Vancouver-based company Standing Room Only Theatre presents Conor McPherson’s award-winning play The Weir, set in a pub in rural Ireland, in three site-specific venues from March 7-15, 2015 as part of CelticFest Vancouver, with a one-off performance planned as part of the White Rock Irish Festival 2015.
The two annual festivals, coinciding with St Patrick’s Day celebrations, are expanding their artistic repertoire of music and dance to include a debut theatrical production. Standing Room Only Theatre, who have the distinct honour of producing the inaugural show, are serving up this Irish play with a few rounds of drinks. “It’s expected of a play to watch it from a distance and observe,” says director Tracy-Lynn Chernaske, “but this can often make an audience feel disconnected. We wanted to flip expectation on its head and have the action happen in and around the spectators”.
The show’s action will instead unfurl in fully functional bars and the company enthusiastically invite the audience to have their drinks at the ready as they watch. Assistant director Joe Hinks says that the show is aimed at attracting a wide range of audience members, not just those who regularly attend the theatre; “We’re trying to create a real pub experience here…we even have live Irish music after the show! We want everyone to be able to relate to and enjoy the show, and what’s more relatable than adults sharing life, love and scary stories over a few beverages?”
Standing Room Only want this inaugural show to be one that audiences really remember and to do that they invite them all, as the poster itself says, to sit back, sip a drink, be immersed.
THE WEIR by Conor McPherson
Produced by Standing Room Only | Directed by Tracy-Lynn Chernaske | Assistant Director: Joe Hinks
As part of the Vancouver Celtic Festival 2015 and White Rock Irish Festival 2015 | March 7-15
For more information and to purchase tickets visit: www.standingroomonlytheatre.org
