Recognizing, hearing, uplifting, supporting and including the diverse communities and folx that make up our cultural mosaic is a core and critical tenet of PCSC, and the Nanaimo Fringe Festival.
Miyotota kewin mikiwam neetsan. (Welcome home, my family. Good to see you.)
Mizz Rory Keewatin
This year, two-spirited, Indigenous performer Mizz Rory Keewatin will be presenting “Reminders of ReconcilliACTION,” a moving, and emotional storytelling production that weaves ancient First Peoples’ stories throughout history, and into their modern lived experiences. Mizz Rory was the recipient of the Pacific Coast Stage Company’s Indigenous Artist Sponsorship; understanding and appreciating non-eurocentric theatre, and incorporating Indigenous story-telling methods is very important to us, and Mizz Rory’s reminders upon reconcilliactions can help us all to do our part.
I learned at a young age that we just don’t talk about things.
Flora Le
Flora Le’s one-woman play “Sadec 1965: A Love Story,” portrays her expierences as a mixed-race woman navigating her identity through a timeless story of love and loss – best described as “Motorcycle Diaries” meets “Eat, Pray, Love” set in Vietnam. Flora, from Washington, DC was the recipient of Pacific Coast Stage Company’s Multicultural Artist Sponsorship, and we can’t wait to share her revolutionary, and thought-provoking show with our community.
The future is looking very bright for this thirteen year young, rising star.
James Vickers
James Vickers is a Tsimshian, Heiltsuk, and Haida guitarist, born and raised right here in Nanaimo. He’s only thirteen years old, but he’s already been involved with multiple blues festivals, and has opened for the likes of Jim Byrnes, and Crystal Shawanda. Inspired by blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughn, James Vickers might just be the next big thing.
I perform for the sheer joy of telling a good story, but if that results in changing attitudes towards bipolar disorder then that’s a benefit for which I am truly grateful.
Bennett Caffee
San Francisco based solo performer Bennett Caffee’s show “My First Miracle” is based on his own personal experiences with Bipolar Disorder. Using first-hand experience to draw awareness, Bennett has become a champion of mental health, using his platform to help both himself and others – supporting his community both at and away from home.
“Amazing, touching, intimate, passionate,” are just a few words to describe her show.
Tami Nutting
For forty years, Tami has been wow’ing audiences in towns big and small all across British Columbia, but there is nowhere she is loved more than her home: Vancouver Island. From original songs to covers that might just even be better than the originals, Tami never fails to mesmerize a crowd.
Nanaimo Fringe Festival 