Victoria, British Columbia…This morning the Belfry Theatre announced its 2021 Spring Season. Starting in March the new season features two world premieres; Being Here: The Refugee Project, created by Joel Bernbaum (Saskatoon), and Same Old Same Old by Jan Wood and James Fagan Tait (Victoria and Vancouver). The third show in the season is Serving Elizabeth, by Marcia Johnson (Toronto), which premiered in February 2020. 

This season will be a grand experiment as each show will be performed in front of a small socially distanced audience and simultaneously livestreamed over the internet using a ground-breaking approach and giving audiences two unique perspectives on each show.  

“It’s been a wild ride since March for everyone in the performing arts! On-line programming is nod in the right direction—but nothing can compare with the thrilling prospect of a live audience back in the Belfry!  And I love the season we’ve put together—two world premiere’s and an engaging new play based on the television series "The Crown". They’re three very contemporary plays that speak to Victoria and the world around us.” 

Michael Shamata, Artistic Director

2021 Spring Season 

March 9–21, 2021 

Being Here: The Refugee Project 

WORLD PREMIERE  

Created by Joel Bernbaum / From interviews conducted by Joel Bernbaum 

Real Stories. Real Words. 

From the creators of Home Is A Beautiful Word—our powerful and acclaimed verbatim play about homelessness—comes a celebration of brave spirits and human hearts - turning true life into a powerful theatrical experience. 

Refugees from around the world and their Canadian sponsors—from Victoria to Halifax—share their experiences. Their remarkable escapes-and their reasons for escaping. Their sponsors experience the flush of good intentions-and come face-to-face with the complexity of human nature. Triumphs, disappointments and the delicate balance between ideals and reality- these are real life stories-in the words and voices of real people. 

Joel compiled and edited the interviews for Home is a Beautiful Word (2014), dramaturged and directed by Michael. 

WHY I CHOSE THIS PLAY 

Home Is A Beautiful Word was a remarkable experience to work on and present to our audiences. Being Here promises to be an equally satisfying piece of “documentary theatre.” Joel conducted interviews across Canada. The stories are wildly varied—but the hearts that beat at the centre of each of them are incredibly similar. It is a privilege to put these voices onstage—the voices of these refugees and the generous sponsors who reached out to help them. –Michael Shamata 

April 20–May 2, 2021 

Serving Elizabeth

by Marcia Johnson 

Turning The Crown Upside Down. 

Actor and playwright Marcia Johnson was inspired to write this play after watching an early episode of The Crown on Netflix. The play premiered in February 2020. 

Politics and pop culture collide with unexpected twists as this fascinating new play moves between 1952 Kenya—when an anti-monarchist cook challenges Princess Elizabeth in the moments before she becomes queen—and 2015 London—when a Kenyan-Canadian film student clashes with convention and custom while working on a TV series about the Royals. 

The tension between people and politics—imperialism, prejudice, and the irresistible draw of the monarchy—infuses and ignites this exciting new play. 

WHY I CHOSE THIS PLAY 

I was searching for a play that could address this moment of extreme racial tension in which we find ourselves. Serving Elizabeth is that play. In an immediate response to the popular television series "The Crown", playwright Marcia Johnson argues for inclusion and creates a play as contemporary as this morning’s newspaper. It’s a great story and a fun and surprising ride!–MS 

June 1–13, 2021 

Same Old Same Old  

WORLD PREMIERE 

by Jan Wood & James Fagan Tait 

Life’s Tiny Moments. 

Two Belfry favourites return with a brand-new collaboration. Actor Jan Wood, (Mrs. Fezziwig in our production of A Christmas Carol) and James Fagan Tait (director and co-writer of 21 Ways to Make the World Last Longer) team up to write and star in this charming new play. 

Steadily approaching” till death do us part”—a man and a woman— through snippets and sketches and little scenes—reveal the moments that make up their lives. The mundane and the meaningful. The small but profound. The benign and hurtful. And the real—yet unspoken love. You will find it deeply funny because it is totally familiar—spot-on and touching. 

WHY I CHOSE THIS PLAY 

From the moment I heard that Jan and Jimmy were writing this play—from the moment I started reading an early draft—and from the moment we performed it before an enraptured audience during our 2020 SPARK Festival—I knew this was a play that belonged on our stage. This long-married couple are so familiar—it is impossible not to recognize them in ourselves—and laugh out loud at the reality of their relationship. –MS 

What Audiences Can Expect 

Our first priority is the health and safety of our audience, staff, volunteers, and artists. 

As permitted by the BC Public Health Authority, and until circumstances permit us to seat full audiences, only a small number of socially distanced patrons will be admitted into the theatre.  

We will provide seats for as many of our subscribers as permitted, determined by a random draw. All other patrons will be able to watch exclusive livestream performances via the internet.  

The Belfry’s COVID-19 protocols are posted at belfry.bc.ca/covid-19 

Ticket Information 

Season ticket prices have been substantially reduced and are on sale now for $60. Single tickets to watch an individual livestream performance online are $25. 

Each subscription lets an audience member watch each of the three performances online, plus ticket holders have the opportunity for up to two people from their household bubble to attend as part of the limited in-house audience. 

Our in-house audience will be selected by random draws from our 2021 subscribers. Priority will be given to subscribers who have not already been selected to attend. Ticket draws will start two weeks prior to each production. 

With a subscription, anyone can watch every performance, whenever the show is being streamed live online.

Season Sponsors 

The Belfry is generously supported by The Times Colonist and Helijet. 

 Public Funders 

The Belfry is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, the Province of BC, BC Arts Council, CRD Arts Development and the City of Victoria. 

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