Join us in person this September 2022 for the public feast and sharing of the Core Artists’ and Community Participants’ artistic responses to the messages on doors workshop. A live blending of storytelling, personal experience, letters of loss and understanding, and performance art.

Messages on Doors is an online community engagement workshop and live art presentation where members of the Vancouver Island public generate and send personal messages for distant, unreachable, or lost loved ones in an online theatre workshop through a directed creative process.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Indigenous and non-Indigenous community participants work together to create messages shared as part of a digitally streamed and live celebration performance on the traditional and ancestral lands of the Snuneymuxw peoples.

The Big Ideas 2022

• We are responsible to take action against the Historical and Present day dark messages of hate towards Indigenous peoples.

• What does the world need? What does the community need? What do you need?

Values: Love. Truth. Listening. Survival. Joy.

Artistic Lead — Tsatassaya White

Tsatassaya White, B.A. is a curator, event planner and community mobilizer. She is a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation (Coast Salish) and also of Earthquake House of the Hamilton family of Hupacasath (Nuu-chah-nulth Nations). She carries cultural knowledge, roots her work in traditional protocols and has a vast network of community connections. Recently, Tsatassaya curated “Qwuyulush utl’ Swyalana” a day of Indigenous dance at InFrinGinG Dance Festival (July 2019) at Maffeo Sutton Park, produced and directed “huulth-huultha 2020” a dance film in response to the pandemic, and curated the inaugural Sum̓sháthut (Sun) Festival, an on-line Indigenous cultural festival, and co-produced with Nanaimo’s Crimson Coast Dance Society. 

Artistic Lead — The Fox Queen

The Fox Queen is creative collaborators Tamara McCarthy and Dave Mott.  These two white artists of settler descent have over 40 years of combined theatre creation, direction, performance, physical training, devising, leadership, independent producing, mentorship, presentation and teaching in the arts sector.  The Fox Queen ethos rests solidly inside the founding shared values of Humour, Love, Communication, Listening, Respect, Healing, Song, and Collaboration. Tamara and Dave are focused on Community, Responsibility, Survival, Anti-Racist Practice and the Present Moment.  

Full information here:

Sing for No Reason Productions, Victoria

Port Theatre Lobby | 55 mins | 10+

Susan is up in the attic all alone, singing harmonies with herself on a vocal looper. Aching for a time when we’ll be able to gather together again, she dreams of singing with friends around a picnic table, by a campfire, and in some happening little bistro. Imagination blurs into reality as the audience begins to realize they’re truly welcome to join in the deliciousness of voices intertwining. When We Gather is a dream collage of original songs, spoken word, movement and memoir.

“Susan Ellenton is the songwriting Queen of the Universe!” – Chris Mann

Herbert Henries – Comedy Dangerist, Winnipeg

OV Arts Centre Mainstage | 45 mins | 16+

A comedy show like no other. Herbert Henries has come all the way from Canada’s Got Talent to your hearts, and he is on a quest to find work one show at a time. A 45-minute roller coaster of comedy, stunts, and a few extra surprises. Every stunt/act he performs is strangely unique and exciting. He loves involving the audience in his show as he can’t afford to hire an assistant. People don’t just watch Herbert Henries; they experience him.

Alina Blackett, Vancouver

60 mins | 16+ (please be advised that any minor patrons must be seated outside of the licensed Beverage Garden, as directed by Festival ushers.)

A meditation on how life experiences can affect one’s health, the potentially devastating impact of trauma, and the isolating and distorting nature of certain diagnoses, this one-person show follows a character who is trapped in an unknown, liminal space. In an attempt to discover where they are, why they are there, and who they’re with, they search through a journal that has been left behind. Selections from the journal come to life through the character, providing a poetic roadmap to the possible meaning of their tragic situation. 

Port Theatre Mainstage | 60 mins | 18+ nudity, sexuality, LGBTQ+, language

The show consists of comedy, burlesque, a wide variety of musical numbers and fabulous show-stopping costumes. Randii will take you on a musical journey of her life.

Nabil Sayes, Nanaimo

OV Arts Centre Mainstage 

An original work by local theatre artist, Nabil Sayes. Recipient of the Pacific Coast Stage Co. cultural artist bursary. 

Laura Piccinin, Toronto

55 mins | 13+ Mature language and themes regarding Queer identities. (Please be advised that any minor patrons must be seated outside of the licensed Beverage Garden, as directed by Festival ushers.)

A hilarious autobiography of some gay girl in Toronto.

Sing for No Reason Productions, Victoria

Port Theatre Lobby | 55 mins | 10+

Susan is up in the attic all alone, singing harmonies with herself on a vocal looper. Aching for a time when we’ll be able to gather together again, she dreams of singing with friends around a picnic table, by a campfire, and in some happening little bistro. Imagination blurs into reality as the audience begins to realize they’re truly welcome to join in the deliciousness of voices intertwining. When We Gather is a dream collage of original songs, spoken word, movement and memoir.

“Susan Ellenton is the songwriting Queen of the Universe!” – Chris Mann

Roaring Heart Theatre, Nanaimo

Port Theatre Mainstage | 60 mins | 15+ Strong language & adult situations

The Last Frontier is a new original musical with book by Michael Armstrong and music and lyrics by Beth DeVolder. A new doctor and his young wife arrive in a remote logging camp in northern Minnesota in 1910 where the last great stand of white pine is being cut. Their adventures in the frontier among the towering trees, the rowdy lumberjacks, and the local suffragettes couldn’t be more different. This will be a showcase presentation of the first act.

Bennet Caffee, San Fransisco

Port Theatre Mainstage | 60 mins | 14+ mild profanity

My First Miracle celebrates Bennet Caffee’s bipolar experience from his first manic episode when he was twenty-one to his final episode when he finally accepted treatment. His show highlights the “fun part” of his outrageous manic experiences, but also touches on the depressive side of BPD.

Sing for No Reason Productions, Victoria

Port Theatre Lobby | 55 mins | 10+

Susan is up in the attic all alone, singing harmonies with herself on a vocal looper. Aching for a time when we’ll be able to gather together again, she dreams of singing with friends around a picnic table, by a campfire, and in some happening little bistro. Imagination blurs into reality as the audience begins to realize they’re truly welcome to join in the deliciousness of voices intertwining. When We Gather is a dream collage of original songs, spoken word, movement and memoir.

“Susan Ellenton is the songwriting Queen of the Universe!” – Chris Mann

Nabil Sayes, Nanaimo

OV Arts Centre Mainstage 

An original work by local theatre artist, Nabil Sayes. Recipient of the Pacific Coast Stage Co. cultural artist bursary. 

Laura Piccinin, Toronto

55 mins | 13+ Mature language and themes regarding Queer identities. (Please be advised that any minor patrons must be seated outside of the licensed Beverage Garden, as directed by Festival ushers.)

A hilarious autobiography of some gay girl in Toronto.

Roaring Heart Theatre, Nanaimo

Port Theatre Mainstage | 60 mins | 15+ Strong language & adult situations

The Last Frontier is a new original musical with book by Michael Armstrong and music and lyrics by Beth DeVolder. A new doctor and his young wife arrive in a remote logging camp in northern Minnesota in 1910 where the last great stand of white pine is being cut. Their adventures in the frontier among the towering trees, the rowdy lumberjacks, and the local suffragettes couldn’t be more different. This will be a showcase presentation of the first act.

Live Works, Nanaimo

OV Arts Centre Mainstage | 60 mins | All ages

The first staged reading of the murder mystery, “Macabre Park.” It all goes fantastically wrong as the writer shows up at the last moment with the scripts and their changes…

Alina Blackett, Vancouver

60 mins | 16+ (please be advised that any minor patrons must be seated outside of the licensed Beverage Garden, as directed by Festival ushers.)

A meditation on how life experiences can affect one’s health, the potentially devastating impact of trauma, and the isolating and distorting nature of certain diagnoses, this one-person show follows a character who is trapped in an unknown, liminal space. In an attempt to discover where they are, why they are there, and who they’re with, they search through a journal that has been left behind. Selections from the journal come to life through the character, providing a poetic roadmap to the possible meaning of their tragic situation. 

Child of a Hoodlum Productions, Nanaimo

Port Theatre Mainstage | 60 mins | 12+

Seven for a Secret, an original work by Bill Miner, is a 1940s style sci-fi thriller, and will be performed as a live radio drama, complete with period costumes and eerie sound effects, transporting the audience back to the golden age of radio.

Child of a Hoodlum Productions, Nanaimo

Port Theatre Mainstage | 60 mins | 12+

Seven for a Secret, an original work by Bill Miner, is a 1940s style sci-fi thriller, and will be performed as a live radio drama, complete with period costumes and eerie sound effects, transporting the audience back to the golden age of radio.

Live Works, Nanaimo

OV Arts Centre Mainstage | 60 mins | All ages

The first staged reading of the murder mystery, “Macabre Park.” It all goes fantastically wrong as the writer shows up at the last moment with the scripts and their changes…

Sing for No Reason Productions, Victoria

Port Theatre Lobby | 55 mins | 10+

Susan is up in the attic all alone, singing harmonies with herself on a vocal looper. Aching for a time when we’ll be able to gather together again, she dreams of singing with friends around a picnic table, by a campfire, and in some happening little bistro. Imagination blurs into reality as the audience begins to realize they’re truly welcome to join in the deliciousness of voices intertwining. When We Gather is a dream collage of original songs, spoken word, movement and memoir.

“Susan Ellenton is the songwriting Queen of the Universe!” – Chris Mann

Alina Blackett, Vancouver

60 mins | 16+ (please be advised that any minor patrons must be seated outside of the licensed Beverage Garden, as directed by Festival ushers.)

A meditation on how life experiences can affect one’s health, the potentially devastating impact of trauma, and the isolating and distorting nature of certain diagnoses, this one-person show follows a character who is trapped in an unknown, liminal space. In an attempt to discover where they are, why they are there, and who they’re with, they search through a journal that has been left behind. Selections from the journal come to life through the character, providing a poetic roadmap to the possible meaning of their tragic situation. 

Roaring Heart Theatre, Nanaimo

Port Theatre Mainstage | 60 mins | 15+ Strong language & adult situations

The Last Frontier is a new original musical with book by Michael Armstrong and music and lyrics by Beth DeVolder. A new doctor and his young wife arrive in a remote logging camp in northern Minnesota in 1910 where the last great stand of white pine is being cut. Their adventures in the frontier among the towering trees, the rowdy lumberjacks, and the local suffragettes couldn’t be more different. This will be a showcase presentation of the first act.

Herbert Henries – Comedy Dangerist, Winnipeg

OV Arts Centre Mainstage | 45 mins | 16+

A comedy show like no other. Herbert Henries has come all the way from Canada’s Got Talent to your hearts, and he is on a quest to find work one show at a time. A 45-minute roller coaster of comedy, stunts, and a few extra surprises. Every stunt/act he performs is strangely unique and exciting. He loves involving the audience in his show as he can’t afford to hire an assistant. People don’t just watch Herbert Henries; they experience him.

Laura Piccinin, Toronto

55 mins | 13+ Mature language and themes regarding Queer identities. (Please be advised that any minor patrons must be seated outside of the licensed Beverage Garden, as directed by Festival ushers.)

A hilarious autobiography of some gay girl in Toronto.