacity of PHT which will occur through mutual and ongoing discussion. We will also work with artists to support them finding partners and funding to develop and produce the project. Based on the scope of projects applying we are able to offer 2 to 3 residency slots in 2024.

Creative Residency is ideal for artists and groups looking to invest a dedicated amount of time over several years to create a new work and advance their artistic practice through long-term engagement. Applications to this program will open every 1-2 years based on needs of projects.

Applications for this program are currently closed. 

Creative Hub: Energy Exchange Header.
Photo of Colleen Bayati.

Colleen Bayati

World Ender is a new developing musical exploring various publicly-derived answers to a question: “How would the world end for you?” From zombies to climate change to losing a loved one, the piece explores death and life, existentialism, joy, and the human condition.

Photo of Garvin Chan.

Garvin Chan

Garvin creates dark comedies exploring their identities and relationship with spirituality. A subtitle workshop of their bilingual project Year of the Frog will take place with PHT’s Energy Exchange program.

Photo of Joelle Wyminga.

Joelle Wyminga

Joelle is a multidisciplinary theatre artist working as a director, actor, producer, costume designer and is one of the founders of Far From the Tree Productions. Joelle loves to do work that examines the complexities of humanity in all its forms in hopes of creating a space for people to empathize with those they would never meet through innovative and imaginative storytelling.

Photo of Laura Di Cicco.

Laura Di Cicco

Laura has been involved in the performing arts for over 35 years. She holds a BFA and MFA from UBC. She is also the former Artistic Director for Fugue Theatre, and is currently on the faculty at the Canadian College of Performing Arts. Laura has also recently joined the team at Stage to Page Society as its resident Artistic Director. Laura is extremely excited to be returning to PHT with Olivia Etey’s Woman Against Gravityhttps://laura-dicicco.mailchimpsites.com/

Photo of Mairy Beam.

Mairy Beam

Mairy Beam, an emerging playwright, is exploring ways to create the appearance of weightlessness for a play set in outer space.  They love to explore themes of gender, and environmental justice.

Photo of Melissa Aston.

Melissa Aston

Past projects include the children’s show, Cosmo’s Pop Up Circus and Dream Seeds, a Canada Council supported project. She is now creating a new clown show called The Bucket about menopause.

Photo of Olivia Etey.

Olivia Etey

Olivia Etey is a playwright, producer and the creator of the Or Festival, an annual 10 minute play festival in Vancouver (www.orfestival.com). She graduated from UBC with a double major in Creative Writing and English Honours. Olivia’s play Woman Against Gravity received professional development through the Emerging Voices Program at TheatreOne (2024), the Stage One Festival of New Canadian Work at the Lunchbox Theatre in Calgary (2021) and the Arts Club LEAP Program (2019). 

Photo of Samantha Li.

Samantha Li

As a newcomer at PHT, I am very grateful for the studio space to workshop my upcoming project on modern loneliness.

Photo of Virginia Duivenvoorden.

Virginia Duivenvoorden

With a long-time connection to Presentation House Theatre, Virginia D is developing Echo Chamber, a dance work that blends visual storytelling and movement into transformative performances.

The Energy Exchange program is a low barrier, no-cost entry, to rent Presentation House Theatre’s spaces for free. In exchange for your volunteer time at PHT Programs, artists and groups are offered the opportunity to rent any of our spaces throughout the year. Members are encouraged to contribute their volunteer time in the participation in other Creative Hub projects. Offer your acting, dance, producing, dramaturgy, design, or other skills, in-kind to another Creative Hub project and receive studio time for your own project at PHT. Other volunteer opportunities for Energy Exchange artists include but are not limited to: Ushering, Concession, Crew Calls, and Hub Coordination. By exchanging skills and expertise with each other, we can all explore and build work in our spaces. As we each find new ways to earn revenue with limited audiences, this ‘micro economy’ allows us to continue to create and work together.

Energy Exchange is a perfect opportunity for short development workshops, professional development, one-time performances, and ongoing part-time rehearsals. Intake to this program will occur twice yearly.

Applications for this program are currently open. Energy Exchange applications are due Sunday, November 3rd, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST.

How it works:

By participating in the Creative Hub, artists exchange their time, art, and ideas to become a core part of Presentation House Theatre’s programming. Presentation House Theatre is committed to enabling artists to create new works of art that advance an artist’s craft and speak deeply to the community. We are interested in all disciplines of performance work.

At no cost to the artist, all Creative Hub members have access to:
  • Studio, theatre, and admin spaces;
  • Storage for props, set, and costume pieces*
  • Basic promotion as members of the PHT Creative Hub
  • Guidance and mentorship from PHT staff
  • Access to the Artists’ Lounge to work, relax, and share ideas with other Creative Hub members
  • Invitations and inclusion in Creative Hub member events and gatherings
*subject to availability

Who can apply?

The Creative Hub is open to artists from all disciplines including but not limited to theatre, dance, music, opera, mixed media, live art, and interdisciplinary projects. Emerging, early career, mid and late career artists are all welcome to apply to either programs of the Creative Hub. Presentation House Theatre is committed to an ongoing process of decolonization, anti-racism, and equitable access. We encourage applications from queer, transgender and two-spirited people, First Nations, Inuit & Métis, racialized individuals, and people with disabilities. We are committed to providing accommodations in all parts of the application and creative process; please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

At this time, we are not seeking applications that focus on the delivery of regular classes or workshops.

Interested in becoming a Creative Hub member?

Applications for the Creative Hub are currently open.

Energy Exchange applications are due Sunday, November 3rd, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST.

Contact:

For more information on the PHT Creative Hub, please contact Brian Postalian, PHT Artistic Associate, at hub@phtheatre.org

Past Alumni

Photo of Anaïs Pellin.

Anaïs Pellin

Anaïs is a creator and actor. In 2020, she started her own theatre company, Kleine Cie. She created the show Clementine – A (True) Story and has performed in Heavy and Light, and Little Pea at PHT.

Photo of Andrea Superstein.

Andrea Superstein

Super is an award winning vocalist and composer whose time at PHT is spent exploring multi-media modalities. Her show Oh Mother was developed through her participation in the PHT Creative Hub.

Photo of Chris Lam.

Chris Lam

Chris Lam is a Chinese Canadian theatre director and actor based in North Vancouver. Some of his credits include: A Diamond Celebration (Arts Club Theatre), A Tennessee Williams Suite (Stratford Festival), and The Nether (Firehall Arts Centre) and The 3 Little Pigs (Carousel Theatre).

Photo of Dawn Moore.

Dawn Moore

The support of the PHT Creative Hub made it possible for Dawn Moore, along with creative partner Desmond Price, to develop their original musical Waiting For Garbo which premiered in 2022.

Photo of Desmond Price.

Desmond Price

Desmond Price is a North Vancouver based playwright.  He writes plays in conjuntion with Dawn Moore. Their play, Waiting for Garbo, was produced at Presentation House in April 2022.  Currently they are working on a play about cybercurrency called Murder Bit By Byte.

Photo of Glynis Whiting.

Glynis Whiting

Theatre, film, and fiction writer. With composer Richard Link, the Creative Hub allowed us to workshop the movement aspect of our musical WRENCHED and, later, to mount a public reading.

Photo of Gordon Roberts.

Gordon Roberts

I have been a member of the PHT Artists’ Hub since its inception. Thanks to the program I have been able to complete two writing/reading sessions for a new play titled Clementine (& Winston) which is now in rewrites.

Photo of Jack Paterson.

Jack Paterson

Jack Paterson’s (he/him) theatre practices have ranged from creative access, cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary and multi-lingual creations to new works, new translations, and classical texts in contemporary form in Asia, Canada, EU, USA & UK. www.jackpatersontheatre.com

Photo of Joel Grinke.

Joel Grinke

Joel is a creator of highly immersive and interactive experiences for museums, themed attractions, and theatre. He crafts moments of wonder using live performers automation, tightly integrated multimedia design, and stagecraft.

Photo of Karter Masuhara.

Karter Masuhara

Through PHT’s Hub Program I did a development workshop for my play Before They Cut Down Our Tree which helped us to figure out the needed design and tech elements for my play.

Photo of Katie Gartlan-Close.

Katie Gartlan-Close

Katie Gartlan-Close is a playwright and theatre artist who spent her time at PHT developing a family-friendly clown show called Bean & Hat.

Photo of Linda Carson.

Linda Carson

Linda thanks the Creative Hub that was instrumental in the development and production of her latest play, Driving Me Crazy (co-written with Suzanne Ristic). Linda developed PHT’s applied theatre program Firefly and has written several plays including, Pop! Pop!, So How Should I Be?, Jack and the Bean, Here to Hear, George and Martha (adapted from James Marshal), Dying to Be Thin and Mom’s The Word (co-wrote).

Photo of Louisa Phung.

Louisa Phung

​​Louisa is a director and writer for both stage and screen. Louisa recently completed the 2021/2022 Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre’s MSG Lab 1 and 2, which supported the development of her first stage play, Embers of the Past, and co-directed a production of Vietgone with Keltie Forsythe. Louisa is an active member of the performing arts community as a mentor for VAFF’s MAMM film competition and Vancouver’s Or Festival, which supports the development of emerging playwrights. www.LouisaPhung.com

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