The Belfry’s Spark Festival 2022 returns with two extraordinary films.

Victoria, BC...The Belfry’s Spark Festival will return virtually this month as the theatre presents very limited runs of two extraordinary films. These films are pay-what-you-want and tickets can be purchased at tickets.belfry.bc.ca

From March 11 - 13, the Belfry will be streaming What You Won’t Do For Love, starring David Suzuki and Tara Cullis, Miriam Fernandes, and Sturla Alvsvaag.

“Can we learn to love the planet as much as these two people love one another?”

 

Over an idyllic day in British Columbia, Miriam and Sturla take in a lifetime of David and Tara’s adventures, inspiration, and love, and in turn, reflect on their own relationship to each other and the planet. Revealing David Suzuki and Tara Cullis in an affable, conversational, and often comedic light, What You Won’t Do For Love asks, “Can we learn to love the planet as much as these two people love one another?”

What You Won’t Do For Love is a film by Why Not Theatre, originally co-presented and produced with support from TO Live and Soulpepper.

From March 18 - 20, the Belfry will be streaming acts of faith, written by David Yee, directed by Nina Lee Aquino, and starring Natasha Mumba. acts of faith is a digital production from Factory Theatre.

“If eight months without seeing many live, in-person plays has made you lose faith in the power of theatre, be sure to check out acts of faith. After watching this hybrid show, you’ll be a believer again.”NOW Magazine

March 11- 13, 2022

What You Won’t Do For Love

A film by Why Not Theatre

What You Won’t Do For Love is a conversational and poetic theatre-film hybrid featuring two of Canada’s most prominent environmental figures, Tara Cullis and David Suzuki. The film is an intergenerational exchange about climate and environmental activism, centred in an exploration of love.

When artist Miriam Fernandes approaches David Suzuki to create a theatre piece about climate change, she expects to write about David’s perspective as a scientist. Instead, she discovers the boundless vision and efforts of Tara Cullis, a literature scholar, climate organizer, and David’s life partner. Miriam realizes that David and Tara’s decades-long love for each other, and family and friends, has only clarified and strengthened their resolve to fight for the planet.

Adapted for the screen from a theatre production, What You Won’t Do For Love transforms real-life conversations between David, Tara, Miriam, and her husband Sturla, into a charmingly novel and poetic film in which the performers read off paper scripts.

Over an idyllic day in British Columbia, Miriam and Sturla take in a lifetime of David and Tara’s adventures, inspiration, and love, and in turn, reflect on their own relationship to each other and the planet. Revealing David Suzuki and Tara Cullis in an affable, conversational, and often comedic light, What You Won’t Do For Love asks, “Can we learn to love the planet as much as these two people love one another?”

“I was skeptical at first, wondering how in the world a film could be made resting solely on the spoken word amongst four players. But they pulled it off, often with pungent hilarity and always with scathing intellectual content.  What a triumph!" Stephen Lewis, co-founder and co-director of AIDS-Free World, Companion of the Order of Canada

Credits
Written by Tara Cullis, Miriam Fernandes, Ravi Jain, and David Suzuki
Performed by Tara Cullis, Miriam Fernandes, Sturla Alvsvaag, and David Suzuki
Directed by Ravi Jain and Kevin Matthew Wong
Music by Meg Roe
Film Production Company – Pool Service Productions
Original Production Concept Conceived by Ravi Jain
Dramaturgy by Kevin Matthew Wong / Broadleaf Theatre
Produced by Kevin Matthew Wong

March 18 – 20, 2022

acts of faith

A Factory Theatre Digital Production

I have a message from God…

From the African Copperbelt to the backwoods of Muskoka, acts of faith tells a story about the power of belief, the disillusionment of youth and the eternal struggle between good and evil. The story follows Faith, a young woman who gets mistaken for a prophet. When a revered religious leader attempts to take advantage of her plight, she begins using her ‘gift’ to right wrongs and punish the wicked. Far from home, Faith will come up against the ultimate test of her convictions in a final confrontation between sin and sainthood, morality, and godliness.

 "fiery fantasy mixed with thoughtful paradox” The Globe and Mail

“Natasha Mumba’s Faith offers an extraordinary performance of passion, dignity, and perseverance” Onstage Blog

“Magnificent”  Times Square Chronicles

acts of faith contains adult content that some audience members may find disturbing.

Credits
Written by David Yee
Directed by Nina Lee Aquino
Joanna Yu – Set & Costume Designer
Michelle Ramsay – Lighting Designer
Miquelon Rodriguez – Sound Designer & Broadcast Tech
Matt McGeachy – Dramaturg
Nadeem Philip – Assistant Director
Kai-Yueh Chen – Stage Manager
Shaw Forgeron – Head Of Prop
Joyce Padua – Head Of Wardrobe

Ticket Information  

This year we are offering Pay What You Want tickets for and live streams. Tickets are available at 250-385-6815 or online at tickets.belfry.bc.ca.  

Show Sponsors

Spark Festival 2022 is generously supported by the Government of Canada and Caffe Fantastico.

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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