Alongside our production of Re:Union, HHG Theatre presented The Activist City, a series of community events on political activism, community responsibility and anti-militarism. As part of the City of Vancouver’s 125th Anniversary, The Activist City reflected our city’s long and proud history of activist leadership.
As the artists behind both Re:Union and The Activist City, we can’t help but see the parallel between 31 year-old Quaker Norman Morrison’s act of self-immolation that catalyzed a citizen’s revolt in 1960’s United States, and the self-immolation of 26 year-old Tunisian street-vendor Mohamed Bouazizi, which not only resulted in the unseating of the Tunisian regime, but set in motion the unprecedented Arab Spring, which itself was the predecessor of the ongoing Occupy movement. As Norman Morrison said: “Without the inspired act, no generation can resume the search for love.”
The Activist City / Event Details
Guest Blogs / Re:Union Creative Team & Special Guests / Oct 10 – Nov 12
Artist Talkbacks / Cast & Playwright / Fri Oct 28 / Fri Nov 4 / Fri Nov 11 / Pacific Theatre / After the 8:00 pm performance
Poetry Reading & Special Guest Lecture: Dr. Jerilynn Prior / Wed Nov 2 @ 5:20 pm (8:00pm performance to follow) / Pacific Theatre / A reading of poems inspired by or dedicated to the memory of Norman Morrison on the Anniversary of his death / Special guest speaker Dr. Jerilynn Prior (Vancouver Quaker Meeting of Friends) will give a talk on “The Spiritual Activist: A Contemporary Quaker talks about Conscientious Refusal to Pay Military Taxes”
Panel Discussion: The Activist as Extremist / Moderator: Camyar Chai Sat Nov 5 @ 5:30pm (8:00pm performance to follow) / Pacific Theatre / Panelists include Derrick O’Keefe (StopWar.ca), and Peter Prontzos (Political Science instructor at Langara College) / Suggested donation $3
Special Guest Talk: Gail Davidson / Thu Nov 10 @ 5:30 pm (8:00 pm performance to follow) / Pacific Theatre / Special guest speaker Gail Davidson (Lawyers Against The War) will give a talk on “Lawlessness at the State Level: The Activist Response” / Suggested donation $5
Panel Discussion: The Activist as Occupier / Moderator: Marcus Youssef Nov 12 @ 4:30 pm (after the 2:00 pm matinee) / Pacific Theatre / Panelists include activists Harsha Walia, Lauren Gill and Am Johal / Suggested donation $3
Artists-in-Schools / Student Discussions / Cast & Playwright / Wed Nov 16 @ Trinity Western University
With support from the City of Vancouver’s 125th Anniversary Grants Program and The Vancouver Foundation.
Vancouver Foundation helps build more vibrant and resilient communities in BC. We do this by harnessing the gifts of energy, ideas, time, and money from caring citizens to make meaningful and lasting impacts. We are Canada’s largest community foundation and we’ve been investing in communities since 1943. To find out more visit: www.vancouverfoundation.ca
