Performing Arts and Technology Festival in New Westminster

Kid Koala’s lone stop in BC includes appearance at Massey Theatre’s first-ever Performing Arts and Technology Festival.

The four-day festival Includes live performances, workshops, and activities from Thursday, Nov. 14 to Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Massey Theatre complex. It aims to be a celebration of creativity, culture, and community, a place where organizers say “music, animation, dance, and film collide to create unforgettable experiences for all ages.”

“What could be more fun than to connect across the generations and celebrate how performing arts and technology lift each of us up and tell our human stories in more ways than we can imagine?” said Jessica Schneider, executive director of Massey Theatre. “This festival celebrates old and new technology, the young and the old, all at the same time.”

Scheider said the terms “performing arts” and “technology” mean a lot of different things to different generations. She said current older generations have seen more change in technology than any in previous generations.

“With our drive to encourage inter-generational connection, we set about to bring a variety of technologies together all of which are central to the performing arts and very well showcased in our historic theatre and programming. For example, the theatrical systems from ropes and pulleys to audio, video and cinema are all showcased through different activities in the festival,” she said. “Talks and workshops bring the voices, and bodies, of our community into focus as they describe their art forms and how they intersect with technologies of today. From DJs to film composers, and animation to break dancers; even our kids making and dancing in a robot they design this festival shows how much we can do with our imaginations as well as old and emerging technology.”

Kid Koala (Eric San) returns to Massey Theatre after last year’s successful production of The Storyville Mosquito. Massey Theatre is the only B.C. stop for Nufonia Must Fall, which takes to the stage on Friday, Nov. 15 and on Saturday, Nov. 16.

“She’s a lonely office girl. He’s an out-of-work robot struggling to find his voice amidst the noise of the city,” said a synopsis of Nufonia Must Fall. “Little do they know that destiny has programmed them for the greatest love story of our time.”

According to a press release, a team of 15 puppeteers, musicians, cinematographers, and technicians bring Kid Koala’s graphic novel, Nufonia Must Fall, to life for each live, multi-disciplinary performance.

“The stage is set up with over 20 miniature sets and eight cameras. Under the direction of Oscar-nominated production designer K.K. Barrett (Her, Where the Wild Things Are, Adaptation, Being John Malkovich), each scene is performed, filmed, and projected in real time onto a large screen above the stage,” said the press release. “Kid Koala, accompanied by the Afiara String Quartet, performs his original score on piano and turntable. Kid Koala’s Nufonia Must Fall is a dialogue-free, timeless love story that’s fun for the whole family.”

Kid Koala is a performer, film composer, theatre producer, and visual artist. In addition to Nufonia Must Fall, he is hosting several events at the Performing Arts and Technology Festival.

“So much more – and we couldn’t be more excited about it,” Schneider said. “From board games to dance parties to a chance to vibe and create. To have the opportunity to connect Kid Koala to a greater audience and showcase some of the different ways he expresses his creativity and art is incredible.”

Audiences can join Kid Koala throughout the weekend for various events, including: Music To Draw To, a chance to work on your own creative projects alongside a set of some of Kid’s favourite quiet-time records; a board-game event featuring Kid Koala and his Creatures of the Late Afternoon Board Game; and a Robot Dance Party for youngsters.

Other offerings at the festival include opportunities to unleash your creativity and learn new skills in hands-on animation workshops with Jeff Chiba Stearns, Street Dance workshops with Battle Zone Canada, and music for film with composer Cameron Catalano.

Pecha Kucha New West returns with an “after dark” event on Saturday night. Ten speakers will share their passions – by presenting 20 slides for 20 seconds each for a six-minute-and-40-seond presentation.

Do you know any youths who want to learn hip hop or popping? How about seeing a free dance performance, or watching street dance battles? Join us on Nov 17 at the Performing Arts & Technology Festival, and it's filled with dance!https://t.co/EBMc49qTi3 #newwest #yvrdance pic.twitter.com/BooR921jxY
— Massey Theatre (@Masseytheatre) November 9, 2024

What’s happening?

Here’s a look at some of the offerings in this weekend’s offerings in the Performing Arts and Technology Festival at Massey Theatre and the Eighth & Eight Creative Spaces. The full schedule, as well as ticket information, is available online.

All events are being held in Massey Theatre and the Eighth & Eight Creative Spaces, 735 Eighth Ave.

Music to Draw to

Kid Koala’s Music to Draw workshop gives folks a chance to work on their creative projects alongside a set of some of Kid Koala’s favourite quiet-time records. (Ages 14 and up.)

When: Thursday, Nov. 14, 7 to 10 p.m.

Animation workshops

Animation workshops with Jeff Chiba Stearns. These workshops are for seven to 12 year olds.

When: Friday, Nov. 15 (4:30 to 6:30 p.m.); Saturday, Nov. 16 (10 a.m. to noon); and Sunday, Nov. 17 (10 a.m. to noon)

Kid Koala’s Nufonia Must Fall

A live multi-disciplinary stage adaptation of Kid Koala’s graphic novel Nufonia Must Fall.

When: Friday, Nov. 15 (7:30 to 9 p.m.) and Saturday, Nov. 16 (4 to 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 to 9 p.m.)

Kid Koala’s Creatures of the Late Afternoon board game event

Anyone aged seven and up can join Kid Koala to play his new Creatures of the Late Afternoon interactive vinyl board game with their family and friends. Table stations are equipped with the board game and a turntable that will be used to cue up and “score” certain moments of the game with specific “board game tracks” included on the Creatures of the Late Afternoon Album. Game play lasts about one hour. Two to four players at each table.

When: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Writing Music for Film with Cameron Catalano

Composer Cameron Catalano, who has composed scores for more than 30 films and produced descriptive audio for more than 200 films since 2014, leads the Writing Music for Film workshop.

When: Saturday, Nov. 16, 5:45 p.m.

PechaKucha Night After Dark

PechaKucha New West Volume 34 is an opportunity to learn about people’s passions through their visual and oral presentations.

When: Saturday, Nov. 16. Doors open at 8 p.m. and speakers will start at 9 p.m.

Kid Koala's Robot Dance Party

Families with children seven and under a chance can come with their own pre-made robot costume or build one on-site with the supplies provided. Kid Koala will play fun background music during the construction portion of the event and will then host an electro dance party where participants can show off their coolest robot dance moves.