It's billed as a night of "urban tales of love and conflict."
Douglas College students are presenting Subsequent Conversations, a night of one-act plays, running from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7 in the studio theatre at Douglas College, 700 Royal Ave.
The night features five works written by award-winning American playwright Neil LaBute: Bench Seat, Land of the Dead, A Guy Walks Into a Bar, Merge and The Shape of Things.
Each story is self-contained, but they all examine relationships and conflicts between men and women living in urban North America.
"We are excited to present this unique collection of Neil LaBute's one-act plays," said director Cheryl Swan in a press release. "I carefully selected works from his repertoire that I hope will challenge our theatre students and engage our audience. With this production you can expect complex characters, a darkly comedic sensibility and definitely some surprises."
The cast includes students Thomas Halkes, Jessica Kabesh, Morgan Lianne Oehlschlager, David Sitar, Ben Groberman, Kaleigh Skye Almond McDonald, Levi Williams, Elise Wilson, Jackson Boudreau, Mikayla Hart and Sarah Mendoza.
Tickets are $8 to $12, available online through ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050.
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Four young women from New Westminster are part of an upcoming fundraising production for Freedom For Our Daughters.
Freedom For Our Daughters is a youth-run non-profit organization that's "dedicated to protecting young women from violations against human rights and empowering them to take initiative of their futures," a press release explains.
It's currently partnered with the Maasai Women's Development Organization in Arusha, Tanzania, funding education and safe housing for Tanzanian girls.
The group is putting on a production of SEVEN: a documentary play on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14 and 15, at St. John's School in Vancouver.
A collaboration by seven female playwrights, SEVEN is based on personal interviews with seven women who have brought about major changes in their home countries: Russia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Guatemala and Cambodia.
New West actor Sofia Newman - who graduated from NWSS in June - appears as Inez McCormack, a Northern Irish trade union leader and human rights activist.
NWSS student Sadie DeCoste is producing the show, and fellow students Sara Bahamdun and Melisa Dubinovic are on the publicity team with her.
Everyone involved in the production is under the age of 30, with many still in high school.
Interested? You have three chances to catch the show: Friday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m., or Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
St. John's School is at 2215 West 10th Ave. in Vancouver; the production is in the drama room.
Contact [email protected] to reserve, or buy at the door, first come first served.
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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.
This Sunday, Nov. 2 features Robert Martens and Lilija Valis, hosted by Franci Louann.
Next weekend 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 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.
* 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 on any of the group's events.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
