For the last ten months, growing out of the community of the PHS Drug Users Resource Centre, a group of harm reduction workers and frontline responders from the Downtown Eastside community have been meeting monthly to investigate the nuances of illicit drug culture, the human impacts of drug policy, and the realities of the opioid overdose crisis that claimed more than 900 lives in BC last year, most of them in this community. With the support of dramaturge/director Renae Morriseau and musical director Devon Martin, our artistic research process has explored art forms including music, poetry, tableaux, movement, and shadow puppetry. Our partner the Eastside Puppeteers, led by David Mendes, has presented an alleyway shadow and marionette performance. We have also collectively determined our intentions and goals with bringing this work forward. Our hope is to, with imagination and honesty, fight the stigma that still surrounds people who use illicit drugs and alcohol – stigma that impedes our ability as a society to effectively respond to and prevent tragedies like the overdose crisis.
So, please join us on August 11th as we present the results of our research in a workshop performance and conversation, part of the first Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival! www.cacv.ca
Illicit: Stories from a harm reduction movement
Friday, August 11
7pm, doors at 6:30
Roundhouse Community Centre
181 Roundhouse Mews
Free or by donation, first come first serve
www.illicit.blog