The playwright and performer Derek Chan discusses the world premiere of the rice & beans theatre co-production of Happy Valley at the Firehall Arts Centre (25 May-04 June 2023), with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

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

Derek Chan joins me again. He is the playwright and performer of Happy Valley, a solo, interdisciplinary performance that opens this week, Thursday, 25 May 2023 at the Firehall Arts Centre, running to June 4^th. The performance piece dissects the historic, political, and cultural context surrounding Hong Kong’s current democratic struggles. This is a follow-up to Derek’s theatrical installation yellow objects, which was also staged at the Firehall Arts Centre, and which Derek first appeared on the program with in 2021. We continue the conversation as it were, as he tells us about Happy Valley, and look at contemporary political situation with China and Hong Kong, and China with Canada as well. The show’s director is Anjela Magpantay, and Heidi Taylor, the dramturg. Visit www.firehallartscentre.ca for tickets and information, and www.riceandbeanstheatre.com. We spoke about a week and a half ago. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Derek Chan; Mr. Chan, good morning.

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