PuSh International Performing Arts Festival (PuSh) presents its 16th annual edition from January 21 to February 9, 2020 at various venues across the Lower Mainland. Featuring 27 works from 24 companies from nine countries — including six world premieres — the festival line-up is dedicated to creative risk-taking and dynamic interdisciplinary collaboration. PuSh 2020 is a poignant reminder of art’s power to bring communities together and effect change.
PuSh presents six world premieres, all from local artists and companies: Anywhere But Here by award-winning Electric Company Theatre; BERLIN: The Last Cabaret by period-focused City Opera Vancouver; Flying white -飞白 by contemporary dance company Wen Wei Dance with the Turning Point Ensemble; High Water by multidisciplinary performance artist Robert Leveroos under his moniker Macromatter; Idealverein by contemporary artists Mike Bourscheid and Justine Chambers; and Skyborn: A Land Reclamation Odyssey by Musqueam playwright Quelemia Sparrow with the Savage Society.
The festival also includes the North American premiere of Free Admission by UK-based provocateur Ursula Martinez, in which she builds a real brick wall on stage. The five Western Canadian premieres will be presented by Gingras’ Animals of Distinction, choreographer and performer Dana Michel, Toronto-based 6th Man Collective with The Theatre Centre, interdisciplinary collective PME-ART, and three-time Dora winner d’bi young anitafrika.
This year Club PuSh, the festival’s platform for the most edgy and experimental work, features Myles de Bastion, DJ Deaf Wish, CymaSpace, Crystal Precious, House of La Douche, and Pearle Harbour. The free opening weekend party includes performances by De Bastion, DJ Deaf Wish, and CymaSpace following the premiere screening of The Democratic Set at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre. The always anticipated Closing Night party will be held at Central Studios.
PuSh Assembly will stimulate dialogue through free talks for the public and industry networking events. And new for the 2020 season is the PuSh Scholars-in-Residence program, which invites festival artists as well as Indigenous and disabled artists and curators to ask foundational questions about how performance can intervene in the age of crisis. The inaugural scholars-in-residence are Dylan Robinson and Keren Zaiontz.
Check the website for the line-up. PuSh Passes and single tickets for the 2020 PuSh Festival are on sale at pushfestival.ca
PuSh International Performing Arts Festival
Dates: January 21–February 9, 2020
Ticket Prices: From $15
Location: Various Vancouver Venues
Audience Services: 604.449.6000 / tickets@pushfestival.ca
Website: www.pushfestival.ca
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