SWIM

Theatre Conspiracy/Pandemic Theatre (Canada)

SWIM
  • Thu Jan 30 7pm
  • Fri Jan 31 5pm, 8pm
  • Sat Feb 1 1pm, 3:30pm
  • Sun Feb 2 2pm
$39
90min

Presented with

  • Touchstone Theatre
  • The Cultch

It is 8 kilometres from Güzelçamli, Turkey to the Greek island of Samos, or 160 lengths of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. That’s the distance many must swim in search of asylum in Europe. SWIM is an immersive sensorial experience that imagines the physical, mental and spiritual challenges of this treacherous passage as it meditates upon the emotional toll of displacement. Harnessing cutting-edge technologies to simulate audio and tactile sensations, the audience experiences much of the piece in darkness.

Drawing loose inspiration from the epic Arabic story of Laila and Majnun, SWIM invites audiences to imagine what feelings one moves through as they endure the fatigue of this perilous crossing. It meditates on the question: When one is driven to leave their love, their life, their home — what parts of oneself and one’s old life must be sacrificed in pursuit of a new beginning?

SWIM is a PuSh Festival commission.

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Artist Bio

Theatre Conspiracy/Pandemic Theatre

Founded in 1995, Theatre Conspiracy creates theatrical events that activate discussion on vital contemporary themes in the international conversation. The company is committed to enhancing a rich dialogue between our city, the province and the international community.

Founded in 2009, Pandemic Theatre is a performing arts collective that creates, develops, and produces work from critical and underrepresented perspectives, that engage social and political themes.

Venue

Vancity Culture Lab

1895 Venables Street, Vancouver

Showtimes

  • January 30: 7pm
  • January 31: 5pm, 8pm
  • February 1: 1pm, 3:30pm
  • February 2: 2pm

Post-show talkback: Jan 31 @ 5pm

Content Advisory

Flashing lights, haze

Tickets

Single tickets: $39
Buy from The Cultch

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Access

Icon signalling a low vision friendly performance

Blind/Low-Vision Accessible

Credits

Created by Jivesh Parasram, Tom Arthur Davis, David Mesiha and Gavan Cheema Written by Jivesh Parasram and Tom Arthur Davis Directed by Gavan Cheema & David Mesiha Music & Sound Design by David Mesiha Accessibility Consultant Amy Amantea Special thanks to Tim Carlson for original script dramaturgy

This project has been made possible through the generous support of PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, SummerWorks Performance Festival, Why Not Theatre, Touchstone Theatre, The Cultch, Crow’s Theatre, Volcano Theatre, Suitcase in Point, the British Columbia Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, Metro Vancouver, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, and the City of Vancouver. 

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