May 5th - 21st, 2022

Vancity Culture Lab - 1895 Venables st.

Click HERE for showtimes and tickets.


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Pi Theatre presents the Canadian premiere of Anders Lustgarten’s Lampedusa at the Vancity Culture Lab.

Lampedusa tells the story of two people who have never met, but whose lives are deeply affected by immigration. Stefano follows in the footsteps of generations of Lampedusa’s fishermen. But in the 21st century the catch is very different: the fish have disappeared, and his job in the new economy is to pull migrants out of the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, in a small corner of the UK, Denise, a mixed race woman from Leeds, goes from door to door collecting payday loans, witnessing crippling hardship, and hearing violent complaints about a country being destroyed by immigration.

Written by award-winning playwright Anders Lustgarten, directed by Pi Theatre’s Richard Wolfe, and staring Melissa Oei and Robert Garry Haacke, Lampedusa brings us the story behind the headlines of two strangers finding hope and connection where they least expect it.

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You may have difficulty watching the trailer if you're using a Firefox browser. If so, just hit the "watch on Youtube" button.

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“…haunting and intense…" - Stir (Vancouver)

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"Under Richard Wolfe’s direction, Pi Theatre gives Lampedusa a handsome interpretation." Colin Thomas Fresh Sheet (Vancouver)

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“Lampedusa is one of the most gently enticing pieces of storytelling you will see, softly encroaching on the moral consciousness like a lullaby. . . . There's dark beauty here, on the sharp end of Europe's implosion.” The Times

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“Lustgarten's text is brilliant: he tells the stories of both Stefano and Denise with enormous directness and power. The writing is bright in its intensity, combining both fact and humour. . . . Lampedusa is a political play that shows how human contact and empathy can make things better, without any ideology or without relying on our rulers to do everything for us. The result is a short but stunning piece of radical theatre.” Tribune

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“. . . a curiously moving hymn to the small, transfiguring acts of compassion amid a sea of indifference.”   Daily Telegraph

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“ Lustgarten's portrait is haunting, potent and humane.” Time Out London

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Playwright: Anders Lustgarten

Director: Richard Wolfe

Featuring: Robert Garry Haacke and Melissa Oei

Costume Design:  Julie Edgeley

Lighting Design & Design Facilitator: Lauchlin Johnson

Set Design: Carolyn Rapanos

Sound Designer/Composer: Steve Charles

Production Manager: Alexander Forsyth

Stage Manager: Stephen Courtenay

Producer: Libby Willoughby

Outreach Coordinator: Kimberly Ho

Graphic Designer: Terry Wong

Cultural Dramaturgs: Elvy Del Bianco, Rachel Brew

Italian Dialect Coach & Cultural Dramaturg: Cinzia Candela Bicego

British Dialect Coach: Brett Harris

Publicist: Teresa Trovato

Digital Marketing by: MPMG

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Venue: The Culture Lab at The Cultch - 1895 Venables St, Vancouver

Tickets and showtimes: 604-251-1363 or CLICK HERE

Warnings: Contains strong language, mentions of death, and descriptions of child mortality. If you have questions about the content of the piece, please feel free to reach out to info@pitheatre.com and we'll be happy to chat further.

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CLOSE ENCOUNTERS ARE BACK!

We are delighted to announce that our Close Encounters series is finally making a comeback. These events help to deepen your experince of the show, and expand on the themes explored in the piece. Subscribe to our Newsletter and follow us on social media (@pi.theatre on instagram, @pitheatre on twitter, and Pi Theatre on Facebook) to make sure you get all the updates! Read on for brief descriptions of these exciting events!

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May 8th - Migrant Workers in Vancouver: A Panel Discussion

5pm in the Cultch's Founders Lounge, following the 4pm matinee of Lampedusa.

We'll be talking with a panel of folks who work with migrants settling in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, all about the challenges they face, the hardships, and the joys of the work they do, and those faced by the communities they work with. ⁠

Hosted by Kimberly Ho, with Christopher Sorio from Migrante BC and Tasneem Damji from Dress for Success Vancouver.

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May 15th - Facilitated Talkback; The Gig-Economy's Impact on the Vancouver Theatre Community

5pm in the Vancity Culture Lab, following the 4pm matinee of Lampedusa.

This talkback is extra special, as we have Jiv Parasram (AD of Rumble Theatre) coming in to chat all about the gig economy's impact on the Vancouver Theatre community.⁠ Most Artists are gig workers, and although being an artist is wonderful and joyful, our community has definitely felt the sting and the strain of being on the fringes of the labour market these past few years, especially. ⁠

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May 22nd- You Better Work Together: A Gig-Economy Cabaret

8pm, venue TBA!

We'd like to invite you ALL to our Closing Night party! This event will feature music, drag, and lots of time to socialize. Doesn't that sound like heaven? Entrance is free with your Lampedusa ticket (from any night in the run), or if you just want to come get in on the fun but can't make the show, tickets are $10! On sale soon.

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PLEASE NOTE OUR COVID 19 SAFTEY GUIDE:

Pi Theatre cares deeply for its audiences and performers. We want everyone who joins us as we return live to feel comfortable and safe in their environment. There are two things we ask our patrons to do in order to help make sure everyone can enjoy the Theatre safely:

- Please stay home if you are feeling sick, even if you do not test positive for COVID-19. In the event that this should happen, we will be happy to move or refund your ticket, just email info@pitheatre.com.

- Despite it no longer being mandated by the government, please considering continuing to wear a mask to Pi shows and events. This is one of the simplest and most effective things we can all be doing to keep ourselves and our communities safe!

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