Pi Theatre closes its 2022-2023 season with the world premiere of Truth & Lies from Thursday, June 22 to Sunday, June 25, 2023 at the newly renovated Martha Lou Henley Rehearsal Hall, located in the Vancouver Opera Production Centre (1955 McLean Drive).
With the rise of social media and partisan propaganda, and with conspiracy theorists connected to every facet of life, it is little wonder that some have dubbed this the “post-truth” era. Truth & Lies examines some of the tensions and desires that are generated in a world where reality is mutable and narratives are cynically crafted for personal and political advantage.
The world around us proves to not be what it seems as digital reality and real life collide. Truth & Lies is a collection of three short plays, with a fourth virtual reality (VR) experience available for viewing on-site or at home. The shows have been written by some of the brightest stars of the Canadian playwriting scene. Produced by Pi Theatre, each play will use the same four actors and creative team to ensure a captivating and fully realized vision.
QAmom — by Sebastien Archibald
QAmom explores a seemingly innocuous online relationship that masks sinister intentions. A man and a woman engage in some innocent DM flirtation. A Mommy vlog YouTuber has some fantastic tips on affordable meals for the whole family. But who has time for the frivolous when our children are under threat. The storm is coming. Like and Subscribe.
Sin Eaters of the 21st Century — by Vishesh Abeyratne
When a young man applies to work as a content moderator, he finds the job to be tougher than he expected. Can he stomach its gruesome requirements? An examination of the lives of those who “clean up” the internet at the expense of their own psychological well-being, Sin Eaters of the 21st Century is a pitch-black horror-comedy for the digital age.
Disrupted — by Lucia Frangione
As the Trans Mountain pipeline comes into operation, politician Aya Lopez wearily warns British Columbians once again of the climate change crisis, only to be met with ridicule. Her husband Clem, an ASMR artist, tries to comfort her and support her by layering in similar messages in his ASMR videos. Meanwhile, Aya’s sister, Camila, is holed up in a basement suite in her cosplay outfit, living out an entire lie of existence as Spytryx. Her delusions grow as she starts to flirt online with Grig, a Russian agent based in Canada.
Smother Me In Your Love — by Pippa Mackie (Virtual Reality)
A couple spices things up. A man in pajamas eats a doughnut and tries to solve a crime. A woman in a nightgown saw what you did. A virtual reality piece loosely based on Shakespeare’s Othello, Smother Me In Your Love examines the nature of truth and complicity while you, the viewer, are in the hot seat.
Performances Times: June 22, 23, & 24 at 8:00pm
Matinees: June 24 & 25 at 4:00pm
Ticket Prices: From $25 at pitheatre.com
Venue: Martha Lou Henley Rehearsal Hall (1955 McLean Drive, Vancouver)
Credits for Truth & Lies:
Playwrights: Pippa Mackie (VR), Vishesh Abeyratne, Sebastien Archibald, and Lucia Frangione
Conceived & Directed by: Richard Wolfe
VR Directed by: Jordan Watkins (VR)
Performances by: Carmel Amit, Kwasi Thomas, Manuela Sosa and Robert Garry Haacke, with a special digital appearance by Andrii Krupnyk
Assistant Director & Producer: Libby Willoughby
Stage Manager: Jasmin Sandhu
Lighting Design: Jacob Wan
Sound Designer & Composer: David Mesiha
Costume Designer: Julie Edgeley
Projection Designer: Cameron Fraser
Production Manager: Alex Forsyth
Sound Tech for the VR: Dwayne Morgan
The VR film was produced with the co-operation of the Union of B.C. Performers.
