LETTERS TO RUMI-an exploration in poetry, music & projections by Meharoona Ghani

Sundays: September 22, 29, and October 6 – all at 2pm

At Merlin’s Sun Home Theatre
(the specific address will be given when you make a reservation)

Inspired by her book in progress, Letters to Rumi, Meharoona Ghani mixes poetry and prose to engage with Rumi around her long-standing question of where do I belong?
She presents an afternoon of literary readings and dialogue accompanied by musicians Niel Golden (tabla and hang) and Douglas Hensley (multi string instruments including the oud, tar and sitar). Tim Gosley will visually interpret the performance with shadow and live video projections. 
One of the greatest poets in the Persian language is Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī (d.1273). Writing in times of loss, Meharoona Ghani began ‘correspondence’ with this eminent Islamic scholar and Sufi. Letters to Rūmī is a form of creative non-fiction that explores loss, identity and belonging. Informed by her experiences, the text moves from a journey of self-discovery to a wider examination of justice, equity, and humanity. Join us for live readings and music to hear ‘the story behind the story.’

After the event, Ms. Ghani will be selling anthologies that include her work. Cash sales only.

Performers
Author & Poet:                                 Meharoona Ghani
Musicians:                                          Niel Golden, Doug Hensley, Davoud Jafari Gharieh
Shadow & video projections:   Tim Gosley

Reservations
Admission by reservation (seating is limited)
Ticket price:  a sliding scale, with suggested donation of $25

To reserve (or for more information), email or phone:
timgosley@telus.net
(250) 888.4907

If you have accessibility needs, please let us know, when you reserve, so we can accommodate them.

Meharoona Ghani: is a former Artist in Residence Fellow at the University of Victoria’s Centre for Studies on Religion and Society; a Diversity Specialist; and a writer/poet published in many collections, including The Muslimah Who Fell to Earth (2016); Body & Soul: Stories for Skeptics and Seekers (2019) and Roots to Branches, Vol 1 (2021). She continues to write Letters to Rumi – her creative non-fiction book that explores loss, identity and belonging. Meharoona contributes to the Victoria Times Colonist’s Spiritually Speaking column and runs a podcast: Raining Revolution: JEDI in the Arts on CFUV 101.9 FM. Learn more at: mghaniconsulting.ca

Douglas Hensley:  a resident of Victoria since 1995, is a founding member of the Continuum Consort, which specializes in both early and modern music and has released a couple of CDs. In addition to being an on-call multi-plucker with the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria, he frequently accompanies the award-winning women’s choir Ensemble Laude  (including performances in the south of France in 2016), in which he also serves as percussionist. He performs on and teaches a variety of instruments at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and St Margaret’s School, including various guitars and lutes (theorbo, vihuela, gittern, etc.), banjo, ukulele and mandolin, as well several classical Persian instruments (târ, setâr, oud, barbat and santur, which he studied with a number of Iranian masters). He is also a member of the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, playing oud and guitar, and he has commissioned and premiered over 70 chamber works (as well as a few solos) for guitar and lute.

Niel Golden:  is a talented percussionist specializing in the subtle yet powerful, tuned, paired, Indian hand drums called Tabla. Niel is a disciple of the late tabla master, Pandit Sharda Sahai, the fifth generation leader of the Benares style of playing. Over more than four decades, he has performed and recorded with traditional Indian classical musicians, orchestras, choirs and roots and blues artists such as Xavier Rudd and Harry Manx. He has also been nominated for a Juno Award and a Western Canadian Music Award. Niel performs and composes on the new and elusive Hang (pronounced Hung), a flying saucer-esque instrument from Switzerland invented in the year 2000. He is a long time member of The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra (VICO). In Victoria he is part of world music trio, Three Rivers with Mark Ferris and Douglas Hensley who are also members of VICO.

Tim Gosley: Tim Gosley’s four decades in puppetry includes a wide spectrum of projects. He recently built and performed the lead puppet for a Toronto television pilot. He was festival director for Puppets for Peace with Theatre Inconnu. He is a Gemini Award winning puppeteer on TV series including the Muppets Fraggle Rock, and Canadian Sesame Street. He produced a 24 cast community mixed-nations performance of Roy Henry Vickers telling the Tsimshian tale, Peace Dancer, through Theatre Inconnu. In 2020 he had an artist-in-residence fellowship at the Center for Studies in Religion and Society at The University of Victoria. He currently is collaborating with classical guitarist Jacob Cordover to develop shadow and video imagery for a live performance of Platero and I.

Davoud Jafari Gharieh:  is an Iranian Ney player. His understanding of the Ney—a flute-like instrument integral to Persian musical heritage—reflects a deep respect for the traditions. His journey began in Iran, where he immersed himself in the classical traditions of Persian music, learning from revered masters and honing his technique. Davoud is committed to the cultural preservation and education of Persian music, striving to inspire new generations and foster a deeper appreciation for this rich musical heritage.

2024 Subscriptions Closed

Falstaff – Clayton Jevne

Falstaff is a one-actor romp through the life of Sir John: from birth, continuing into to his eighth decade. Clayton Jevne has adapted Robert Nye’s 450-page Guardian Fiction Prize winning novel into a 60-minute journey through 15th century Britain, as we follow our hero into battles, bedrooms, and bars.  Nye’s character is a finely balanced persona, combining both the comical figure of Shakespeare’s self-absorbed buffoon Falstaff, with the more subdued historic figure of Sir John Fastolf: whose extensive writings chronicled the latter part of the Hundred Years War, and from whom Shakespeare drew his inspiration.  With his “warts and all,” you will get to know a bigger-than-life enigma, who appears to have seen and done it all: single-handedly winning battles, falling in and out of love and lust, hobnobbing with kings, and surviving a ghostly encounter with Joan of Arc.

This story is written for the modern ear (i.e., non-Elizabethan English), and because the show is not dependent upon prior knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays, or British history, it will appeal to anyone who is fascinated by human nature, with all its contradictions.  Due to the adult themes the suggested age for attendees is 15+.

Amazing… a very fine actor… a wonderful story teller.”  CBC

Expert pacing and animated physicality, effortlessly jumping from one character to another… the way Jevne inhabits this character solidifies this success. You can almost feel the wind in his sails.” Edmonton Journal

Masterful… Sympathetic, without losing his bawdy edge.”  Monday Magazine, Victoria

A character we continue to love… an impressive outing.”  Times Colonist, Victoria

Masterful acting, never fell into caricature.Coastal Spectator

Jevne commands the stage in Falstaff, the outstanding one-man adaptation of Robert Nye’s multi-award-winning novel.” Martlet, Victoria

Photo by Giuseppe Bucolierro

Booking Falstaff

Photos by Bill Pope

Clayton has been the Artistic Director of Victoria’s (BC) Theatre Inconnu since 1978.  His solo shows have been seen since 1986 in festivals across North America and in Europe. Highlights include performances at the United Solo Festival (New York City), Festival de Sinaloa (Mexico), and the Aberdeen Alternative Arts Festival (Scotland). Clayton has also been directly involved in over 130 Theatre Inconnu productions in various capacities: actor, director, designer, and general manager. For the past 15 years Clayton has taught in the University of Victoria Theatre Department. Academically he holds a BFA (acting), an MFA (directing), and a PhD (actor-training curriculum development).

This Much I Know by Jonathan Spector

Online tickets now on sale!

This Much I Know is a multi-layered play exploring themes related to self-acceptance. A number of inter-twined stories weave in and out, as they relentlessly move towards a resolution that is deeply satisfying and profound. What connects the tragedy of Joseph Stalin’s daughter, to the struggle for redemption of a young white supremacist, to a university professor’s failing marriage? In Spector’s irresistible world, the answer becomes obvious.
How refreshing to experience a thinking person’s play that challenges, enlightens and delights” Broadway World

Jonathan Spector is an American playwright, based in Oakland, California. His plays include Eureka Day, This Much I Know, Best Available, and Siesta Key. His work has been produced at theaters around the country and abroad. He is currently under commission from Roundabout Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse, and Manhattan Theatre Club.

Directed by Misty Cozac
Cast (alphabetically): Melissa Blank, Nicholas Guerreiro, Sheldon Parathundyil

Assistant Director & Stage Manager: Kevin Eastman
Costume & Sound Design: Misty Cozac
Projection Design: Dave Irons
Lighting Design: Shawn Hateley
Sound Effect Design: Kevin Eastman

Nov 26 – 8pm (Preview)
Nov 27 – 8pm
Nov 28 – 8pm
Nov 30 – 2pm
Nov 30 – 8pm

Dec 4 – 8pm
Dec 5 – 8pm
Dec 6 – 8pm
Dec 7 – 2pm
Dec 7 – 8pm
Dec 11 – 8pm
Dec 12 – 8pm
Dec 13 – 8pm
Dec 14 – 2pm
Dec 14 – 8pm

Reservations and Ticket Sales
Click on above date/time to reserve and pay online

Ticket Prices:
$14 regular (adults), $10 seniors (60+) /students/unwaged
Tuesday Nov 26 is half-price ($7) preview
Wednesday Dec 4 is Pay-What-You-Wish admission if you pay at the door

You can also reserve directly through THEATRE INCONNU without prepayment:
phone:  (250) 360-0234 
email:    mail@theatreinconnu.com
If reserving by phone or email, you will pay when you come to see the show (we take all forms of payment at the door).

For more detailed ticket purchase information CLICK HERE

The show is about two and a quarter hours long, including one intermission.

Content Warnings
This production contains:
Strong language
Discussions of racism, white supremacy, eugenics and antisemitism
Depictions of panic attacks
Please note that our content warnings evolve as the production does throughout rehearsal and previews, so there may be changes made between booking and attending the theatre. If you would like to speak to a member of our team about specific themes or concerns, please email : mail@theatreinconnu.com

Theatre Inconnu is located in the Paul Phillips Hall at 1923 Fernwood Road (across the street from the Belfry Theatre).
MAP

We are wheelchair accessible – but you need to contact us beforehand so we can make accommodation.

Theatre Inconnu is located on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen peoples, also known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.

Significant Other by Joshua Harmon

Online tickets sales are available (see below)

Significant Other is every bit as entertaining and moving as his run-away hit Bad Jews (done at Theatre Inconnu in 2016). Jordan – a gay man pushing 30 – has long been best friends to three strong women. But now these women are falling – one by one – in love, and he finds himself struggling to fill the void that is expanding in his heart. What happens to someone who has been solely focused on giving support when that support is no longer needed? Harmon continues his tradition of provoking belly laughs, while a tear trickles down the cheek.

A lovely, bittersweet comedy… The playwright clearly loves every one of his characters equally, imperfections and all, and the feeling is infectious.” Hollywood Reporter

Directed by Don Keith

Cast (alphabetically) – Scott Allen, Kaelan Bain, Andrea Eggenberger, Nolan Fidyk, Julie Grey, Makayla Madill, Mariah Madill

Stage manager – Roxanne Brydges
Sylvia Hosie – assistant to the director, movement coach
Special assistant – Jean Topham
Pearl Arden– costume designer
John Varszegi – sound designer
Kevin Stinson – projection deisgner
Lighting Designer – Clayton Jevne
Poster/program image – Robert Randall
Publicity photographer – Samantha Madill

To reserve and pay online, just click on your desired date/time below to link to the purchase for that show. To reserve without prepayment, see instructions below.

Sept 18 (Preview)
Sept 19 – 8pm
Sept 20 – 8pm
Sept 21 – 2pm
Sept 21 – 8pm
Sept 24 – 8pm
Sept 25 – 8pm
Sept 26 – 8pm

Sept 28 – 2pm SOLD OUT
Sept 28 – 8pm
Oct 2 – 8pm
Oct 3 – 8pm
Oct 4 – 8pm
Oct 5 – 2pm SOLD OUT
Oct 5 – 8pm


Reservations and Ticket Sales

Ticket Prices:
$14 regular (adults), $10 seniors (60+) /students/unwaged
Wednesday Sept 18 is half-price ($7) preview
Tuesday Sept 24 is Pay-What-You-Wish admission if you pay at the door

You can also reserve directly through THEATRE INCONNU without prepayment:
phone:  (250) 360-0234 
email:    mail@theatreinconnu.com
If reserving by phone or email, you will pay when you come to see the show (we take all forms of payment at the door).

For more detailed ticket purchase information CLICK HERE

The show is about two hours long, including one intermission.

Theatre Inconnu is located in the Paul Phillips Hall at 1923 Fernwood Road (across the street from the Belfry Theatre).
MAP

We are wheelchair accessible – but you need to contact us beforehand so we can make accommodation.

Theatre Inconnu is located on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen peoples, also known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.

Mariah Madill & Nolan Fidyk
Photo by Samantha Madill