Now in its third year, the Monsoon Arts Festival runs August 9-19, 2018 in Vancouver and Surrey, with a spotlight on South Asian theatre. The festival is presented by the South Asian Arts Society and co-produced and co-created by Gurpreet Sian and Rohit Chokhani.

The festival will include two feature presentations, Anita Majumdar’s The Fish Eyes Trilogy and 
The Undocumented Trial of William C. Hopkinson, Written & Directed by Paneet Singh.

Anita Majumdar’s The Fish Eyes Trilogy for the first time in Surrey, BC is a one-person trilogy which offers a window into the lives of Canadian South Asian teens. Meet Naznin, Candice, and Meena who go to the same high school in Port Moody. Separately, they share a passion for dance and a struggle for identity within their families and at school. Then their lives intersect and cultures collide. This innovatively tackles coming of age, consent, cultural heritage, and empowerment with tremendous comic flourish and grace.

The trilogy is presented in two parts on Aug 18 at The Surrey Arts Centre Main Stage.  Part 1 at 4PM covers first two sections then Part 2 at 7:00PM covers the final one. Also on offer is an Indian dinner buffet at the theatre in between two parts.

The Undocumented Trial of William C. Hopkinson (Vancouver); Written & Directed by Paneet Singh. This play revisits the Vancouver Provincial Courthouse in October of 1914 and re-examines the trial of Mewa Singh, who is put on the stand to answer for the assassination of prominent Canadian Immigration Inspector, William Charles Hopkinson – an act which he openly admits to committing. The Undocumented Trial blurs the lines of reality in narrative and aesthetic to create an analytical historical dialogue to explore political, sociocultural, and humanistic themes. This play is being staged at The Vancouver Art Gallery in Courtroom 302, the same venue where the original trial took place over 100 years ago. There are four performances; Aug 10,11,12 at 8:00PM and at 5:00 PM Aug 12, 2018

The festival will also host an Industry Series featuring readings, development workshops in dramaturgy, playwriting, directing, acting, movement, and post-show talkbacks.

• Reading – The Wrong Bashir by Zahida Rahemtulla (Vancouver)
• Reading – Chivalry is Dead by Munish Sharma (Surrey)
• Workshop – Cultivating Organic Performance by Paneet Singh (Vancouver & Surrey)
• Workshop – Digital Marketing & Content Creation by Amneet Athwal (Surrey)
• Workshop – Impulse, Improvisation & Play by Carmel Amit (Vancouver)
• Workshop – Theatre Creation and Storytelling by Anita Majumdar (Surrey)
• Talkbacks – August 10, 11, 12 after Undocumented Trial (not including 5pm show on Aug. 12)

Visit monsoonartsfest.ca for more information and to purchase tickets. 

THE UNDOCUMENTED TRIAL OF WILLIAM C. HOPKINSON Written & Directed by Paneet Singh
Revisit the Vancouver Provincial Courthouse in October of 1914 to re-examine the trial of Mewa Singh. This play is being staged at the same location where the original trial took place over 100 years ago.August 10-12, 2018
Vancouver Art Gallery, Courtroom 302 
Tickets: $20 at monsoonartsfest.ca

THE FISH EYES TRILOGY by Anita Majumdar

Anita Majumdar’s one-person trilogy for the first time in Surrey, BC is a window into the lives of Canadian South Asian teens. Part 1 at 4PM covers first two sections then Part 2 at 7:00PM covers the final one. Also on offer is an Indian dinner buffet at theatre in between two parts.

August 18, 2018
Part 1 @ 4pm
Dinner @ 5:45pm
Part 2 @ 7:30pm
Surrey Arts Centre 
Tickets: starting at $19 at monsoonartsfest.ca