Headlines Theatre in collaboration with many Indo-Canadian community organizations is diving into the real struggles faced by all communities in our current main stage production Here and Now.
What are the connections between violence on the streets and issues at home? Are identity crisis or the need to belong part of the issue? How do intergenerational conflicts between immigrant parents and first or second generation Canadians play a role in the issue? Whatever the answers to these questions, the solutions reside not in the past or the future, but here and now.
Ultimately, this production will be an opportunity for all of us to engage in a dialogue reflecting upon violence in all our communities, regardless of which community is the current focus of the media.
Directed and Joked by David Diamond
Audience-Interactive Theatre
Created and Performed by Members of the Indo-Canadian Community
Here and Now webcast was broadcast live to the world wide web on December 11, 2005, from the Surrey Arts Centre. Thanks to everyone who logged on, watched live and participated with your unique interventions.
“[Here and Now is] a genuinely gripping piece, which is powerful enough to prompt heartfelt responses that can only help deal with the problem.”
Peter Birnie, Critic’s Picks, Vancouver Sun, November 24, 2005
“Tremendously important… I found myself talking about nothing but this play [Here and Now] the next morning.”
Jerry Wasserman, The Province November, 2006
“Few plays offer such an opportunity for collective understanding, and such a powerful catalyst for change.”
Kathleen Oliver, Georgia Straight, November 24, 2006
“The Here and Now project holds a great deal of value within our local community and within our larger global community. As a member of the local Indo-Canadian community, to introduce this production with a discussion on the politics of race was valuable. By illustrating this point with an example of the non-racial identification of a 'white'/'Caucasian' gang like the Hell’s Angels - it does hit home with individuals that have never considered the racial profiling conducted by the media. And the exercise of interrupting the play and re-placing one of the performers and performing the "choice" was extremely useful. Many of us can sit back and judge what needs to be done but by performing the actions - you become involved in not only critical evaluation but the common sense factor. I think this project was highly effective and positive on multiple levels.
I came with my mother, brother and partner. Sitting within the family context was important to me as many of the issues were mirrored in our lives. As much as that exact story doesn't live out in my reality - it is far too close of a possibility in my world. I think it is important to see how something may play out. Personally, I found mirrors for all of us - and perhaps not embedded within one specific character but with certain mental constructions or characteristics. It is so easy for many of us to stand back and say call the cops - but it isn't as easy as that. There are so many strings that are interwoven and if you tug one - it impacts all of the rest - there isn't one all mighty fix all. Thank you for allowing us, as a family, to view this.”
Bindy Kang, December 22, 2005
“I was a workshop participant for the Headlines Theatre production of Here and Now. I was amazed at how all of the material that was covered in this play was a vital mirror of my own personal experiences inside my home, and the South Asian community abroad. I think that the content of the performance was very timely. It was exquisitely displayed on-stage.”
Shyam Wazir, December 27, 2005