Movies of War

1 of 3 2 of 3 Get the best of Vancouver in your inbox, every Tuesday and Thursday. Sign up for our free newsletter.Pyper: March 11-28 @ Frederick Wood Theatre, UBCThe Toronto Star once wrote, “There are ambitious independent theatre-makers, and then there’s Susanna Fournier,” referencing the Canadian playwright. Her latest work certainly seems to be another check in that particular box. Pyper is about 10 cyborg-AI teens who try to build a time capsule to prove they exist in case they are disposed of before graduation. The bots trace their existence back to a piper in the town of Hamelin (of course), as they search for identity. Billed as “The Breakfast Club meets The Terminator”, this angsty sci-fi odyssey contemplates what it means to be human in a digital world. Harm: March 20-29 @ Studio 16Acclaimed British playwright Phoebe Eclair Powell’s Harm is a suspenseful, razor-sharp one-woman show that follows an unhappy real estate agent whose life takes a turn after she sells a home to a charismatic social media influencer. In its North American debut, Vancouver actor Kelli Ogmundson (TV’s Animal Control and Family Law) descends into madness as the lines between digital fantasy and real life become blurred. Directed by Langara instructor and film industry veteran Jennifer Copping, Harm is a thrilling take on the effects of social media and isolation. Wildwoman. David Cooper Wildwoman: March 26 to April 4 @ Gateway Theatre, RichmondBased on the apparently true story that inspired Beauty and the Beast, Toronto playwright Kat Sandler’s rapid-fire wit is on full display as she tells the story of Catherine de’ Medici, the young newlywed of King Henry II of France. When she discovers that the palace is an awful place where her only function is to be a baby-making machine, she looks for kinship in unlikely places and finds it in a wildman kept in the dungeon. Once Catherine unleashes her own wild side, watch the fuck out. Canadian Pyscho. Chelsey Stuyt Canadian Psycho: March 31 to April 12 @ Firehall TheatreWhy do white dudes get to have all the fun? And, more specifically, why do they always get to be the ones to kill people? In playwright Marlene Ginader’s one-woman show, a half-Asian woman frustrated about the lack of inclusion in the serial killer space is finally ready to do something about it. The world premiere of the satirical show, produced by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre and ITSAZOO Productions, blends original electronic music and video design to deliver some darkly comic ruminations on the world of crime. Maybe audiences will finally think twice before putting on that Ted Bundy podcast... or maybe not.Wonderwall: April 16 to May 2 @ The NestAlthough it has nothing to do with the Gallagher brothers, Vancouver-born-and-raised playwright James Barclay’s story does centre on a sometimes turbulent partnership. Wonderwall is about a sharp-witted teen on the verge of losing her home, who teams up with a middle-aged neighbour for a lawn-mowing hustle. The play had its world premiere last year in North Vancouver and got rave reviews for its funny and warm character-driven story, which will now play ever-so-slightly south.The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe: April 24 to May 3 @ Presentation House Theatre, North VancouverThe tale of the Old Woman has somehow turned into a timeless one. The nursery rhyme has found its footing in popular culture and has been expanded here into a play for children and adults alike. In this work, the Old Woman travels around in her oversized boot, discovering other shoes and the hidden stories within them. For the kids, it’s a fun, entertaining look at the future they can expect in Vancouver’s real estate market.Soldiers of Tomorrow: May 6-10 @ Historic TheatreHow do you reckon with a past that you can’t forget? Playwright and performer Itai Erdal’s latest work recounts his time as an Israeli soldier, giving frank and personal insight into the occupation of Palestine and the conditions that led to the Gaza genocide. Winner of a 2024 Lustrum Award, which acknowledges outstanding performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Erdal’s first-person production takes an intimate perspective on one of the biggest issues of our time. Join the discussion Facebook comments not loading? Please check your browser settings to ensure that it is not blocking Facebook from running on straight.com