Waiting for Godot- A tragicomedy by Samuel BeckettReflections by John Wright, Blackbird Theatre, Director of Waiting for Godot  Written in French in 1951 and first performed in English in 1955, Waiting for Godot is the quintessential absurdist drama. Any classical theatre company worth its salt must at some time undertake a production of this play. It is among the great works by which we should measure ourselves, as artists and as audience. Godot is always relevant, and human society is always able to receive it, if done intelligently and truthfully, and with all of its humour in bloom.
It seems to us that the religious, philosophical, and societal issues that Godot raises are ever in our collective awareness: Is there a purpose to life? Is there a God? Is there truth? Is it better to be alone? Do we have a duty to someone? Something? The brightest minds on the planet have emptied their collective typewriters on Waiting for Godot's deeper meanings.We think that both the play and our audience will best be served if we give full value to the comic in this "tragicomedy", and that only then will this brilliant dramatization of our little life on the road to nowhere have its full resonance, that no drop of serious intent will be sacrificed, that the play's effect in sum will be profound, and that, perhaps, a few of Samuel Beckett's greater hopes, of which he was reluctant to speak, may be realized in our little show.  Waiting for Godot is now playing at The Cultch until January 21, 2012. Tickets start at $16 and are available online at tickets.thecultch.com, by phone at 604.251.1363, or in person at 1895 Venables Street.
GIANTS Comedy Returns on January 14th with "Self Quest" by Ryan Beil
Co-Presented with The Cultch, GIANTS Comedy is back with the third installment in its ongoing series of big-thinking, late-night comedy events.
 GIANTS Comedy brings together the funniest minds from every corner of Vancouver's dynamic comedy scene for special one-night-only showcases at The Cultch. After two raucous shows in 2011, the team returns on January 14th with GIANTS III feat. Self Quest by Ryan Beil.
The highlight of GIANTS III is "Self-Quest," a humour-heavy and hormone-driven play penned by actor, comedian and improviser Ryan Beil when he was just 16 years old. Theatre fans will know Beil from his work with Bard on the Beach, Main Street Theatre and from his Jessie-winning role in Billy Bishop Goes to War. But Beil is also a world-class funny man, regularly charming audiences with his improv group The Sunday Service. This long-awaited remount of "Self Quest," written by a highschool-aged Beil in his self-described "chief drama nerd" days, features an all-adult cast and stars Beil himself. The play is a joyful exploration of youth, love and adolescent ego, complete with a healthy dose of self-deprecating nostalgia and tongue-in-check commentary.
GIANTS III also features performances from improv group Fancy Pants, sketch duo Ryan Steele and Amy Goodmurphy, and stand up comedians Adam Pateman and Charlie Demers. Plus, GIANTS Comedy regulars return with brand new installments of "News Around Now" with Emmett Hall and "Delicious Things" with Nik Bunting. The whole evening is tied together by hilarious videos produced by art/comedy/karaoke/film super-stars Weekend Leisure.
Seating for this one-night-only special presentation is limited. Grab your tickets while you can! For more information, funny videos, and guest bios, visit GIANTScomedy.com.
Toa Fraser's No.2 mixes 'kava with karaoke'!
 When Toa Fraser first sat down to write No.2 over a decade ago, he imagined it as a 'love letter' to his family, friends, and life. Born to a British mother and Fijian father, Fraser documented the quirks of life growing up in New Zealand in his play No. 2. When casting this gem of a show, Fraser (having worked with the talented young actress Madeline Sami before) trusted her to portray all nine characters all by herself. As a one-woman show, Sami was and is able to seamlessly jump between characters and scenes, without the distraction of moving sets and actors entering and exiting. Sami has been praised for everything from her malleable face to her athleticism and ability to believably switch between everyone from a cranky old Fijian matriarch, to a young six year old boy.
In a show described as "mixing kava with karaoke", we witness the spirited gathering of an eccentric family, as they await the announcement of their grandmother's successor. This timeless story has been perfected over its extensive international run, and arrives in Vancouver with incredible critical and audience acclaim.
 No.2 is playing at The Cultch from January 31- February 4, 2012. Tickets start at $16 and are available online at tickets.thecultch.com, by phone at 604.251.1363, or in person at 1895 Venables Street. A co-presentation with PuSh International Performing Arts Festival; Presented with the support of The Charlotte and Sonya Wall Fund for the Arts and Creative New Zealand.
The 605 Collective and Dana Gingras collaborate to create a new dance: New Animal
 The 605 Collective was founded in 2006, in a small live/work studio in East Vancouver. Their apartment, #605, became a space for a small group of artists to collaborate and share their different experiences in dance and in life. From hip-hop to jazz, ballet to marital arts, the incorporation of different styles has inspired their work and allowed them to reach out to different dance communities. Despite their diversity of movement, The 605 Collective has emerged with a clear direction. Their work is marked by an extreme physicality and athleticism that represents them all collectively.
Their latest work is the result of their collaboration with acclaimed choreographer Dana Gingras (of Animals of Distinction and The Holy Body Tattoo). New Animal exploits the supreme versatility of five dancers - Lisa Gelley, Shay Kuebler, Josh Martin, Dave Raymond and Amber Funk-Barton. Suffused with raw, unbridled energy, groove, ludic interaction and a hunger for movement, the performers reclaim their animal bodies as a means of becoming fully human. New Animal is set to an eclectic soundtrack assembled and manipulated by Roger Tellier-Craig, and features film elements by Dana Gingras and Yannick Grandmont with lighting designed by Robert Sondergaard.
New Animal plays at The Cultch from February 7-11, 2012. Tickets are from $16 and may be purchased by visiting tickets.thecultch.com or by calling the Box Office at 604-251-1363.
In The Gallery: Jonathan Sutton and Suzo Hickey
This month, The Cultch is proud to present the works of two talented BC artists in conjunction. Multidisciplinary artists Jonathan Sutton and Suzo Hickey come together to present The Committed and They Recall a Past Which is Gone and Anticipate a Future Which May Never Come.
Jonathan Sutton - The Committed
"Lately I'm increasingly struck by the possibilities that filmic lighting holds for painters already using cameras and photo editing; things can really hum when you start removing elements of compositional and narrative logic while keeping the generators running."
Jonathan Sutton is a multidisciplinary artist whose commitment to self-instruction and independence compliments a breadth of professional training and collaboration. The style of painting he calls Situation Surrealism focuses on undistorted images of distorted situations. Through the professionally crafted oil paintings of The Committed, Sutton explores the question of a dynamic enactment of immobility - how do we take a run at the very problems we're stuck to the shins in?
Suzo Hickey - They Recall a Past Which is Gone and Anticipate a Future Which May Never Come
"In a city where progress remains just out of reach, my childhood memory of Prince Rupert serves me well. There are no new subdivisions to get lost in, no urban sprawl. I want my paintings to reflect the way this drama has played itself out, the way Prince Rupert has maintained its community in defiance, and the overwhelming memories in the buildings and the harbour, using painting as a lens to focus on the complexity of my childhood hometown, I want to make a portrait of it."
Suzo Hickey is a painter and multidisciplinary artist living in Vancouver, BC and has exhibited around BC and internationally on themes of urban landscapes, queer mothering, namecalling, narrative and death in the family. Using a combination of abstract shapes and urban landscape imagery, Suzo explores the complexity of her childhood home in They Recall a Past Which is Gone and Anticipate a Future Which May Never Come.
These exhibits will show from December 19th to January 16th, 2011. For regular gallery hours, visit our website at thecultch.com.
All art displayed in The Cultch gallery is available for sale and may be purchased through The Cultch. If interested, please contact us a gallery@thecultch.com.
The IGNITE! Mentorship program - Inspiring the youth of our community 
The IGNITE! Mentorship Program offers a series of one-on-one mentorship opportunities in specific media to youth who want to pursue a career in the arts. This year, we are offering mentorships in Dance, Directing, Play Writing, Songwriting, and Spoken Word.
In each of these areas, promising young artists will be paired with a mentor in their chosen media. The Cultch presents some of the most accomplished artists from across Canada and around the world. The Intensive program is designed to allow emerging artists in the community to access and learn from this incredible pool of talent.
Application deadlines approaching!
Songwriting and Spoken Word, January 15th
Dance and Directing, February 15th
Playwriting, May 1st (for 2012/2013)
For further information about our mentorship program and to submit your application, please visit ignitementorships.wordpress.com.
Introducing The Cultch's New Youth Program Manager After over four years of hard work, dedication, and incredible success building The Cultch's Youth Program into what it is today, Corbin Murdoch has seized the day to leave us to travel the world. Corbin, thank you for your passion and commitment to growing the youth program into a thriving resource and social hot house for young artists around the city. We wish you much success in your future endeavors. At this time, we are thrilled to introduce our new Youth Program Manager. The Cultch feels lucky to have found someone whose passion for youth and the arts matches his predecessor. Meet Robert Leveroos!  Rob hails from the Twin Cities, Minnesota, which is one of the leading arts communities in the United States. He grew up with the Tony Award Winning Children's Theatre Company, one of the largest theatres in North America presenting professional work for young audiences. He was engaged as a student artist for ten years, acting, dancing, singing, designing and directing. He served on youth panels and collectives and received invaluable mentorship from seasoned artists of the company in all aspects of the work. With this background, Rob understands how mentorship and youth involvement in the arts can shape and transform a life! Rob also trained at The National Theatre School of Canada, graduating from the Acting Program, where his favourite projects were always the most artistic ones, developing collaborative devised theatre, and creating his own work in Solo Show labs.
He moved to Vancouver one year ago and has created theatre and dance work including Safe/Guard, performed at The Firehall Arts Centre and The Gam Gallery, and danced a new commission by Choreographer Noam Gagnon and Composer/Guitarist Ed Henderson for 10X10X10 at Scotiabank Dance Centre. He has also worked at the Hastings Elementary Community School with their afterschool youth program KidsFirst.
In his own words, Rob is excited to join The Cultch team: "I attended my first Youth Panel meeting recently and was absolutely thrilled! The youth panel is an incredibly capable and inspiring group. I am looking forward to getting to know them all, and being a part of the awesome festival they are planning for this year! If you or someone you know is interested in joining The Cultch Youth Program, read more here or send a note to Rob! 
Exciting Volunteer Opportunities Ushers
Looking for an opportunity to fill a free evening with innovative and dynamic entertainment? How about meeting potential new friends and getting involved in the arts community? Then why not volunteer for The Cultch! The Cultch is always looking for reliable and friendly people with an interest in the arts to join our volunteer team as ushers. Our ushers are the first point of contact for guests as they enter the building and play a crucial role in creating a welcoming atmosphere at The Cultch. No experience is required as we provide you with full training, but previous ushering or customer service experience is always an asset. For more details and info on how to apply, click here.
Administration/Reception
Looking to gain experience in administration and receptionist duties? Interested in receiving free tickets to upcoming Cultch shows, learning new and transferable skills, meeting new people and receiving recognition for your efforts? The Cultch is currently looking for a volunteer receptionist with a great sense of humour to assist in a wide range of administrative services. Hours for this position are day time, week days. For more details and info on how to apply, please contact Cindy Reid, Managing Director (cindy@thecultch.com).
Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata  Starts January 19; Revue Stage Presented with the PuSh Festival By Bill Richardson and Veda Hille YOUR PERSONAL ADS, SET TO MUSIC! Irregular hats for cats, mounted lobsters, autographed copies of the Bible: this premiere from composer Veda Hille and the CBC's Bill Richardson explores what humanity has to offer and turns it into sidesplitting musical fare. Who wouldn't want a broken time machine, for free? Come and take a look at the vagaries and intimacies of the internet! 
NOW OPEN: Founders' Lounge at The Cultch, in partnership with Two Chefs and a Table
The Cultch is thrilled to announce the opening of our very own Founders' Lounge! We've partnered with East Vancouver's highly respected Two Chefs and a Table to now offer full food service for every performance. This exciting new addition will feature the same fresh, locally-sourced and sustainable approach that Two Chefs developed. For more information please visit our website. We can't wait to see you there!
The 38-seat Founders' Lounge is open six nights a week from 5:30-11pm serving tapas, wine, craft beer and cocktails to event attendees and the public alike. It's also available for private bookings on non-event nights. Reservations are now being accepted at 604-340-3445.
Read Mia Stainsby of the Vancouver Suns' review of The Founders' Lounge here!
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