The Living Things International Arts Festival is back for its ninth annual event.
Since coming to Kelowna every year, it has grown a following in Kelowna’s arts and entertainment community as the festival features theatre, music, dance, art, animation, and more.
“Every year, I have the pleasure of introducing local art lovers to exceptional performances that I’ve found at prestigious international festivals,” said event founder and UBC Okanagan professor Neil Cadger. “Powerful, celebrated live art — like nothing else you will see in Kelowna. Sometimes funny, always thought-provoking, beautiful and occasionally strange, the performances are unforgettable.”
The event is running from January 20 to 28, 2024 at the Mary Irwin Theatre, the Black Box Theatre and the Kelowna Community Theatre main stage and will include:
- Ramanenjana – A performance blending dance with documentary, based on a historical ‘dance epidemic’ in Madagascar, featuring artists from Romania and Madagascar;
- Dog Rising – A dance performance from Montréal that mirrors the life cycle and the dynamic flow of matter;
- Marina Hasselberg – A solo cello concert from Portuguese artist Hasselberg - who served as the principal cellist of the Vancouver Island Symphony;
- Canary – Created by Kelowna-based performer and professor Denise Kenney, Canary combines the poetic and imaginative possibilities of physical theatre, object theatre, and audience participation with a “Ted Talk” aesthetic;
- Objects in Motion – A Living Things Festival favourite, Objects in Motion is an evening of international, animated short films curated by local artist, professor and animator Myron Campbell;
- Plastique – Created out of plastic bags and almost nonverbal, Plastic/Plastique by Montréal’s Puzzle Theatre is an all-ages show that finds humour and delight in a frighteningly common material;
- Playbook – Playbook is an interactive, immersive 5.1 sound, music, and text experience created by local artists;
- The Noisebau – By Natali Leduc and David Gifford (Victoria), The Noisebau is an interactive and immersive architectural sound exhibition that encourages the audience to activate noise generators integrated into the built architecture – this exhibit will show at the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art;
- 8th Continent – An immersive installation by Bengi Agcal that transforms the digital realm into a space for community dialogue, encouraging participatory expression to raise awareness about the pervasive presence of plastics.
On top of these shows, the festival will feature dance parties and a public lecture.
Tickets, depending on the show, range from free to $25 and up. More information can be found at The Living Things Festival website.
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