The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival is produced over three weeks each winter on the unceded and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ first nations, primarily in the territory that was the seasonal and ancestral village of K’emk’emeláy, colloquially known as Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Festival, held in the lower mainland every January and February, remains a place for artists to present their projects to an international audience and for new, innovative work to emerge.
The Festival showcases international, Canadian and local artists. It was co-founded in 2003 by Katrina Dunn and Norman Armour, and registered as a charitable organization in 2005.
Administration
PuSh has a collaborative leadership team: Gabrielle Martin is the Artistic Director and Annie Clarke is the Managing Director. Full Festival staff is listed on their website.
Past Festivals
2003 Foundation The PuSh Festival was co-founded in 2003 by Katrina Dunn of Touchstone Theatre and Norman Armour of Rumble Productions.
2005 PuSh Festival In 2005, the organization of the Festival was formalized with the creation of a formal board of directors and advisors and by being registered as a charitable organization.
There were 9 productions included in the inaugural 2005 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival: The Bacchae - an electronic operaScreaming Weenie ProductionVancouver, CACrime and PunishmentNeworld TheatreVancouver, CAThe Empty OrchestraTheatre ReplacementVancouver, CADances for a Small Stage IXMovEntVancouver, CAThe TriggerTouchstone TheatreVancouver, CAFinal ViewingRadix TheatreVancouver, CAFrankNigel Charnock + CompanyLondon, UKSay NothingRidiculusmusLondon, UKThe Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic BulletsNovember TheatreEdmonton, CA
2006 PuSh Festival There were 14 productions included in the 2006 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival: The PerfectionistBoca del LupoVancouverSexual Practices of the JapaneseTheatre ReplacementVancouverNunavutKronos Quartet with Tanya TagaqSan Francisco, USA/Bilbao, SpainFamous Puppet Death ScenesThe Old Trout Puppet WorkshopCalgary, CATempting ProvidenceTheatre Newfoundland LabradorCorner Brook, CACompilationLynda Gaudreau/Compagnie De BruneMontreal, CA5AM (5 Heures du matin)Pigeons InternationalMontreal, CADances for a Small Stage XIIMovEntVancouver, CADreamsEye of NewtVancouver, CAStudies in Motion: The Hauntings of Eadweard MuybridgeElectric Company TheatreVancouver, CAThom Pain (based on nothing)Western Theatre ConspiracyVancouver, CAAbsence and PresenceAndrew DawsonLondon, UKSisters, Such Devoted SistersOut of JointLondon, UKSix Miniature TragediesJean-Paul WenzelParis, FR
2007 PuSh Festival There were 25 productions at the 2007 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival: SkydiveRealwheelsVancouver, CABioboxes: Artifacting Human ExperienceTheatre ReplacementVancouver, CACopper Thunderbirdurban ink/National Arts CentreVancouver, CA/Ottawa, CABrutalisDame de Pic/Karine PontiesBrussels, BelgiumAalstVictoriaGhent, BelgiumFamous Puppet Death ScenesThe Old Trout Puppet WorkshopCalgary, CARevisited2b theatre companyHalifax, CAAttack #15L'Action Terroriste Socialement AcceptableMontreal, CAHowie le RookieThéâtre de la ManufactureMontreal, CADances for a Small Stage 15MovEntVancouver, CAProjectionsCABINET Interdisciplinary CollaborationsVancouver, CALa belle et la bête (Beauty and the Beast)Eye of NewtVancouver, CASymphony at the Roundhouse: All the World's a StageVancouver SymphonyVancouver, CAthis riot life and Field StudyVeda HilleVancouver, CABeggars Would RideWild Excursions PerformanceVancouver, CARageGreen Thumb TheatreVancouver, CAKilling CaesarRubicon CollectiveVancouver, CAdog eat dogThe Only AnimalVancouver, CAOccupation 1: The Molecules/Michael VincentWestern FrontVancouver, CA/New York, USA/Oakland, USAmy armNews from Nowhere Theatre/Tim CrouchBrighton, UKan oak treeNews from Nowhere Theatre/Tim CrouchBrighton, UKScarfaceEddie LaddCardiff, UKExquisite PainForced EntertainmentSheffield, UKQuizoola!Forced EntertainmentSheffield, UKSonata for Violin and TurntablesDaniel Bernard Roumain w/ DJ ScientificNew York, USA
2008 PuSh Festival The 2008 PuSh Festival had over 23,000 attendees. Visiting presenters from across Canada and around the world were in attendance for the PuSh Assembly networking event to view performances, network, and experience the Festival.
There were productions at the 2008 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival: Haircuts by ChildrenMammalian Diving ReflexToronto, CAsmall metal objectsBack to Back TheatreGeelong, AUDual Eclipse: Orchestras of Two WorldsTurning Point Ensemble/Gamelan Gita AsmaraVancouver, CAMy Dad, My DogBoca del LupoVancouver, CAClark and I Somewhere in ConnecticutRumble Productions/Theatre ReplacementVancouver, CAMy Name Is Rachel Corrieneworldtheatre/Teesri Duniya TheatreVancouver, CA/Montreal, CANo Holds BarSouth Asian ArtsVancouver, CA/San Francisco, USA/Seattle, USAThe MisfitSouth Asian Arts/Pull' it Out TheatreVancouver, CA/Toronto, CA46 Circus Acts in 45 MinutesCircaBrisbane, AUThe Space BetweenCircaBrisbane, AUThe Four Horsemen ProjectVolcanoToronto, CADances for a Small Stage 18MovEntVancouver, CAThe GeneralEye of NewtVancouver, CAFaun FablesWestern Front SocietyVancouver, CAPalace GrandElectric CompanyVancouver, CAOld GoriotWestern Gold Theatre/Theatre at UBCVancouver, CAAoût-un repas à la campagneThéâtre la Seizième/A Théâtre de la ManufactureVancouver, CA/Montreal, CAfever: Shakespeare Sonnets in Voice, Dance and MusicNigel Charnock, Michael Riessler, Virus String QuartetUK/GermanyHey Girl!Socìetas Raffaello SanzioCesena, ITInstructions for Modern LivingDuncan Sarkies and Nic McGowanWellington, NZGlowChunky MoveMelbourne, AUFrankensteinCatalyst TheatreEdmonton, CAThe Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic BulletsNovember TheatreEdmonton, CA/Vancouver, CA
2009 PuSh Festival The 2009 PuSh Festival took place from January 20 to February 8, and offered works from across Canada, England, Japan and New Zealand. A total of 136 performances took place at 16 venues across the city and the attendance was more than 24,000.
There were 40 productions in the 2009 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival: The Children's Choice Awards starring The Jury from SurreyMammalian Diving ReflexToronto, CAThat Night Follows DayTheatre ReplacementVancouver, CASkydiveRealwheelsVancouver, CAThe Be(A)st of Taylor MacTaylor MacTransmission of the InvisibleTribal Crackling WindToronto, CANanay: A testimonial playUrban Crawl/neworld theatre/Philippine Women Centre of BCVancouver, CAwhile going to a condition + Accumulated LayoutS20/Hiroaki UmedaTokyo, JPFive Days in Marchchelfitsch Theatre CompanyTokyo, JPnikamon ohci askiy (song land for/from/of the)Cheryl L'HirondelleVancouver, CAThe InvisibleInfrarougeMontreal, CABilly Twinkle, Requeim for a Golden BoyRonnie Burkett Theatre of MarionettesToronto, CADances for a Small Stage 20MovEntVancouver, CALive from a Bush of GhostsTheatre ConspiracyVancouver, CASteve Reich's DrummingMusic on MainVancouver, CAAssemblyRadixVancouver, CATrampoline HallConspiracy Playlist by DJ Buffalo TimRobin Holcomb and Peggy LeeTwenty-Minute MusicalsVeda Hille & Geoff BernerInvisible Atom2b theatreENGLANDnews from nowhereBrighton, UKSirenRay LeeOxford, UKDon McGlashanDon McGlashanAuckland, NZ13 Most Beautiful… Songs for Andy Warhol's ScreentestsDean Wareham and Britta PhillipsNew York, USABang on a Can All-StarsBang on a CanNew York, USAEvery Time I See your Picture I CryDaniel BarrowHooliganshipInto the Dark Unknown: The Hope ChestHolcombe WallerDJ Betti FordeGunshaeHank Pine and Lily FawnParenthetical GirlsThe Awkward Stagethe beigeThe Pascale Picard BandVincatWoodpigeonThe Amazing and Impermeable Cromoli Brother Present: HELLO VANCOUVER!Twenty-Minute MusicalsJuana Molina & nick KrgovichMonopoly! Tesla, Edison, Microsoft, Wal-Mart and the War For Tomorrow
2010 PuSh Festival There were 14 productions in the 2010 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival: ChinaWilliam YangSydney, AUClark and I Somewhere in ConnecticutRumble Productions/Theatre ReplacementVancouver, CAThe Edward Curtis ProjectMarie Clements/Rita LeistnerGaliano Island, CA/Toronto, CAThe Passion of Joan of ArcEye of NewtVancouver, CABest Before (working title)Helgard Haug + Stefan Kaegi, Rimini ProtokollBerlin, Germany/Vancouver, CAJerkGisèle Vienne/Dennis Cooper/Jonathan CapdevielleGrenoble, FR/Paris, FRThe Show Must Go OnJérôme BelParis, FR/Vancouver, CAKAMPHotel ModernRotterdam, NLWhite CabinAkhe TheatreSt. Petersburg, RUSō Percussion plays Steve Reich and David LangSō PercussionBrooklyn, USASonic GenomeAnthony BraxtonMiddletown, USAThe Passion ProjectReid FarringtonNew York, USAPoetics: a ballet brutNature Theater of OklahomaNew York, USANevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan PoeCatalyst TheatreEdmonton, CA
2011 PuSh Festival There were 30 productions in the 2009 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival: Peter PantiesNeworld Theatre/Leaky Heaven CircusVancouver, CAPodplays - The QuartetNeworld Theatre/PTCVancouver, CADatamatics [Ver. 2.0]Ryoji IkedaParis, FRLa Marea (The Tide)Mariano PensottiBuenos Aires, AR46 Circus Acts in 45 MinutesCircaBrisbane, AUCircaCircaBrisbane, AUBonanzaBerlinAntwerp, BelgiumIqaluitBerlinAntwerp, BelgiumRougeJulie Andrée T.Montreal, CADances for a Small Stage 23MovEntVancouver, CATerminal City SoundscapeMusic on MainVancouver, CA100% VancouverTheatre Replacement/SFU Woodward'sVancouver, CAHappy Birthday Teenage CityVeda Hille and special guestsThe MealRick Maddocks and the Lost Gospel EnsembleCity of DreamsPeter RederLondon, England/Vancouver, CAPortraits in MotionVolker GerlingIn the Solitute of Cotton FieldsRadoslaw Rychcik/Stefan Zermski TheatreKielce, PolandSound MachineCompany DriftZurich-Fribourg, SwitzerlandFloatingHugh Hughes/HoipolloiAnglesey, WalesHard Core Logo: LiveNovember Theatre/Theatre Network/Touchstone TheatreEdmonton, CA/Vancouver, CATrampoline HallGood Gets Better & Looking for Love in the Hall of MirrorsDaniel BarrowClose at HandNervous System SystemDayna Hanson & friendsFine MistMeatdrawThe British ColumbiansWeekend Leisure KaraokeGloria's CauseDayna HansonInventions & MysteriesBro Gilbert
2012 PuSh Festival The 2012 PuSh Festival took place from January 16 to February 4, and offered works from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, Argentina, the Netherlands, and Mexico. There were over 160 performances and events across 14 venues, of which 31 were sold out. Attendance was over 23,000.
2013 PuSh Festival The 2013 PuSh Festival took place from January 15 to February 3, and offered works from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany Japan, Scotland, Taiwan, and the United States. There were over 190 performances and events across 16 venues, of which 44 were sold out. Attendance was over 34,000.
2014 PuSh Festival