Word nerds, it’s that wonderful time of year again.
Yes, the annual Word Vancouver festival is coming up, and there’s an abundance of Burnaby talent involved. The annual festival kicks off with events starting Sept. 19, with the main festival day happening on Sunday, Sept. 24 at the Vancouver Public Library’s central branch.
That’s where local author Aidan Chafe will be reading from his chapbook Right Hand Hymns at 11:35 a.m., and where you can also hear from Burnaby’s Jen Sookfong Lee reading from her children’s book Chinese New Year: A Celebration for Everyone (12:15 p.m.). Lee is also on a panel discussion Embracing Change: The Evolution of Room Magazine, starting at 2:45 p.m.
Linda DeMeulemeester, another Burnaby writer, is on the panel Getting Started: Children’s Writers and Illustrators Discuss Getting Published, at 11 a.m.
David Starr, principal at Byrne Creek Secondary School, is also reading from his children’s book The Nor’Wester, starting at 12:30 p.m.
Janie Chang, who grew up in Burnaby, will be reading from her book Dragon Springs Road starting at 11:20 a.m.
Another Burnaby author, Kozue Uzawa, will be taking part in a special Friday night event at 7:30 p.m. at historic Joy Kogawa House – she’s one of a panel of authors who will be discussing Japanese poetic forms.
The festival includes a range of readings, panel discussions, workshops, family activities, a marketplace and more. For all the details, check out www.wordvancouver.ca.
OPERA REIMAGINED
Two Burnaby singers are onstage in a new production by re:Naissance Opera and B.C. Living Arts.
Acis & Galatea: A Gender Liberation Opera is onstage Sept. 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 17 at 1:30 p.m. at the Annex Theatre.
The opera is an adaptation of Handel’s Acis & Galatea, which tells the tale of a water nymph and a shepherd whose love affair is disrupted by a jealous cyclops.
In this adapted version, the two lovers in question are a pair of women who have been caught off-guard by their love for one another and who find safety in a secret LGBTQ community in the woods - until Galatea’s husband, Polyphemus, finds them there. It stars Rachel Fenlon as Galatea, Debi Wong as Acis and Peter Monaghan as Polyphemus.
Two Burnaby residents are part of the chorus for the production: alto Heather Molloy and second tenor Clinton Stoffberg.
The Annex is at 823 Seymour St. Check out www.reopera.com for information, or buy tickets through acisandgalatea.bpt.me.
FOLK FABULOUS
Folk music lovers, be sure to save Thursday, Sept. 28 on your calendars.
The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts is hosting Folk Fabulous II, the return of a cabaret-style night of folk music that proved popular at the ’Bolt in its 2014 season.
The night will feature six singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, who will collaborate on each other’s songs with new arrangements and new harmonies.
Singer-guitarists Beth Southwell, Jesse Waldman and Noah Walker will be joined by singer-drummer Marc L’Esperance, singer-violinist Kathleen Nisbett, and Terri Upton on vocals and upright bass.
Tickets for the night are $40, available through tickets.shadboltcentre.com. Showtime is 8 p.m.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected].
