The Douglas College departments of Theatre and Stagecraft & Event Technology present Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, adapted by Sarah Ruhl. The production will have its opening night on March 17 at 7:30pm in the New Westminster Campus’ Laura C. Muir Theatre.
This adaption of Woolf’s satirical novel follows the journey of a poet named Orlando who undergoes a gender transformation from male to female at age 30, and lives for centuries more, from the court of Queen Elizabeth I all the way to modern times. The play confronts the struggles of finding oneself, being present, keeping up with life and adjusting to change, and discovering one’s sexual orientation.
“At the beginning of the play, the character of Orlando is on a never-ending journey to escape himself, ironically forcing him to face the complex experiences that make us who we are,” says director Thrasso Petras.
Petras also explains the importance of sharing a story like this that focuses on themes of gender, sexuality and identity, especially during a time when conversations around these topics are prevalent and, at times, controversial.
"The notion of gender fluidity is not a recent one. It is centuries old,” says Petras. “If Virginia Woolf and her friends were alive today, they would revel in the current multi-faceted movement of gender."
For the actors, balancing the comedic and lighthearted tones with heavy topics in this play isn’t the only challenge they face. They have to embrace the elaborate changes their characters experience. Switches in accents, gender and tone will bring the audience on a unique adventure through time and self-acceptance.
The cast of Orlando includes Elijah Bamberry (Kitsilano), Celine Nguyen Ho Favilla (Vancouver), Kiyomi Hoover (Coquitlam), Pay Kedar (New Westminster), Marni Nitchie (Coquitlam), Kalie Panzenboeck (Surrey) and Zach Stubley (Squamish).
Orlando will run from March 17–24. For more information about tickets, please visit douglascollege.ca/arts-events.
Douglas College is the largest degree-granting college in B.C., combining the academic foundations of a university and the employer-ready skills of a college to graduate resilient global citizens who adapt, innovate and lead in a changing world.
For more information, visit douglascollege.ca
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Elizabeth Douglas
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douglase2@douglascollege.ca