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Camyar Chai

21 March 2016 | Email This Post Email This Post | Print This Post Print This Post

The founder of Neworld Theatre Camyar Chai discusses his new show with the company, Doost (Friend) which runs at The Cultch 22-26 March 2016, Sufism, faith, art, and more, with Joseph Planta.


Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

Camyar Chai joins me now. The founder of Neworld Theatre returns with a world premiere show co-directed by Chelsea Haberlin, Neworld’s new Associate Artistic Director. It’s called Doost (Friend), and I’ll get Mr. Chai to tell us about this show that through dance, poetry and music explores the line between secular and spiritual, and how that line can be delineated in discussions about ‘us’ and ‘them.’ Or how it can be blurred by a show like this, as Mr. Chai looks to understand faith and art by merging his practice as a theatre artist and his spiritual practice as a Sufi. Joined onstage by members of the Vancouver Sufi Centre, fellow theatrical professionals, as well as the Canadian Memorial United Church, the show explores themes of compassion, heritage, and community. The show runs at the Historic Theatre at The Cultch, 22-26 March 2016. Visit www.tickets.thecultch.com for tickets and information. Camyar Chai is an award-winning actor, director, writer and producer, who was born in Iran, raised in the United States and Britain, before he moved to Vancouver at the age of 11. He has degrees from the University of British Columbia. Previous works include Ali & Ali and the Axes of Evil, I Am Your Spy: A Day in the Life of Mordechai Vanunu, and many other works staged and published. He joined me last week in the midst of rehearsals. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Camyar Chai; Mr. Chai, good morning.