Larger-than-life outdoor theatre adventure Me & The Forest comes to Granville Island, May 29 to June 14

Boca del Lupo returns to the outdoor stage in partnership with Korean puppet masters for five-metre-tall spectacle

Me & The Forest, the latest performance from award-winning experiential theatre company Boca del Lupo, invites audiences young and old to connect with nature like never before. Featuring master puppeteers from Korea’s ArtstageSAN, the outdoor co-production is making its North American debut at Ron Basford Park on Granville Island, beginning with five performances as part of the Vancouver International Children’s Festival from May 29 to 31.

Join a cast of woodland spirits as they explore the humour and wisdom of the forest in this interactive adventure for all ages. Crafted in collaboration with ArtstageSAN (hosts of the Chuncheon World Puppet Festival), Me & The Forest presents larger-than-life puppets, including a five-metre-tall West Coast conifer named Mitig and his little sidekick Sol, in an exploration of humanity’s relationship to the natural world. Immersive audio, delivered via individual wireless headphones, draws audience members into direct conversation with nature, allowing them to listen in on the musings, jokes, and stories of the ancient tree-like beings.

This one-of-a-kind show marks Boca del Lupo’s much-anticipated return to outdoor stages. The project was conceptualized by Boca del Lupo co-artistic directors Sherry J Yoon and Jay Dodge and created alongside ArtstageSAN founders JiYun and HyunSan. Starring a vocal performance from Hiro Kanagawa, it features a script by renowned Algonquin playwright Yvette Nolan and music by Pietro Amato.

Founded in 1996, Boca del Lupo has made a name for itself with award-winning Outdoor Roving Spectaculars. In 2002’s The Last Stand and 2005’s Vasily the Luckless, performers were rigged up in the trees of Stanley Park, while 2008’s Quasimodo took place under the Burrard Street Bridge with actors scaling its structure. Me & The Forest, taking place at the water’s edge of Granville Island, is the trailblazing company’s latest outdoor performance in an unconventional location.

Initially taking place over just three days at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, Me & The Forest is now receiving an extended run, with an additional 10 shows from June 5 to 14. The extended run is made possible through the support of RBC, Boughton Law, CMHC Granville Island, and several individual donors.

Tickets and more details are available online.

Post sponsored by Boca del Lupo.

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