[van-discuss] PRACTICING DEMOCRACY - on NOW until March 21st

[democracy]

PRACTICING DEMOCRACY
City Council agrees to use theatre to affect policy
 

A year ago, Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to support Practicing
Democracy, an experiment in Legislative Theatre.  Council passed a motion
agreeing to read the Legal Report containing recommendations to civic policy
generated in this audience-interactive play.

Once Council got on board, Headlines went out to the community.  The topic
for the play was selected in a local poll.  Residents of Vancouver told
Headlines that they want to know, "How will the City of Vancouver respond to
the effects of the Provincial policy changes in welfare and social
assistance?"

What will the Provincial policy changes mean?  Increased crime, panhandling,
homelessness, malnutrition, mental health issuesŠ  The biggest changes to
our social safety net may be coming from the Province, but the effects are
in our neighbourhoods, streets and homes.   Regardless of one more exemption
to the two-year time limit, poverty in Vancouver is not going away.

The play creation process followed an intensive week-long community
workshop.  People who are living the issues created a play which takes an
honest look at chronic poverty in Vancouver.

The idea - using interactive theatre to come up with solutions to real
problems - originates from Augusto Boal's Legislative Theatre work in
Brazil.  Nothing of its kind has been done in Canada before.

Come be a part of this exciting dialogue.  City Hall is listening.

--
Tickets are by donation.  No one will be turned away for lack of $.
Call now to reserve your seats!

Croatian Cultural Centre
(3250 Commercial Drive)
8 PM PERFORMANCES:  *TONIGHT* - Sunday, March 14
2 PM  MATINEES:   Thursday, March 11 & Saturday, March 13

St. James Community Hall
(3214 West 10th at Trutch)
8 PM PERFORMANCES:  Wednesday, March 17 - Sunday, March 21
2 PM  MATINEE:   Thursday, March 18


tel.  604-871-0508 
email.  boxoffice at headlinestheatre.com
web.  www.headlinestheatre.com