OK, literary types, get those pens ready, because November is set to be another busy month.
Not only is it National Novel Writing Month, it also happens to be a month full of Royal City Literary Arts Society events.
Some highlights:
* The Art of the Memoir: Facilitator Margaret Caldwaldr leads this workshop on Thursday, Nov. 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
She's look at the process, challenges and rewards of memoir writing, and she'll look at her own experience helping veteran George Reid to write his memoir.
It's happening at the New Westminster Public Library, 716 Sixth Ave. It's free, but email [email protected] to sign up.
* Poetic Justice: This poetry reading series continues on Sunday afternoons from 3 to 5 p.m. in the backroom at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St.
The Sunday, Nov. 9 session is hosted by Sonja Grgar and features Tracy Hamon and Deborah L. Kelly.
For the full schedule, check out www.poeticjustice.ca.
* Writing for Kidz: This ongoing group, led by Max Tell, holds sessions Mondays at Renaissance Bookstore at 43 Sixth St. It's a drop-in group (drop-in fee is $5) designed for anyone who writes for children, in any genre. If you've been to the group before, take note that the time has changed - it's now running from 10 a.m. to noon. Call 604-525-4566 or see www.rclas.com for more.
* WordPlay: If you're battling writer's block and just can't seem to get started, then this is the group for you. WordPlay is a free monthly drop-in series designed to help you generate poetry using the provided writing prompts. It's not a critique group. Bring along your own writing tools and paper. It all happens on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in the back room at the Heritage Grill.
* Short story open mike: Local writer-director-comic Margo Prentice hosts this monthly gathering on the second Wednesday of each month at Renaissance Bookstore, 43 Sixth St. The next session is Wednesay, Nov. 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. Writers are invited to read short stories or excerpts from books, journals or essays, and storytellers are also welcome. Check out www.rclas.com for details.
* Poetry Wars: And don't forget this one for anyone interested in exploring the Canadian literary and poetry scene. Carol Shillibeer leads this monthly study group - the next session is Saturday, Nov. 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Renaissance Bookstore, 43 Sixth St. Check out www.rclas.com for all the details.
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Douglas College theatre students are taking a step back into Canadian history for their upcoming performance of Unity (1918).
A press release informs me that the Governor General's Award-winning play by B.C. playwright Kevin Kerr focuses on Beatrice, a young woman from a farming family who narrates the tale through her diary.
The town of Unity, Saskatchewan is facing a new threat as soldiers return from the First World War: the Spanish flu.
"This play provides a thought-provoking look at how a community responds when it faces a threat to its very existence," says director Thrasso Petras in a press release. "it's a story about an important period in our country's history and how people's expectations regarding the end of the Great War compared with the reality."
The cast includes New West's own Allie Melchert, along with Michael Robert Bernard, Emily Brown, Robyn Crawford, Zoe Frank, Dan McPeake, Brendan Saltel, Ashely Scigliano and Claire Temple.
Unity (1918) is on Nov. 7 to 14 at the Laura C. Muir Performing Arts theatre at Douglas College, 700 Royal Ave. Tickets are $8 to $12, available through ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050.
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Here's a very cool one from the Anvil Centre.
On Saturday, Nov. 8, you can take the whole family down to the centre to enjoy an Indonesian shadow puppet show.
Anthonius Hardono, a puppeteer in wayang kulit (shadow puppet) performance, will be on hand for the show that is rooted in the storytelling traditions of Java, Indonesia.
"Many of the stories are adapted from the famous Hindu epic, the Mahabharata," a write-up says. "This play that will be performed, titled Abimanyu's First Challenge, depicts the challenges faced by a prince in facing temptation in his early life."
The play takes place in Room 417 of the Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia St.
It's free, for all ages, and it goes from 11 a.m . to 1 p.m. RSVP to 604-527-4640 or email [email protected].
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Expect to see some gender-bending fun onstage at the next Golden Age Theatre production.
Male actors will be taking on female roles in Fun, Food and Fitness, the latest production by the Century House drama group.
It's onstage Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1:30 p.m.
Director Margo Prentice writes that "laughter is guaranteed" and promises that her male actors in female costumes are hilarious.
Want to check out the fun?
Tickets are available at the front desk of Century House, 620 Eighth St. They're $8 for members or $10 for non-members, and refreshments are included. For information, call 604-519-1066.
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It's beginning to look a lot like ...
Well, you know the rest.
In any case, the Artists in the Boro group is holding its first ever Christmas Art and Craft sale, and it's coming up quick.
"Don't miss this exquisite event celebrating the artists in our midst and the imaginative delights they have to offer, from jewelry to paintings, yarn creations to original cards, and much more," a press release says. "Your holiday shopping can be a pleasurable experience."
The sale is running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the pleasant setting of the Queensborough Community Centre's Poplar Island Room.
For more, check out members.shaw.ca/artistsintheboro.
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Oh, hello, did somebody say Colin Firth?
There I am innocently cruising around the Arts Council of New Westminster website and I find myself distracted by that very name and face.
Yes, turns out the divine Mr. Firth (er, was that editorializing?) is starring in the next Last Mondays at the Movies screening.
The Railway Man - also starring Nicole Kidman and Stellan Skarsgard - is on screen on Monday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Massey Theatre.
The movie, based on the memoir by Eric Lomax, tells the story of a middle-aged radio and railway enthusiast who must confront his past as a Second World War prisoner forced to work on the construction of the Thailand-Burma Railway.
Check out www.artscouncilnewwest.org to keep an eye on all the details. Tickets for the movie are $9 and can be bought at the door.
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Do you know an artist who deserves to be in the spotlight?
You may have seen our ongoing series of artist profiles, Fill in the Blanks - in which various interesting folks from the arts and entertainment community fill out a brief questionnaire to let us know about themselves.
We're always looking for suggestions of interesting people to profile. If you'd like to be included, or you know someone who should, drop me a line - email me at [email protected].
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Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment suggestions to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
