As Vancouver enters a second month of physical distancing and shelter in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local theatre companies are insisting the show must go on—online.

For many struggling with the “new normal” brought on by this health crisis, art in its many mediums has become somewhat of a lifeline. In response, many artists are using virtual platforms to share their craft, generating a feeling of social connection among audiences in isolation. 

The transition from stage to screen may be complicated, but that’s not stopping Theatre Under the Gun from giving it a try this Tuesday, April 21. 

The plot, twisted. 

Produced by Monster Theatre and co-presented by the Vancouver Fringe Festival, Theatre Under the Gun asks six Vancouver theatre companies to embark on a 48-hour creative challenge. The entire premise is like one big plot twist. Participating theatre companies have three prompts to work off of—one line of text from a Canadian writer, a description of a sound and an inspiring image. With this obscure package and much creative freedom, the companies each produce a ten minute show that will be rolled up into a series of shorts.

The setting, reimagined. 

Theatre Under the Gun brings performances from the artists’ living rooms to the comfort of your own, which poses plenty of challenges to the artistic directors and performers alike. They’ll have to find new opportunities to engage the audience and generate the electric feel of a live performance in a virtual space. 

Monster Theatre’s Artistic Director Jeff Gladstone says he’s looking forward to seeing six different versions of this new format of theatre.

“This wouldn’t be possible without the bravery of all these groups, because none of us know if this is possible, or what this is going to look like,” says Gladstone. “But we’re artists, we’re creators, so we’re all down to try experiments. I have no doubt it’s going to be a lot of fun and very meaningful.”

The characters, terrified and excited.  

The six theatre companies embarking on this absurd journey (The House Collective, Woe Horsey, Mid-Youth Crisis, Sour Dog Theatre, Dusty Foot Productions and Colour Sound Lab) present a wide range of talented performers across a variety of interdisciplinary mediums, including improv, dance, clown and even puppetry. 

That’s right -- puppets. Colour Sound Lab aims to push the boundaries of puppetry, using a variety of styles such as hand and rod, table top, bunraku and marionettes. For company member Tara Travis, puppetry provides a sense of self-assurance for the humans behind the strings. Puppets extend beyond the limitations of one’s own body, and come with a unique permission slip. 

“I came to puppetry and felt liberated. It gave me the confidence to realize that I can play anything, from a ten-year-old boy to a Scottish goat,” says Travis. “Puppets can also get away with doing and saying things that you can’t do with a human voice.”

For Tricia Trinh, founder of Dusty Foot Productions, her approach will be informed by lived experiences, as her company is formed predominantly by artists who are female or non-binary.

“Our company highlights strong female characters. I’m examining my own intersectional identity from a cultural and gender lens, and I want to create voices more similar to my own and those in my community,” says Trinh, a queer female of colour. 

While Trinh has shifted her focus to production and writing of late, she’s excited to step back onto the stage, virtually.

“I’m inspired by a curiosity to explore visceral narratives and soundscapes, and an interest in pairing contemporary movement with poetry,” Trinh says, adding, “I have no idea how this will feed into the piece yet.” 

Travis validated my assumption that those participating in the show must thrive in that magical space where fear meets excitement and makes adrenaline. 

“The pressure cooker of this event is the ultimate creative set-up,” says Travis. “You can take a creative idea and pick it apart and perfect it for years. The limitations of [Theatre Under the Gun] expand creative options because there’s no time for second-guessing. You just have to go for it. I’m equal parts terrified and excited.” 

The whole shebang.

Because of its virtual nature, the performance adds a few interactive appetizers before the main course. Audiences can witness the grand reveal as performers open their inspiration packages live on Monster Theatre’s YouTube channel. Over the weekend, theatre companies will be sharing their creative process through Instagram takeovers on the @MonsterTheatre page, allowing audiences to engage with the performers behind the scenes in a way that is unique to the digital space. 

“The event almost feels like it was made for this digital connection. To be able to share the creation process with people feels pretty special,” says Gladstone.  

The show goes live on Tuesday, April 21. Tickets are offered on a “pay what you can” sliding scale from $0-$100, available here.