Medicine by Enda Walsh
Directed by Richard Wolfe
On stage June 13 - 23, 2024 (Preview June 13 tickets for $20, Opening June 14)
The Vancity Culture Lab - 1895 Venables street, Vancouver
Smart, funny, and absurd. If that sounds right up your alley, join us for the Canadian premiere of Medicine by Enda Walsh, on stage from June 13 - 23 at the Vancity Culture Lab!
You can snag tickets to our Thursday preview on June 13th for only $20, or get out of the house on Tuesday and come to our Two-For-One Tuesday offer!
Medicine is a heartbreaking, yet hugely energizing and thrilling journey through one man’s troubled past. It’s a devastatingly funny and moving meditation on how, for decades, we have treated those we have called ‘mentally ill’.
John lives in an institution. Every year, a couple of struggling local actors are hired to do “drama therapy” with John, re-enacting bits and pieces of his life and trauma. Chaos ensues, secrets come to light, and John grapples with the question of whether anyone is even watching.
Written by multi-award-winning Irish playwright Enda Walsh (Once; Lazarus) and directed by Pi Theatre’s Richard Wolfe, Medicine is smart, funny, and absurd.
PLEASE NOTE: Medicine contains content that may be distressing to some viewers. Please scroll to the bottom of this page if you'd like to learn more!
“I am beyond excited to offer Vancouver the opportunity to experience the Canadian premiere of Enda Walsh’s extraordinary play,” says Wolfe. “Highly theatrical in its style, Medicine is thought-provoking, hilarious, and terrifying. Walsh shows us that other people can be both the poison that harms us, and the medicine we need to live in the world.” - Richard Wolfe
TICKETS
Available through the Cultch's box office, click HERE to grab yours!
$38 regular admission
$15 accessible tickets (20 available for each show), use the code PI15 at checkout.
$20 preview on June 13th
BRING A FRIEND! Tuesday nights are bring a friend night, 2 tickets for the price of one! Use the code ILOVEPI at checkout.
SHOW TIMES:
8pm evening shows Tuesday - Saturday
4pm Saturday matinees (June 15 + 22)
2pm Sunday matinees (June 16 + 23)
Approximate run time: 80 minutes, no intermission
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS:
These events are thoughtfully curated to help deepen your engagement with the themes of the show. They are free of charge, and open to everyone, whether you saw the show that day or not!
June 16th, 2024, following our 2pm matinee: Panel discussion on mental health care in Vancouver with our Community Parter The Kettle Society. Join us to hear from folks who work locally in mental health care as well as community members who engage with local services. Be sure to bring your curiosity and your questions!
June 18th, 2024 following our 8pm evening show: Cast and crew talkback! Join us on 2-for-1 Tuesday, and stay after the show for a talkback with the cast and crew of Medicine. This is your chance to hear from the actors and the folks behind the scenes about how we made the show happen.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Performed by Jay Clift, Genevieve Fleming, Nyiri Karakas, and Stephen Lyons
With voiceover performances by Libby Willoughby, Francis Dowlatabadi, Alexander Forsyth, Emma Slipp, Adam Henderson, Sean McCarry, and Samuel Walmsley-Byrne
Directed by Richard Wolfe
Produced by Libby Willoughby
Stage Manager: Jasmin Sandhu
Apprentice Stage Manager & Props Designer: Kayleigh Sandomirsky
Lighting Designer: Victoria Bell
Sound Designer: Alex Mah
Costume Designer: Donnie Tejani
Set Designer: David Roberts
Production Manager/Technical Director: Alexander Forsyth
Fight Directors: Nathania Bernabe & Jackie T. Hanlin
Choreographer: Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg
CONTENT ADVISORY
Medicine is a dark comedy, and contains content that may be distressing to some viewers. While there are many moment of hilarity in the show, this is not intended to make light of any of the serious issues addressed in the piece, but rather to be a mechanism for examining things that can feel intimidating in a more accessible way. Our intention with content advisories is not to discourage you from attending, but to make sure that if you have areas of sensitivity, you go into the experience fully informed.
Below is a general overview that does not contain "spoilers". If you wish to read a more detailed description, please CLICK HERE. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please reach out to Libby via email at libby@pitheatre.com.
Sensory triggers:
Content advisories:
ACCESS
COMMUNITY PARTNER - The Kettle Society
The Kettle Friendship Society supports people living with mental illness to lead healthier lives. We work towards breaking down barriers for people with mental illness by raising awareness around mental health and by promoting the inclusion of those living with mental illness in all aspects of society. Since our humble beginnings in 1976, we have been committed to working to build self-esteem and assist in recovery for our members and clients for almost 50 years. Today, The Kettle provides more than 4,000 individuals with a range of services from advocacy to supported employment; operates a mental health resource centre, a transition house for women, and over 400 units of supported housing.
You can read more about the Kettle Society's fabulous and important work on their website, as well as finding lots of ways to support their mission and get involved.
