Speed Dating
Feb 4
10am–12pm Upper Lobby, Granville Island Stage

This session is curated by Sherrie Johnson and is by invitation only. This session brings together 10 artists and 10 presenters over the course of two hours. Each participant will have ten minutes to network in an intimate face-to-face encounter with some of the most innovative and inspiring industry professionals. For more information on how to participate please contact Associate Producer Michael Wipf at michael@pushfestival.ca

Keynote Manifesto Addresses

Feb 4, 5 & 6
4–5:30pm Granville Island Stage

man·i·fes·to n

a public written declaration of principles, policies and objectives

Artistic manifestos can be a call to arms, a statement of principles, or a line drawn in the sand. They can be a provocation and a challenge to existing tastes and aesthetics, an analysis of landmark productions, a spotlight on germinal points in time, or simply a confirmation of emerging trends, values and practices.

The PuSh Assembly has commissioned three thoughtprovoking manifestos from internationally acclaimed artists Rimini Protokoll (Germany), Mike Daisey (USA) and Maiko Bae Yamamoto and James Long (Vancouver). Each will take the stage to deliver their manifesto live at the PuSh Assembly in a 30–45 minute keynote address. Transcripts of the manifestos will be available online.

Keynote Speakers:

Rimini Protokoll
Feb 4
4–5:30pm, Granville Island Stage

Rimini Protokoll is the label given to a unique triumvirate of directors: Helgard Haug, Stephan Kaegi and Daniel Wetzel. Founded in 2000, this internationally acclaimed group has created over 20 new works of theatre—all sharing a very distinct house style. Working in various combinations, the three artists behind Rimini Protokoll devise new work out of the material provided by real life. They have become the central figures in a documentary movement that has taken centre stage in German theatres over the last few years.

Rimini Protokoll has toured extensively across Europe. Their work has also been created abroad in India and Central and South America. They are the recipients of several commissions, including Internationale Schillertage, Nationaltheater Mannheim, the Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar and the Goethe-Institut. The group has been featured at festivals in Avignon, Limoges, Bergen, Essen, Parma, Vilnius, Hamburg, at Kunstenfestival des Arts (Brussels), SpielArt München, and Berlin’s prestigious Theater der Welt and Theater Treffen festivals.

Mike Daisey
Feb 5
4-5:30pm, Granville Island Stage

Mike Daisey has been called “the master storyteller” and “one of the finest solo performers of his generation” by The New York Times for his groundbreaking monologues which weave together autobiography, gonzo journalism, and unscripted performance to tell hilarious and heartbreaking stories that cut to the bone, exposing secret histories and unexpected connections. His monologues, 14 and counting, include the controversial How Theater Failed America, the six-hour epic Great Men of Genius, the unrepeatable series All Stories Are Fiction, and the international sensation 21 Dog Years.

Over the past decade he has performed his unique monologues at venues such as the Public Theater, American Repertory Theatre, the Spoleto Festival, the Noorderzon Festival, the T:BA Festival and many more. He’s been a guest on the Late Show with David Letterman, a commentator for PRI’s Studio 360 and NPR’s Day to Day, a contributor to WIRED, Slate and Salon, and a web contributor to Vanity Fair and Radar Magazine. His first book, 21 Dog Years: A Cubedweller’s Tale, was published by the Free Press and he is working on a second book, Great Men of Genius. His first work as a playwright, The Moon Is a Dead World, was produced in Seattle this season. He has been the recipient of the Bay Area Critics Circle Award, two Seattle Times Footlight Awards, and a MacDowell Fellowship. He lives in New York City with his director and collaborator, Jean-Michele Gregory.

Maiko Bae Yamamoto and James Long
Feb 6
4–5:30pm Granville Island Stage

James Long and Maiko Bae Yamamoto formed Theatre Replacement in 2003. Their work with the company has focused on building performances that speak to contemporary existence through a highly evolved and extended process of collaboration with artists and professionals from a variety of disciplines. The company continues to build and tour work, and has been active both nationally and internationally. Whether working together or individually, James and Maiko’s work tends to engage with biographical examinations of others and themselves, relationship to audience and space and explorations of unique and challenging ways of exploring content and staging material. They both write, direct, perform and teach.

Export This!
Feb 5
1–3:30pm, Revue Stage

Artists, producers and presenters gain insight about the diverse range of issues related to touring to different markets.

Pitch Session
Feb 6
10am–12pm Revue Stage

This is a fabulous opportunity for eight artistic teams to pitch their new and upcoming projects to a wide audience of creative and contemporary producers, artistic directors, festival curators, presenters, and programmers. Successful applicants have 10 minutes to pitch and will receive tips on pitching by industry veteran Sherrie Johnson.

Speed Dating with Lawyers
Feb 6
1–3pm, Granville Island Stage Upper Lobby

In association with Martha Rans and Artists’ Legal Outreach

In the third Art and Olympics workshop event, Martha Rans and the Artists’ Legal Outreach offer the unsung administrators an opportunity to bring their questions to a group of lawyers. Ask specific questions related to governance, Society Act copyright, trademarks, and arts-related issues. Participants are asked to submit their questions in writing to Martha Rans on Thursday, February 5 at the PuSh Assembly. Participants will then be paired with a lawyer who will spend 15 minutes providing direct advice in a casual and relaxed one-on-one session.

Import This!
Feb 6
1–3:30pm, Revue Stage

Artists, producers and presenters learn from national and international presenters about the diverse range of issues related to presenting in their venues, cities and territories.

Situation Room
Feb 7
10am–12pm, Revue Stage

The Situation Room is a session designed for delegates who have an inspiring project, new idea, innovative initiative, or revolutionary concept. This is an opportunity to present a project or idea and discuss it for 15 minutes with other colleagues in a town hall style format. Sign-up will begin on day one of the PuSh Assembly and is first come, first serve.