WATER includes professional and emerging artists with or without developmental, physical, or mental health issues, gender or language challenges.

Directed by Susanna Uchatius & James Coomber with puppetry by Tim Gosley (Puppeteer Master of The Muppets fame). WATER tells the story of one river-the gods that fought, the fish that swam, the fishermen that fished, the water-carriers that fetched and water buyers who bought; all deeply affecting the very life and soul of the river’s flow.  With songs, dance, celebrations, large puppetry, raging passions, and live music- the rivers journey in WATER is a microcosm of civilization’s greatest and most precious element on this planet.

Katie Stewart: What is your involvement in WATER?

James Coomber: I’m a co-director, composer, and musician.  Over the past year, Susanna and I have incorporated mythological, environmental, and theatrical ideas and facts and woven them together to create the play.

KS: As a site-specific play in East Van, WATER intentionally extends open invitation for people just walking by to come into the audience to observe the play. What has been the response so far to the production?

JC: We definitely have people who come specifically for the show… some who have been with Theatre Terrific for a good while, and others who are new to knowing the company.  But we also have a wide range of people who wander through the park, or hear the music nearby, and just stop by to see what exactly is going on.  Some of my favourite moments have been when a stranger stumbles into the audience, sees the big fish puppet, and has a great big smile on their face.

KS: It what ways is it different from anything you’ve ever done before?

JC: Susanna and I have been honing in on our collaborative process, so much so that the music and the action become tangled in a beautiful web of action and reaction.  There are characters and scenes that have been developed from one specific sound, and other scenes where dialogue was formed from a person’s unique challenge with their voice.

KS: Tell us a bit about the exciting projects you have on the horizon?

JC: One project that is coming up in September is a 10 minute opera that I’ve been working on with Dave Deveau.  It’s called Unnatural, and it focuses on differences in LGBT rights for two strangers from different contenants.  It’s part of Tom Cone’s Opera Project, where Tom has paired 5 composers and 5 librettists to create 5 10-minute operas.  It’s going to be a great night!  I’ll also be working on Theatre Terrific’s Fringe show, titled Pantaloon’s Pawn Shop.  Expect something strange, quirky, surprising, and full of some more great music.

Water
2PM, July 7th & 8th
Andy Livingston Park (89 Expo Blvd @ Carrall St).
Wheelchair accessible. Bring a chair or blanket, and perhaps a picnic.
Suggested donation $10