It’s a wacky, unpredictable and absurd piece – but don’t let me go on talking, you should watch it yourself…

The trick was to capture live video projections, two dj’s, and a dancer.

And FYI, the HD fullscreen settings on Vimeo look AWESOME.

Live from a Bush of Ghosts demo from Flick Harrison.

A ghost story for the digital age Feb. 4 – 15

Presented with the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival

Co-created by Tim Carlson, Richard Wolfe, Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, No Luck Club and Candelario Andrade | Directed by Richard Wolfe

Feb. 4 – 15, 2009, 7pm
Studio 16, Vancouver, 1555 W. 7th Ave @ Granville St.
4pm Sunday matinees Feb. 8 and 15 (no evening show)

Spirits arise from the toxic smoke of First World electronic trash dumped in the developing world. A boy lured by an internet predator, a suicidal stockbroker, a heavy metal televangelist — these are a few of the ghosts haunting a woman who melts down computer components to retrieve precious metals for pennies a day.

With music inspired by Brian Eno and David Byrne’s seminal recording My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, Theatre Conspiracy delves into the fallout of digital culture. Electronic band No Luck Club performs along with live video mixes by Candelario Andrade as dancer/actor Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg creates multiple roles to conjure a ghostworld that is a physical, visual, sonic feast for the senses.

It’s about a Vietnam war dodger, now a leftist professor in Ottawa, who begins to doubt his pacifist convictions when his wife commits suicide and his daughter takes a dangerous posting as a middle-east diplomat.

(the most interesting part for me was cutting together Taliban propaganda video with Vietcong 16mm films).

(Two- for- one previews Thur. November 2 & Fri. November 3 at 8 pm)

* * * *

Western Theatre Conspiracy kicks off its 10th anniversary season this coming Saturday with the premiere of Diplomacy presented by the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Nov. 4-11. No performance Sunday November 5 or Monday November 6.

Tim Carlson’s Diplomacy delves into the heart of the most fractious debate facing the country: Are we a nation of peacekeepers or a nation of warriors? Is there a middle ground?

A conflict-fuelled drama with moments of heartbreak and dark humour, Diplomacy, directed by Richard Wolfe, is signature Conspiracy — a theatrical reflection on international themes that define the contemporary world.

International politics infuse the personal politics between four Canadians whose lives were defined by the Vietnam War and now struggle to position themselves in the present.

Diplomacy charts the psychological disintegration of Roy (Keith Martin Gordey), who deserted the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War to become a historian specializing in Canadian diplomacy.

Roy’s Vietnamese-born wife, Thu Van, has flashbacks to the war she experienced as a girl as the war heats up in the Middle East where her daughter, An (Khaira Ledeyo), serves as a Canadian diplomat in Damascus. Thu Van’s tragic death shakes Roy’s faith in his past, his teachings and personal philosophy. His fears spiral out of control, leading him toward violence. Roy’s best friend, Sinclair (John Innes), a journalist, tries to lead Roy back toward his pacifist convictions. The cast is rounded out with Josh Dixson playing the role of Cal, a contemporary version of Roy who fights for peace.

A stellar design team includes David Roberts (winner outstanding set design Jessie ’06, A Skull in Connemara), Alan Brodie (nominated outstanding lighting design, A Skull in Connemara), videographer Flick Harrison (nominated special acheivement for video design Jessie ’05, Omniscience), composer and sound designer Chris Hind (Skull, Omniscience, Closer) and, joining Conspiracy for the first time, costume designer Sheila White.

At the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, located at 1895 Venables Street (at Victoria Drive). For more information, visit www.vecc.bc.ca or www.conspiracy.ca

Tickets are $27 general, $23 for students and seniors and are available through Ticketmaster at 604-280-3311 or visit www.ticketmaster.ca.

Hope to see you there.