The Cultch presents Exquisite World Premiere by Canadian Dance Icon Margie Gillis – October 23 – 26, 2013

Beloved dancer and choreographer Margie Gillis returns to Vancouver this fall with a bold new work, illuminating the revolutionary words of one of America’s greatest poets through exquisite dance and theatre. Created and performed with esteemed American actress Elizabeth Parrish, Bulletins from Immortality… freeing Emily Dickinson runs October 23 to 26, 2013 in the Historic Theatre at The Cultch and celebrates Gillis’ acclaimed 40-year career.

“Bulletins from Immortality is a truly unique, memorable piece that honours the profoundly disquiet life and poetry of Emily Dickinson,” says Cultch Executive Director Heather Redfern. “With thoughtful orchestration of Dickinson’s poetry and stunning performances by two of North America’s greatest performing artists, this work invites audiences to consider one of the most intensely loved yet remarkably elusive poets of the 19th century.”

To honour Dickinson’s atypical verse, unbridled punctuation, and approximate rhymes, Gillis combined forces with actress Elizabeth Parrish, director Paola Styron, and the Stella Adler Studio in New York City.

With an indelible narration of Dickinson’s unconventional poems, Parrish breathes life into the poetess’ interior world while Margie Gillis structures the architecture of her psyche through movement. This juxtaposition of theatre and dance beautifully reveals the revolutionary, innovative, and modern aspects of Emily Dickinson’s work.

“Disparaged and largely misunderstood in her lifetime, it was only during the second half of the 19th century that critics recognized the late Emily Dickinson as a major American poet. Since then, she has been hailed as a literary master renowned for her modern style and inspired freedom of expression,” says Margie Gillis. “With such a profound voice, it’s incredible to me that Dickinson’s days were, on the surface, without incident. She was born and later died in the same house, never married, and rarely traveled. And yet, even in her lifetime, she was legendary. In both her life and through her words, she was a revolutionary.”

A deeply layered and complex work, Bulletins from Immortality is enriched by long-time collaborator and lighting designer Pierre Lavoie and visual artist and set designer Randal Newman. The production features music contemporary to Dickinson’s era, including compositions by Felix Mendelssohn.

An advanced performance of Bulletins from Immortality will be presented at the ArtSpring Theatre (Salt Spring Island) on October 19, 2013.

The Cultch presents Bulletins from Immortality … freeing Emily Dickinson
Date: October 23 – 26, 2013
Oct 23, 8pm: Opening night
Oct 24 – 26: 8PM
Ticket prices: Tickets available from $18
Address: Historic Theatre at The Cultch
1895 Venables Street
Vancouver, BC
Box Office: Online: tickets.thecultch.com
In person: 1895 Venables St.
By phone: 604-251-1363
Website: www.thecultch.com

Photo: Adrienne Surprenant