Belfry premieres As Above by Christine Quintana
“Quintana’s writing is natural, bitingly funny, and heartfelt.” Georgia Straight (on Selfie)
Victoria, BC...From February 6 to March 3, 2024, the Belfry Theatre will premiere Christine Quintana’s new play, As Above. Directed by Meg Roe (UVic alumni), As Above stars Gabrielle Rose, Hrothgar Mathews, and Sereana Malani.
Commissioned by the Belfry in 2019, As Above appeals to the hope in all of us, that we are worthy of being loved..
Set in Victoria, As Above centres on Jo, eight years sober and attempting to rebuild the life she destroyed. Once a prominent botanical researcher, she now lectures at a horticultural centre, while embarking on a new relationship with Rick, who may be too good to be true.
A mysterious phone call sends her on an urgent quest to find Ada, her estranged daughter, as her research bleeds into her complicated personal life in rich, unexpected, and life-changing ways.
Director Meg Roe has a long history with the Belfry as an actor: she starred in Trying (2004), Urinetown: The Musical (2006), and Onegin (2017). Hrothgar Mathews starred in Forget About Tomorrow (2018). Sereana Malani is making her Belfry debut.
It’s a particular thrill to welcome Gabrielle Rose to the Belfry stage for the first time. She is an award-winning film, television, and theatre actress, with more than 50 years of experience. Most recently, she has appeared in several series for television such as Night Agent, Virgin River, and Yellow Jackets. Her large resume of theatre roles includes Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Amanda in The Glass Menagerie, and Queen Elizabeth in Timothhy Findley’s Elizabeth Rex. Gabrielle has received numerous awards for her work, plus several lifetime achievement awards: the Sam Payne Award, Vancouver Women in Film’s Woman of the Year, the Vancouver Critics’ Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Lorena Gale Woman of Distinction Award.
Cast
Gabrielle Rose - Jo
Hrothgar Mathews - Rick
Sereana Malani - Everyone Else
Creative Team
Christine Quintana - Playwright
Meg Roe - Director
Camellia Koo - Set Designer
Stephanie Kong - Costume Designer
John Webber - Lighting Designer
Emily Cooper – Projection Designer
Alessandro Juliani - Composer & Sound Designer
Tasha Faye Evans - Cultural Dramaturg
Treena Stubel – Intimacy Director
Caryn Fehr - Stage Manager
Becca Jorgensen - Assistant Stage Manager
Why I Chose This Play
Christine Quintana is one of this country’s most talented and celebrated artists. I commissioned her to write a piece for the Belfry after seeing—and loving—her play Never the Last. At the centre of As Above is the relationship between Jo and Rick—a relationship unlike any I have seen onstage before. This is a play full of compassion for humanity—with all our virtues, our flaws—and our desire for connection. Michael Shamata
The commissioning of As Above was supported in part by the Vi Armstrong Play Creation Fund.
This production is supported in part by a generous gift from Ronald Polstein in Loving Memory of Juliana.
Live & Virtual Events
Our round-up of events happening at the theatre over the next four weeks.
B4PLAY (In-person + Online)
Saturday, February 3 at 11 am
BMO Studio, 1291 Gladstone Avenue
Our live talk show hosted by CBC Radio’s Gregor Craigie and featuring artists from the upcoming show, along with experts from the community, has been designed to provide insight into each Mainstage production.
Our panelists include Christine Quintana (playwright), Meg Roe (director) and community experts Barbara Hawkins (Professor in the Centre for Forest Biology at UVic), and Bernie Pauly (Professor in Nursing at the University of Victoria and prominent substance use researcher).
Each event is held the Saturday before Opening, is free to attend, live streamed on Facebook, and is available as a podcast on our website.
B4Play is ASL Interpreted. To reserve your free tickets, please call our Box Office 250-385-6815.
TALKBACK THURSDAY
Thursday, February 22 following the performance.
On the third Thursday performance during the run of each show, most (usually all) of the actors return to the stage to answer your questions and provide insight into the play you have just experienced. These Q & A sessions last approximately 20 minutes.
VocalEye – As Above
Sunday, February 25 at 2 pm (in-person event with Touch Tour & Social After)
For patrons with low or no vision, we offer one VocalEye performance during most Mainstage productions. Trained Audio Describers provide descriptions of the visual elements of the show, allowing people with low vision to enjoy the theatrical experience without missing any of the details. More information at the Box Office.
Program - As Above
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Upstage Magazine - As Above
UPSTAGE - 87 Kb
Ticket Information
We are offering Pay What You Want tickets for all performances this season. Tickets are available at 250-385-6815 or online at tickets.belfry.bc.ca.
Show Sponsors
As Above is generously supported by Parc Retirement Living and Used.ca.
Season Sponsors
The Belfry is generously supported by The Times Colonist, Helijet, and Splashes Bath & Kitchen.
Public Funders
The Belfry is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of BC, BC Arts Council, CRD Arts Development and the City of Victoria.
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Mark Dusseault