8.27.2013

Live-In Basics

DaPoPo Theatre welcomes you to the FIFTH Annual Live-In Festival.
Come share this celebration of living theatre with us!


The Live-In is a month-long festival inviting artists and audiences to gather in an intimate setting for performances, play readings and discussions, skill-share workshops, special events, social times, and performances. Each day in October, we'll come together to discover, experience and create theatre together.


This year, we're investigating how the personal is political. How do our own stories, what we put on the stage of every day life and in the theatre, reflect our own mission statement in the world and the way we see it or wish it to be?

Check out our exciting line-up of events by clicking on one of the following:
Go to Performances
Go to Play Readings
Go to Workshops
Go to Special Events

Whether you're theatre loving, supporting, curious or making, your presence will shape the story of this year's Live-In.









REGISTRATION and RESERVATIONS
The Living Room is an intimate space, perfect for bringing artists and community members together; reservation or registration is strongly recommended and/or required as noted with each event posting.

For inquiries, or to reserve a place in workshops, special events or performances please email dapopolivein@gmail.com

In the event that registration or reservation lists fill up, we will be making waiting lists. Experience has shown that people will cancel, so don't hold back from requesting a space even if something is full! 

CANCELLATIONS
We are relying solely on donations at the door to support the Live-In this year. If you cannot attend an event as planned, please let us know immediately - particularly for workshops - so that someone might take your place. Or consider donating anyway! 

COSTS
DaPoPo is committed to making theatre accessible to all community members. Therefore, most events are by suggested donation and no one will be turned away. However, we value our artists and their art, and lets face it, there are costs to putting on this festival which volunteer hours just can't pay... so we do suggest a minimum donation of $10 per event / workshop session from those who are able. (Cash only please). Tax receipts may be available for donations of $10 or more.

FESTIVAL PASS
For $75, you get a "Key to the Living Room" in the form of a punch card good for 10 events. Pre-registration and reservation of events is required to guarantee your festival spot.


For more information on DaPoPo Theatre click here



Thank Yous

THANK YOU
More to follow - under construction








Thank you to the Canada Council for the Arts, Playwrights' Guild of Canada and The Halliburton for their support of Sky Gilbert's reading on October 11...


...and to The Bus Stop Theatre, our presenting partner for the Theatre of the Oppressed workshops and The Drinking Game...




...and to our coffee sponsors for the month, Java Blend...


...  and to Mayworks and Halifax Labour Council for their partnership and sponsorship...



...and to Theatre Nova Scotia, through whose membership program we are afforded subsidized rental of The Living Room...
...and to the Friends of the Common who are sponsoring our performances during Celebrate the Common 250...

...and to PARC (Playwrights' Atlantic Resource Centre) who chose to hold the Annual Playwrights' Cabaret as part of the Live-In this year...

...and Nocturne, for inviting us to make an Independent Artists' Project for their event...

...and all our volunteers including Hugh Cape, Maggie Hammell, Peter Zupan, Garrow Hill-Stosky, Luciana Silvestre, Clara Bullock, Kelin Boyd, Sean Skerry, Jessica Barry ...

...and the community who comes out, shouts out, shares and makes the Live-In what it is.

Chronological List of Events


THE MONTH AT A (LONG) GLANCE
Doors open half hour before event
Most events $10 suggested donation, cash at the door
Reservations STRONGLY recommended; pre-registration for workshops required
dapopolivein@gmail.com

Tuesday, October 1, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Special Event: 5th Annual Live-In 2013 Open House/Opening Night Party
We're throwing open the doors of the Living Room for a drop-in early evening. Mix and mingle, eat some snacks, play some games, enjoy some drinks, and win some prizes. Around 8 pm, we'll kick-off the month with performances by Live-In participants and special guests. Includes introduction of contributing artists and some sneak peeks at what's coming up!

Wednesday, October 2, 7:30 pm
Play Reading: Honey & Jupiter by Meghan Hubley (Halifax, NS)
“Honey&Jupiter” is a musing on how personal problems/addictions are egged on and agitated by the stigma that surround them. In this case, how the innate fear of inadequacy instilled in a young woman manifests as a passionate kinship with her own (personified) anorexia. The show’s goal is to act as a new and grounded voice for people whose voices are skewed or silenced by their suffering -- a feast of language, movement, and the bare-bones exposure of what it feels like to BE the illness, and to live with the sickness. The foundation is rooted in the unglamorous, the emotional, the private. 

Friday, October 4 through Sunday, October 6
Special Event: Celebrate the Common 250
Friends of the Halifax Common invite the public to enjoy three days of events commemorating the gift of the Halifax Common "to and for the use of the inhabitants of the Town of Halifax as Commons forever," by King George III in 1763.  Enjoy yoga, lectures, walking tours, art, theatre, performances, music, circus, dance and more just down the street from the Live-In! FREE. Full schedule here

Friday October 4, 7:00 pm -10:00 pm AND  Saturday, October 5 10:00 am -1:00 pm 
Workshop: Speaking in Silence 
Facilitator: Alexis Milligan
A body standing alone in space says something. The choice to move is ours to make. But, how? When? Why? As actors we are often making choices about our characters and our intentions in what we say with our voice, but we can also access many more layers to support these choices in how, when and why we move. This workshop will explore the sub textual world of communication through simple physical intention and gesture, and the power of speaking in silence. This iteration of the workshop is in two parts over sequential days; participants are meant to attend both Friday and Saturday. Pre-registration required. Max. 12 participants

Saturday, October 5 AND Sunday October 6, 2:00 pm AND 4:00 pm both days
Performance: The Poor House
DaPoPo Theatre will present a new short theatrical piece created for Celebrate the Common 250, based on the history of the Poor's Asylum which once stood on the corner of Robie and South Streets. Four performances only. Free. Reservations not necessary. Location TBA

Saturday, October 5, 8:00 pm
Special Event: PARC Playwrights' Cabaret
Playwrights' Atlantic Resource Centre has invited some of Atlantic Canada's most exciting and well-known playwrights and friends to read selected scenes from their award-winning works. Come hear the works, read by those who wrote them, in an intimate literary encounter. This year's Cabaret features an exciting line-up of artists, including: Beverly Brett, Jacob Martin, Norm Foster, David S. Craig, Don Hannah, Florence MacDonald, Ryan Griffith and Meg Coles. Hosted by Charlie Rhindress. 
Admission and refreshments by donation. Proceeds in support of the Live-In
Reservations STRONGLY recommended.

Sunday, October 6, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Workshop: Kids' Creation Lab
Facilitators: Zach Faye and Keelin Jack
Theatre! Fun! Create! Move! Make! YES!!!! Ages 6 - 11.
Pre-registration required; space limited.  Max. 12 participants

Monday, October 7, 7:30 pm
Short Play Triple Bill Reading:
Hothouse by Annie Valentina (Halifax, NS)
Vanishing Woman by Trevor Poole (Halifax, NS)
This Little Ditty - written and performed by Brock Hessler and Paul Bellini
Reservations strongly recommended.

Tuesday, October 8, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Workshop: Bare Bones Producing  waitlist
Facilitator: Mary-Colin Chisholm
Budgets, grants, fundraising and favours, contracts, venues, the buzz and the bizz... the brass tacks and knuckles of producing a play.   Mary-Colin Chisholm is either a sage and seasoned veteran of the indie show or the incarnation of Einstein's dictum "Insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results".  You be the judge.  She will walk you through the steps and missteps in mounting a  production.  If you can make thrift store duds look like red carpet glam, if you can cook a nourishing stone soup, well you can probably DIY your own play. Pre-registration required. Max. 12 participants

Wednesday, October 9, 7:30 pm
Play Reading: 
Fighting for Peace by David Rimmington (Halifax, NS)
A young Christian man joins the army to become a peacekeeper, then discovers that he must fight in a war.  His personal stand-off with the army involves questions about the moral implications of war.  The play moves like a bullet through a battleground of ideas.  This is a dark comedy with bizarre twists.

Thursday, October 10, 8:00 pm
Performance: A Little Cabaret
An intimate night of (mostly) original songs sung by the talented Kristi Anderson, Zach Faye and Garry Williams, plus special guests. Doors open at 7:30 pm.
Reservations strongly recommended. 

Friday, October 11, 7:30 pm
Play Reading: Hackerlove by Sky Gilbert (Toronto, ON) 
Sky Gilbert will be Livin'-In with us this year. Come hear him read from his newest work, Hackerlove, a play  about Bradley Manning and Adrian Lamo (to be produced at Buddies in spring 2014) and his latest novel Come Back as well as some recent unpublished poetry.
Reservations strongly recommended.

Saturday, October 12, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm 
Workshop: Approaches to Playwriting  waitlist
Facilitator: Sky Gilbert
This workshop is for those who have never written a play before but would like to write a play (however, anyone is welcome). I would ask participants to bring a BRIEF idea for a play (a page long description is fine) or questions about writing plays, or difficulties they have encountered in beginning to write a play or working on a play. The workshop will open with a lecture on playwrighting and will continue on to a discussion of participant ideas and questions.  Pre-registration required. Max. 12 participants

Saturday, October 12, 8:00 pm
Special Event:  The Personal is The Political? 
A panel discussion with Sky Gilbert, Mary Lou Martin, Dustin Harvey, Annie Valentina, Kathryn MacLellan and Thom Fitzgerald. Moderated by Karen Bassett

Sunday, October 13, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Workshop: Theatre of the Oppressed waitlist
Co-presented by DaPoPo Theatre and the Bus Stop Theatre
Location: The Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen Street
Facilitators: Garry Williams, Sebastien Labelle, Rachel Derrah and Clare Waque

Monday, October 14, 5:00 pm
Social Event: Thanksgiving Day Potluck
Bring food and fun to share with friends, new and old, around our big table of thankfulness.
Admission: Something yummy.
Reservations not required, but your expression of intention to attend is appreciated.

Tuesday, October 15, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm   waitlist
OR Friday, October 18, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm  waitlist
Workshop: Theatre Creation Through Play
Facilitator: Ann-Marie Kerr
Location: The Spatz Theatre, Citadel High
As a teacher and director, Ann-Marie Kerr has a unique ability to take actors and theatre-makers beyond their own preconceived limits of their physicality and imaginations. She uses Lecoq methods to ignite the creation process and offers ways of getting the actor to play and imagine that makes them feel free.  The exploration is primarily physical in its approach and helps students identify their natural instincts for play. There is a focus on freedom through improvisation and on finding ways to access a natural pleasure to play and invent.  In the work, discoveries are made about play, its rules, how the rules arise out of the play itself and can push the game further than expected. This intensive workshop culminates with short pieces of theatre created by the participants -pieces that could be used as starting points for scenes or future full-length shows. Max. 12 participants

Wednesday, October 16, 7:30 pm
Play Reading: The Celestina by Adam Nashman (Toronto, ON)
Celestina is a contemporary piece set over three days in Inquisition ravaged Spain during the dawn of the Renaissance.  Celestina is an ancient woman, the sole survivor of an ancient ‘witchcraft’ religion.  Her brothel flourished when conquistador gold flowed, but now lives in an age of terror – until the lure of gold drags her back to her old ways. This new adaptation based on “The Tragic Comedy of Calisto and Melibea”, written by Fernando Rojas in 1502,  uses vaudeville language and action to power its story. The reading will be introduced by Roberta Barker.

Thursday, Oct 17, 6:00 pm - 10 pm
Workshop: Speaking in Silence 3 spots left before wait list
Facilitator: Alexis Milligan
A body standing alone in space says something. The choice to move is ours to make. But, how? When? Why? As actors we are often making choices about our characters and our intentions in what we say with our voice, but we can also access many more layers to support these choices in how, when and why we move. This workshop will explore the sub textual world of communication through simple physical intention and gesture, and the power of speaking in silence. Pre-registration required. Max. 12 participants

Friday, October 18, 7:30 pm
Performance: The Drinking Game
Co-presented by DaPoPo Theatre and the Bus Stop Theatre
Location: The Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen Street

Saturday, October 19, 6:00 pm - midnight
Performance: Outside In
A performance installation created by DaPoPo  for Nocturne: Art at Night. Come inside for a nighttime walk in the woods and immerse yourself in a misty, moonlit, forest glen. Smell the earth and grass. Hear the gurgling of a nearby stream, the sounds of the forest at night and, perhaps, some things that don’t quite belong. Watch woodland spirits freely at play - or captured in time - and surround yourself with their poetry. A sensory exploration of a space that should not be, but is. 
Admission: Free. Continuous display, no reservations required.

Sunday, October 20, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Workshop: Vocal Workshop for Singing Performers 4 spots left before waitlist
Facilitated by: Cailin Green
In this one day workshop, participants will learn techniques for vocal control, mic technique and performance. Each participant is expected to have one song (original or cover) ready to work on and deliver at the end of the workshop. Pre-registration required. Max. 12 participants

Monday, October 21, 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Double Bill Play Reading
Understudy by Gillian Clark (Halifax, NS)
Understudy focuses on Dylan, a nine-year-old boy who is struggling with bullying, questions of identity and his clear miscastin as Sheep #11/Wiseman #1 Understuday in his school's Christmas pageant. Taking cues from his actor mother, Dylan uses performance as a safe wy to explore his most difficult feelings (while also putting on a hilarious spectacle). The show features Shakespeare, sequins and Shakira. This is a reading of a revised script since the Fringe performance, with talk-back facilitated by Hugo Dann. Precedes two performances of the new play on the weekend. A great way to experience theatre in the making and changing!

You Play Beautifully by Thomas Morgan Jones (Toronto, ON)

Tuesday, October 22, 6:00 pm
Workshop: Playing for Truth: Directing Shakespeare 3 spots left before waitlist
Facilitators: Hugo Dann, Garry Williams & Keelin Jack
Pre-registration required. Max. 12 participants

Wednesday, October 23, 7:30 pm
Workshop Performance: Two Men Play
Garry Williams and Hugo Dann play a collaborative game with Shakespeare's history of Richard II and the tangled loves of The Sonnets. Hugo "directs" Garry in a one-man adaptation of Richard, Garry "guides" Hugo through the complex narrative of Sonnets. These mysterious works in progress engage 2 men in play with the deeply personal and the overtly political.

Thursday, October 24, 7:30 pm
Performance: Cafe DaPoPo 
We present our signature theatre event, Live-In style. Order performances from an a la carte menu, including showcase items by workshop participants throughout the month!
Admission: $5 cover; menu items priced individually
Reservations required: dapopolivein@gmail.com (drop-ins also welcome).

Friday, October 25, 7:30 pm
Special Event: "30 Cameras" Gala Opening
An evening celebrating the culmination of an artistic project by Zach Faye in which he gave 30 disposable cameras to 30 different people - some friends, some strangers - with the instructions to shoot what they wanted. This photo exhibit will collect from those photographs. Exhibit will be open after this evening during other public Live-in events.
Admission: $10 suggested donation


Saturday, October 26, 1:00 - 4:30 pm
Workshop: Dance, Movement, Mind  spots available
Facilitator: Brian Riley
This workshop will begin with a brief presentation/performance of my experiences at Bread and Puppet Theatre over the summers of 2012 and 2013. We will then collaboratively go into doing and not talking. This dance will fail to clarify anything for you. Those seeking meaning in exercises will be asked to internally address this human tendency. There will be room for brief discussion between each experiment for those seeking to accomodate a recipe. Aiming to contrast business-as-usual-thinking, we will be pushing to exaggerate life in scale (bigger OR smaller), whilst being in community together. 
Pre-registration required. Max. 12 participants

Saturday, October 26 - Sunday, October 27, 7:30 pm  TWO NIGHTS
Performance: Understudy written and performed by Gillian Clark
Fresh from the completion of her training with the Dalhousie Acting Programme, Clark explores a new method of storytelling with her first original play. Understudy focuses on Dylan, a nine-year-old boy who is struggling with bullying, questions of identity and his clear miscastin as Sheep #11/Wiseman #1 Understuday in his school's Christmas pageant. Taking cues from his actor mother, Dylan uses performance as a safe wy to explore his most difficult feelings (while also putting on a hilarious spectacle). The show features Shakespeare, sequins and Shakira


Hot from the Atlantic Fringe, DaPoPo is pleased to host a revision-meets-remount of this funny and sweet gem of a show, featuring the most precocious, heart-breaking, imaginative queer hero ever. Don't miss it again!
Reservations strongly recommended.

Sunday, October 27, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Special Event: Fun and Games Day
In this afternoon of competitive play, you will be challenged intellectually, physically and emotionally. From the Surprise Lip Synch Competition to the Cryptic Clue Scavenger Hunt, this is an absolute DaPoPo Live-In must! Join Zach and Garry for a day of ridicule, humiliation, and injury. But don't worry. It's all fun & games…right? 

Monday, October 28, 7:30 pm
Workshop Performance Reading: Jesus is a Faggot by Garry Williams (Halifax, NS)
Jesus Is A Faggot is a work-in-progress. Developed at the PARC Colony with dramaturgical assistance by Sara Tilley, the play wrestles with a personal desire for sex and salvation, and makes a political plea case for a gay Jesus. During the Live-In, the play will be workshopped and developed with the generous support of Arts Nova Scotia.
Tuesday, October 29, 7:30 p,
Play Reading: The Girl With the Golden Ear by Ryan Van Horne

Music is a tremendous ambassador and Rosalie Trombley recognized its universal appeal and had an ear for music that could touch the soul of someone regardless of class, gender, or race. She went from humble beginnings to become the music director for CKLW, a radio station in Windsor, Ont., and wielded incredible influence over the North American music scene in the 1960s and 70s. She earned the nickname “The Girl With the Golden Ear” because of her ability to pick hit songs. More noteworthy, she was instrumental in advancing the concept of the crossover hit and helped bring black and white together during a period of racial strife. Despite the success -- and admirable claim to fame -- CKLW succumbed to an unlikely and unbeatable foe.

Wednesday, October 30, 7:30 pm Double Bill Reading
Reaching Beyond Ourselves: Leading A Spiritual, Peaceful and Diverse World 
by Topaz Ruby
A journey through Topaz Ruby's three languages: Russian, Hebrew and English, this book is a collection of her poetry and art as well as the art of prominent Nova Scotian artists, such as: Tom Forrestall, David Silverberg and Natan Nevo.

MacBeth by William Shakespeare, adapted by Keelin Jack

A play about three witches, and the men that encounter them on a haunted heath. 

Thursday, October 31, 7:00 pm
Special Event: Hallowords
On All Hallows' Evening, gather with us to close out The Live-In 2013 with a celebration of words through poetry, song and text. We'll also give a nod to the ninth anniversary of the very first Hallowords gathering, conceived in October 2004 by DaPoPo as a fundraiser for the first production by the company. A time for reflecting on what has been, what is to come and to enjoy being together right here.

Performances


The performance series offers time and space for full productions, workshop productions, works-in-progress, music, showcases and more!

Seating for all performances is limited. Reservations highly recommended or required as noted: dapopolivein@gmail.com. Admission for most performances, unless otherwise specified, is $10 suggested donation. Cash only please.

Please specify the show in the subject line and include performance date, number of seats, your name and phone number in the body of the reservation email.


THE PERFORMANCES:

More details to follow - under construction


Saturday, October 5 AND Sunday October 6, 2:00 pm AND 4:00 pm both days
 The Poor House
A new short work created by DaPoPo specifically for the 250th anniversary of the commemoration of the Halifax Common, based on the history of the Poor's Asylum which once stood on the corner of Robie and South Streets. Four performances only. Free. Reservations not necessary. Location TBA

Thursday, October 10, 8:00 pm
A Little Cabaret
An intimate night of (mostly) original songs sung by the talented Kristi Anderson, Zach Faye and Garry Williams, plus special guests. Proceeds to benefit the Live-In.
Reservations strongly recommended. Doors open at 7:30 pm.






Friday, October 18, 7:30 pm
The Drinking Game co-presented with the Bus Stop Theatre
**TO BE HELD AT THE BUS STOP THEATRE**





Saturday, October 19, 6:00 pm - midnight
Outside In
A performance installation created by DaPoPo for Nocturne. Come inside for a nighttime walk in the woods and immerse yourself in a misty, moonlit, fores tglen. Smell the earth and grass. Hear the gurgling of a nearby stream, the sounds of the forest at night and, perhaps, some things that don’t quite belong. Watch woodland spirits freely at play - or captured in time - and surround yourself with their poetry.
Admission: Free. No reservations required. Continuous display.




Wednesday, October 23, 7:30 pm
Two Men Play 
Garry Williams and Hugo Dann play a collaborative game with Shakespeare's history of Richard II and the tangled loves of The Sonnets. Hugo "directs" Garry in a one-man adaptation of Richard, Garry "guides" Hugo through the complex narrative of Sonnets. These mysterious works in progress engage 2 men in play with the deeply personal and the overtly political.


Thursday, October 24, 7:30 pm
Performance: Cafe DaPoPo 
We present our signature theatre event, Live-In style. Order performances from an a la carte menu, including showcase items by workshop participants throughout the month!
Admission: $5 cover; menu items priced individually.
Reservations required. Drop-ins welcome.



Saturday, October 26 AND Sunday October 27, 7:30 pm
Understudy written and performed by Gillian Clarke
Fresh from the completion of her training with the Dalhousie Acting Programme, Clark explores a new method of storytelling with her first original play. Understudy focuses on Dylan, a nine-year-old boy who is struggling with bullying, questions of identity and his clear miscastin as Sheep #11/Wiseman #1 Understuday in his school's Christmas pageant. Taking cues from his actor mother, Dylan uses performance as a safe wy to explore his most difficult feelings (while also putting on a hilarious spectacle). The show features Shakespeare, sequins and Shakira.

Hot from the Atlantic Fringe, DaPoPo is pleased to host a short revision-meets-remount run of this funny and sweet gem of a show, featuring the most precocious, heart-breaking, imaginative queer hero ever. Don't miss it again!

Reservations strongly recommended. Also check out the reading of the new script draft preceding the performances, on October 21 and be on the inside track of part of the process of making theatre.

Play Readings


Several evenings during the month of October will be dedicated to public readings of previously unproduced, newly revised and/or unpublished playscripts.

The plays will be at various stages of development. Be part on one of the first audiences to experience the newest plays and works-in-progress, then stay to contribute your thoughts in a post-reading discussion with the writers and actors.

Reservations strongly advised. Admission: $10 suggested donation.
Doors open at  7:00 pm.

THE PLAYS:


Details firming up - under construction

Wednesday, October 2, 7:30 pm
Honey & Jupiter by Meghan Hubley (Halifax, NS)
“Honey&Jupiter” is a musing on how personal problems/addictions are egged on and agitated by the stigma that surround them. In this case, how the innate fear of inadequacy instilled in a young woman manifests as a passionate kinship with her own (personified) anorexia. The show’s goal is to act as a new and grounded voice for people whose voices are skewed or silenced by their suffering -- a feast of language, movement, and the bare-bones exposure of what it feels like to BE the illness, and to live with the sickness. The foundation is rooted in the unglamorous, the emotional, the private. 


Meghan Hubley
MEGHAN HUBLEY is a founding member of Once Upon a Theatre Collective, (writer: Honey&Jupiter, collaborator/performer:11:11, Waltz of the Fae, Some Sunny Day [Fringe Hit 2012]) and was crowned a Fringe Hit Queen performing as one-half of Tomato & Tomato. Meghan has worked for The Theatre Department, CanStage, Factory Theatre’s Lab Cab, LITF, Sarasvati, Forerunner Playwright’s Theatre and spent two seasons at Theatre Passe Muraille with The National Theatre of the World's Impromptu Splendor. She has studied playwrighting with Josh MacDonald, Jackie Torrens, Colleen MacDonald and Brian Quirt. Meghan is a graduate of Neptune Theatre’s PPTP, and is oh-so-slowly earning her specialization in literature & classical studies at U of Toronto.

Monday, October 7, 7:30 pm   Short Play TRIPLE BILL

Hothouse by Annie Valentina (Halifax, NS)
A reading of this new work-in-progress.
Annie Valentina

Annie Valentina is a Halifax-based theatre artist and producer. She came to Canada from Norway in 2000, got a BA from Dal Theatre four years later, and has only rarely looked back since. In 2010, she co-founded local company The Doppler Effect to pursue staging provocative new works of drama - her own and others'. The company has since then mounted six productions, the latest of which - 'Heartwood' by Laura Burke, directed by Annie Valentina - is touring to Ontario this month and getting a Halifax remount in the new year. As an actor and playwright, Annie is fresh off her autobiographical one-woman show 'Alien', which debuted in the 2013 Atlantic Fringe and received the festival award for Best Female Performer. She also wrote and starred in 'Touch', a Doppler Effect production for Queer Acts 2012; and co-wrote and starred in 'CU2morrow', a 2011 play which has been adapted to a feature film and will go to camera in 2014 under the title 'Lure'. Other notable acting credits include 'Bone Boy' (Frankie Productions, 2012) and 'Pluto's Playthings' (Plutonium Playhouse 2012), as well as appearances in locally filmed TV series Sex & Violence (2013) and Haven (2012). Annie is thrilled to be involved in the Live-In this year, having last kicked it with DaPoPo in 2009 as part of the creative team/touring company of 'Four Actors in Search
of a Nation' and 'Apocalypse'. Annie's also a member of the very wonderful Playwright's Atlantic Resource Centre, and has recently turned out to be married to her partner in life and art, Michael McPhee.

Vanishing Woman by Trevor Poole (Halifax, NS)
A reading of this new work-in-progress.

This Little Ditty written and performed by Brock Hessel & Paul Bellini
A performance by the writers of a new script version via video.


Brock Hessel
This Little Ditty
Brock Hessel is a part-time maid, part-time poet, and part-time student at the University of Toronto, studying English Literature and Sexual Diversity Studies. He is on of the facilitators for U of T's Queer Writes. he has performaed at the Poetrix 2012 and Making a Scene as well as Pussy Basket at Videofag. His poetry has appeared in TOZ (OutWrites’ monthly zine) and their 10-year anniversary anthology, Zhush Redux. He is a regular contributor to NEST Magazine, through the Gutterbird Collective. He also does stand up comedy with a mental health awareness comedy group called Laughing Like Crazy and has performed at Mad Pride 2012 and 2013. 
David Rimmington

Wednesday, October 9, 7:30 pm
Fighting for Peace by David Rimmington (Halifax, NS)
A young Christian man joins the army to become a peacekeeper, then discovers that he must fight in a war.  His personal stand-off with the army involves questions about the moral implications of war.  The play moves like a bullet through a battleground of ideas.  This is a dark comedy with bizarre twists.

David Rimmington: Several of his short audio plays have been broadcast on CKDU Radio.
In 2002, his show "Dialogues for Maniacs," was performed at The Atlantic Fringe Festival.  Three of his one act plays were produced in Annapolis Royal at their Kings' Shorts Festival:  in 2007, 2009 and 2011, respectively.  In 2012, DaPoPo Theatre, during their Live-In Festival, staged a reading of his two-act play "All About Nothing."



Friday, October 11 , 7:30 pm
Hackerlove by Sky Gilbert (Toronto, ON)
Sky Gilbert will be Livin'-In with us this year. Come hear him read excerpts from his newest work, Hackerlove, a play  about Bradley Manning and Adrian Lamo (to be produced at Buddies in spring 2014) and his latest novel Come Back as well as some recent unpublished poetry. 


Sky Gilbert
SKY GILBERT is a writer, director, teacher, and drag queen extraordinaire. He was co-founder and artistic director of Toronto’s Buddies in Bad Times Theatre  for 17 years. He has had nearly 40 plays produced, and has written 6 critically acclaimed novels, and three award winning poetry collections. He has received three Dora Mavor Moore Awards (including one for his recent play THE SITUATIONISTS) and the Pauline McGibbon Award for theatre directing. He was also the recipient of The Margo Bindhardt Award (from the Toronto Arts Foundation), The Silver Ticket Award (from the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts), and the ReLit Award (for his fourth novel AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN, 2004). Dr. Gilbert is an Associate Professor and holds a University Research Chair in Creative Writing and Theatre Studies at The School of English and Theatre Studies at the University of Guelph. His 6th novel COME BACK published last year by ECW Press, and his new poetry collection THE MOMMIAD was published last year by Playwrights Canada Press. His play about growing up gay in the country, ST. FRANCIS OF MILLBROOK will be published soon, also by Playwrights Canada Press.

Wednesday, October 16, 7:30 pm
The Celestina by Adam Nashman
Adam Nashman

Celestina is a contemporary piece set over three days in Inquisition ravaged Spain during the dawn of the Renaissance.  Celestina is an ancient woman, the sole survivor of an ancient ‘witchcraft’ religion.  Her brothel flourished when conquistador gold flowed, but now lives in an age of terror – until the lure of gold drags her back to her old ways. This new adaptation based on “The Tragic Comedy of Calisto and Melibea”, written by Fernando Rojas in 1502,  uses vaudeville language and action to power its story. The reading will be introduced by Roberta Barker
Adam Nashman:  Co-Founder of Toronto-based companies ‘Bald Ego Theatre’, ‘3° Dance Theatre’, and several other collective theatrical groups; Adam has also worked independently as a director and writer across Europe and North America on over 35 original Canadian works, and numerous classics.  Proudly these include 3 productions as writer and assistant director for Robert Lepage.  His work at home ranges from the Stratford Festival to touring Fringe shows to various regional and international festivals, with several of his shows still touring the world.    He has received acclaim from national and international press and has won several prestigious awards for his writing and directing.   If in a used bookstore he would start at science, move to cooking and end with literature.  

Gillian Clark
Monday, October 21, 7:30 pm  Double Bill
Understudy by Gillian Clark (Halifax, NS)
Fresh from the completion of her training with the Dalhousie Acting Programme, Clark explores a new method of storytelling with her first original play. Understudy focuses on Dylan, a nine-year-old boy who is struggling with bullying, questions of identity and his clear miscastin as Sheep #11/Wiseman #1 Understuday in his school's Christmas pageant. Taking cues from his actor mother, Dylan uses performance as a safe wy to explore his most difficult feelings (while also putting on a hilarious spectacle). The show features Shakespeare, sequins and Shakira.

Gillian is a Halifax based actor/ playwright/ theatre enthusiast.  She also really likes crisp blue skies in the morning (especially in the Rockies where she is originally from), a good burrito, and flowers that grow in sidewalk cracks.  Clark is a recent graduate of the Dalhousie Acting Programme and she is absolutely thrilled to be taking part in the Live-In this year! Past credits include Dylan in Understudy at The Atlantic Fringe, Lucy in Keep Good (Theatre) Company’s Mr. Marmalade and Willy in DalTheatre’s The Ends of the Earth.  Come have a chat if you see her around! She loves new friends.  

You Play Beautifully by Thomas Morgan Jones (Toronto, ON)



THOMAS MORGAN JONES is a Toronto-based director, playwright, dramaturg, instructor, and movement coach.  His productions have received six Dora Mavor Moore Awards and three nominations, he received the 2011 Dora Mavor Moore Guthrie (Stratford Festival), and has been nominated twice for the John Hirsch Award (2008 & 2011) and for the Pauline McGibbon Award.  He has collaborated with companies including:  Theatre Direct, Stratford, Theatre Passe Muraille, Cahoots, Buddies, Theatre Jones Roy, The CULTCH, The Charlottetown Festival, and many others.  He holds a B.A. from the University of Guelph, an M.A. from the University of Toronto, and recently trained with SITI Company in NYC, Madrid, and Paris.  He is currently developing new plays with Cahoots Theatre, Carousel Players, Cia Envieza (Brazil), Theatre Direct, and is playwright-in-residence at Shakespeare in Action and artist-educator in residence at Young People’s Theatre.


Monday, October 28, 7:30 pm
Jesus is a Faggot by Garry Williams (Halifax, NS)
Jesus Is A Faggot is a work-in-progress. Developed at the PARC Colony with dramaturgical assistance by Sara Tilley, the play wrestles with a personal desire for sex and salvation, and makes a political plea case for a gay Jesus. During the Live-In, the play will be workshopped and developed with the generous support of Arts Nova Scotia. 
GaRRy Williams

Garry Williams is the Artistic Director of DaPoPo Theatre. Personal: he studied Theatre and Music, and holds a special love for Musical Theatre (especially of the darker variety). For the last decade, he has been based in Halifax making a living as a performer, teacher, director and writer. He has Christian leanings, and too often flirts with missionaries. Political: he has practiced Theatre of the Oppressed techniques, and has come to be identified, among other things, as a queer theatre artist. Personal/Political: he supports wild urban gardening; refuses to get a driver's license, or accept plastic bags at grocery stores; is working on a semi-autobiographical play called Jesus Is A Faggot; and combines two of his loves by stewarding Sing-Along-Show Tunez at Menz & Mollyz every Saturday night

Tuesday, October 29, 7:30 pm
The Girl With the Golden Ear by Ryan Van Horne
Music is a tremendous ambassador and Rosalie Trombley recognized its universal appeal and had an ear for music that could touch the soul of someone regardless of class, gender, or race. She went from humble beginnings to become the music director for CKLW, a radio station in Windsor, Ont., and wielded incredible influence over the North American music scene in the 1960s and 70s. She earned the nickname “The Girl With the Golden Ear” because of her ability to pick hit songs. More noteworthy, she was instrumental in advancing the concept of the crossover hit and helped bring black and white together during a period of racial strife. Despite the success -- and admirable claim to fame -- CKLW succumbed to an unlikely and unbeatable foe. 
Ryan Van Horne

Ryan Van Horne is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and writer who recently fell in love with theatre and writing plays. He wrote his first play, Department of Common Sense, about his experiences working for the Nova Scotia government. Department of Common Sense was first performed at the Theatre Arts Guild's inaugural Playwrights' Festival in March 2013 and won Fringe Hit at the 2013 Atlantic Fringe Festival.




Wednesday, October 30, 7:30 pm  DOUBLE BILL
Reaching Beyond Ourselves – Leading A Spiritual, Peaceful and Diverse World by Topaz Ruby
Topaz Ruby
A journey through Topaz Ruby's three languages: Russian, Hebrew and English, this book is a collection of her poetry and art as well as the art of prominent Nova Scotian artists, such as: Tom Forrestall, David Silverberg and Natan Nevo.

Topaz Ruby was born in Ukraine, lived in Israel for 20 years and now lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She has started writing poetry in 2012 and has been reading her poetry in public events ever since.  Topaz Ruby is a young, fresh writer of poetry which brings communities together. Her ability to love the unique unites all walks of life. She is writer winner of the June 2013 ArtAscent magazine (Art & Literature Journal) international writing competition. The book is available at the offices of the Atlantic Jewish Council – 5670 Spring Garden Road, Halifax Nova Scotia, phone:(902) 422-7491; or on the website: www.topazruby.ca


Keelin Jack

MacBeth by William Shakespeare
adapted by Keelin Jack
A play about three witches, and the men that encounter them on a haunted heath.