This public event series is where audiences and communities come together with a playwright to explore big questions about their show in development. UNSCRIPTED, where the audience, playwrights, and imagination meet.
Playwrights who are part of our Associates and Collaborations programs are chosen as “curators” of the events and who collaborates with PTC in hosting public play research activities. From VR parties to immersive horror installation tests to ritualistic journeys into FIlipinx folklore, UNSCRIPTED invites the public in a variety of creative ways to be active participants in a playwright and show’s development.
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UNSCRIPTED: POSTCARDS
‘Journey across time and space in this multimedia presentation that celebrates trans joy’
Unscripted: Postcards invites you to be part of Christina Cook’s transformational storytelling experience with her collaborators and dramaturg Joanna Garfinkel.
Meet Spiling, a PhD student working to get letters after her name—and postcards from her dead grandma—in this whimsical, non-linear work of autobiography and fantasy. It turns out higher education isn’t that fun when you have to fight to be recognized for who you are. Easier to have a conversation with your dead grandmother—even if it means skipping midterms and leaving your (very much alive) mother on read.
This beguiling and tender work of performance art features a trans woman of letters who goes on a postcard journey through time and realizes ‘love’—for mother, grandmother, and herself—isn’t just a four-letter word after all.
Immerse yourself in this poetic and playful universe and let it speak to your many selves with a small dose of time travel. Come and engage with excerpts of the performance and live music, and even write a postcard or two to the future you. Be part of the evolution of Postcards, a celebration of trans joy.
Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025 @ 7:30 pm PT
Venue: PL 1422 (1422 William Street, Vancouver, BC)
Price: Pay What You Choose
Tickets: bit.ly/unscriptedpostcards
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Christina Cook (she/they) is an interdisciplinary theatre artist, arts-based scholar, and therapist. When Christina was a kid, she wanted to be a counsellor like her favourite character, Deanna Troi, on Star Trek, OR she wanted to act alongside Deanna Troi, starring in her favourite TV show, Star Trek. She feels lucky that, as an adult, she gets to do different versions of both. Christina’s playwriting focuses on trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming narratives, and her work advocates gender liberation for all. She is writing and performing in her newest piece, Postcards. Christina’s previous writing credits include the play Quick Bright Things, which was nominated for a Governor General’s award, and ‘A practical (if dated) treatise on the art of genderqueer dancing’ in Evan Tsitsias and Bilal Baig’s This is Beyond: A Time Capsule of Queer Experience. In addition to her artistic work, Christina is a counselling psychologist, and she strives to foster interdisciplinary work born from passionate commitments to mental wellness and theatre.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
Victoria (V) is a Vancouver based scenographer (lighting, sound, set, and projection designer), technical director and Studio 58 graduate. Victoria is an ADC and IATSE 118 member, and a strong proponent for union membership and their justified authority. She is also a Stir recognized “Game Changer” in this year’s fall arts guide. She sees her work as focusing on the depth in shadow and its necessity to show detail in the light. Working between vibrant colours and muted tones, while using Physical structure to fully infuse her designs into the world of the piece. Using physical structures on stage with the performance creates a more literal connection to the lights, she very specifically doesn’t want to just work in the grid “above” the performance, she is entangled with the performance as a whole, not just its outward final presentation. She wishes her designs to be objects wielded by and into the metaphor of the text.
Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, is an award winning creator, performer, choreographer, director, writer, educator and artistic director of Tara Cheyenne Performance, working across disciplines in film, dance, theatre, and experimental performance. She is renowned as a trailblazer in interdisciplinary performance and as a mighty performer “who defies categorization on any level”. Along with her own creations Tara has collaborated with many theatre companies and artists including; Zee Zee Theatre, Bard on the Beach, ItsaZoo Theatre, The Arts Club, Boca De Lupo, Ruby Slippers, The Firehall Arts Centre, Vertigo Theatre (Calgary). Tara lives on the unceded Coast Salish territories with her partner composer Marc Stewart and their child Jasper. www.taracheyenne.com
Liz Oakley is an interdisciplinary artist and designer with a background as a puppeteer. Working within an expanded and queered definition of puppetry, their practice orbits around the animation of objects, materials, sites, and situations. Their current work explores pulley-based rigging systems as a way to animate objects and materials. They are also an arts educator and puppet and props designer. Their theatrical designs have most recently appeared at Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, BC), the New York State Puppet Festival (Perry, NY), 59E59 (New York, NY). Originally from New York City, Liz now resides in Vancouver on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. They have an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Simon Fraser University.
Based out of the land of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, Rae Takei (they/he) is a creative collaborator, Jessie-nominated actor, and ice cream enthusiast who has devoted the last decade to the imaginings of their drag persona, Rose Butch. Rae is a graduate of Studio 58.
Sara Vickruck (They/Them) is an award winning queer, multi-disciplinary performer, educator, host, musician, song writer, sound designer, and creator currently living on the unceded territories of the Halkomelem speaking peoples. Some of their favorite pieces to work on are those that incorporate live sound on stage, and offer the opportunity to collaborate with good people (like this project). Sara is a Jessie Richardson and an Equity and Stage West Emerging Artist award winner. Sara is grateful to everyone who values live performance, and thankful to be part of this show. Recently they joined a new band, Bushtit, so keep your eyes and ears open. saravickruck.ca @saravickruck
Melicia Zaini (they/them) is a queer, Chinese-Indonesian multidisciplinary artist who dances between costume design, visual art, and personal essays (localcolour.substack.com). Their work is a love letter to colours, finding small joys, community building, and celebrating silliness. As a costume designer for stage and screen, they are passionate about designing for new works and designing through a dramaturgical lens. In their free time, they love solving crosswords, being surrounded by trees, and sharing hotpot with loved ones. Melicia is grateful to live and create on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. More info: bio.site/melicia
This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet a été rendu possible en partie grâce au gouvernement du Canada.
This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada. PTC would like to thank the Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council and Hamber Foundation. We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
The Playwright would like to thank the Frank Theatre, the UBC Research Based Theatre Lab, Zee Zee Theatre, the City of Vancouver, the Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, and Playwrights Theatre Centre.
