Rumble Theatre was pleased to present the sixth installment of Directorsʼ Lab, led by celebrated Canadian director Weyni Mengesha. Directors’ Lab is an integral component of Rumble’s Mentorship Program, designed to catalyze relationships between emerging and established artists and facilitate young artists’ transition to a professional career.

The Lab is a workshop for emerging directors who want to get rigorous with the foundations of their craft. Over five days, the participants discussed principles of directing, examined and analyzed a text, rehearsed scenes with professional actors, and reflected on the processes. They also learned more about the designer-director relationship during sessions with some veteran Vancouver designers.

Master Director Weyni Mengesha
Weyni Mengesha started her career directing ’da Kink in my Hair, helping build it into an international sensation, and composing its Dora-nominated score. The show went on to make history, selling out some of the largest houses in the country. Some of her other directing credits include: Father Comes Home from the Wars by Suzan-Lori Parks (Soulpepper Theatre), which won Outstanding Production at the 2017 Dora Awards; Butcher by Nicolas Billion (Why Not Theatre), which won Best Direction at the 2016 Doras; Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun (Soulpepper), which received six Dora nominations in 2010; and, in 2011, Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi (Soulpepper), which broke box office records, won two Toronto Critic Awards (including best new play), and is now a hit CBC TV show. Weyni is also a committed mentor of new talent. She has been the co-director of the acclaimed AMY (Artists Mentoring Youth) Project, training young women in performance arts since 2005, and she continues to guest teach at acting training programs across the country, including The National Theatre School of Canada.

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Tremors Festival proves that the city’s theatre scene is in good hands.

— Mark Robins, Vancouver Presents

The 2018 edition of Tremors, our festival of emerging talent, featured a talented young company of 38 emerging theatre artists who directed, designed, stage managed, produced, provided technical direction, and performed in three contemporary Canadian plays: Selfie by Christine Quintana, Tiny Replicas by Dave Deveau, and Theory by Norman Yeung. The plays were complemented by a Playwrights Speaker Series and talkbacks for Selfie.

The Tremors 2018 Plays

SELFIE
By Christine Quintana

The first party of the school year comes packed with expectations. It’s a time to renew old friendships and perhaps find new love. But what happens when an incident shatters the connections between three friends? Teenage relationships are complicated enough – especially when you add the reckless power of social media. This smart and intense play delves bravely into the nature of sexual consent.

Directed by Pedro Chamale
Featuring Carlen Escarraga, Olivia Lang & Grace Le
Set Design by Emily Fraser
Costume Design by Jessica Hood
Lighting Design by Harika Xu
Sound Design by Emilee Shackleton
Projection Design by Vanka Salim
Stage Management by Duston Baranow-Watts

TINY REPLICAS
By Dave Deveau

Simon and Ethan want to have a baby…but they can’t do it without the help of Dayna and Audrey. The challenges of a gay couple trying to have a baby come to life in this comedic and heartfelt look at how we find out who we are through our relationship to procreation and our relationships with each other.

Directed by Shelby Bushell
Featuring Douglas Ennenberg, Bronwyn Henderson, Paige Louter, Alexander Lowe & Andrew Lynch
Set Design by Ariel Slack
Costume Design by Liz Gao
Lighting Design by Mark Burge
Sound Design by Tyler Dumoulin
Stage Management by Talya Kuran

THEORY
By Norman Yeung

Isabelle, a young tenure-track professor, tests the limits of free speech by encouraging her students to contribute to an un-moderated discussion group. When an anonymous student posts offensive comments and videos, Isabelle must decide whether to intervene or to let the social experiment play out. Soon, the posts turn abusive and threatening, leading Isabelle and her unknown tormentor to engage in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse that not only has Isabelle questioning her beliefs, but fearing for her life.

Directed by Mily Mumford
Featuring Valeria Ascolese, Haris Amiri, Mariam Barry, Jesse DeCoste, Kimberly Ho, Jed Weiss & Elizabeth Willow
Set Design by Allyson Fournier
Costume Design by Melicia Zaini
Lighting Design by Keagan Elrick
Sound Design by Patrick Boudreau
Projection Design by Kyle Stooshnov
Stage Management by Samantha Pawliuk & Sony Tsai

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A pack of teenage girls prepares for battle on the soccer field. In the exhilaration of adolescence, they grapple with everything from pop culture to politics, discovering their identities as individuals and as a team. Who will come out on top? This debut script from playwright Sarah DeLappe was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize.

Critical Acclaim for The Wolves

“The Wolves is a smart and satisfying work, and it is easy to see why it is in such demand. Packing a lot into its relatively small container, more importantly, it also packs a punch.”
– Mark Robins, Vancouver Presents

“I could say something about every one of these excellent performances, but the real strength of the show is its seamless ensemble. As #25 says, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” That’s as true on the stage as on the pitch, and these Wolves are certainly winners.”
– Jerry Wasserman, Vancouver Plays

“Director Jamie King and her cast are in perfect sync, nailing both the complex rhythms of the dialogue and the considerable physicality of DeLappe’s script. … There’s not a weak spot on the field in this production. Go, team!“
– Kathleen Oliver, The Georgia Straight

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