A January full of light and warmth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nakai Theatre announces a COVID-flexible lineup for Pivot 2021
A festival of delight in January, full of light and warmth
Whitehorse, YT — November 10, 2020 Nakai Theatre released a COVID-flexible lineup for Pivot 2021 today. The two-week festival will run from January 19 to 31 with events in Dawson City, Whitehorse, in your home and in your car, and featuring new work from Ivan Coyote, Local Boy, Christine Genier, Nicole Bauberger, the Folk Lordz and you.
The 13th Pivot Festival sets out to lift spirits and bring people together in the cold, dark days of January. During COVID-19, it's more important than ever to offer warmth, laughs and company in the hard days of winter.
The award-winning comedy duo, the Folk Lordz, offer a three-part comedy workshop, online. Participants will make a short sketch video at the end of the workshop, which will be screened during the festival.
This year, the majority of programming is free. We have stories to listen to in your car, stream at home, and enjoy outside, in nature.
The full program and registration to the Folk Lordz comedy workshop are available at nakaitheatre.com.
Folk Lordz Workshop and Comedy Cabaret
Alberta-raised comedy troupe, Folk Lordz will host a Fast and Loose Digital Video remote workshop. Over 12 days this series will take you through writing, shooting, and editing your digital (pandemic) dreams! Participants will explore sketch comedy, political satire, autobiographical storytelling, music video, and other digital genres. Final videos will be screened as part of the 2021 Pivot Festival. Limited enrollment, scholarships available.
Folk Lordz is the performance and creative duo created by Todd Houseman and Ben Gorodetsky. Since 2014 they have brought their shared love of cultural storytelling traditions, physical comedy, and political grit to audiences in Atlanta, Austin, Philadelphia, Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, and (soon) Whitehorse! Todd and Ben are the subjects of two Daily VICE mini-documentaries, winners of awards from Just For Laughs and the Edmonton Arts Council, and the writers-producers of a two seasons of the Folk Lordz political sketch comedy series on YouTube.
Comedy Workshop: January 10-22, 2021, online
Tickets: $150 Regular | $100 Yukoner Regular | $80 Yukoner early bird (Dec 15)
Comedy Cabaret: January 22 and 23, On-line with watch parties.
RAVENMONSTERDRESS and Civil Twilights
Enjoy a new Nicole Bauberger installation at a secret location with special guests. Ravens, monsters and dresses - three of Nicole’s artistic touchstones, come together in this outdoor installation with light and music. Nicole and her collaborators’ bursting creativity will warm the cold nights and give us reasons to be out on the ice. Travels up to Dawson for (s)hiver festival January 28-30
Installation: January 20-22, 2020, Secret Location. Free
Drive-along Stories
Take a half hour drive with Yukon artists. Around Whitehorse Ivan Coyote, Christine Genier and Local Boy, guide you through their personal routes and memories of drives past.
In a partnership with (s)hiver festival, three Dawsonites will also create drives for the Dawson area. Applications on (s)hivers facebook and website.
A downloadable podcast. CD’s and cassettes will be made available for older vehicles.
Download available: January 21, 2020, online. Free
Pivotal Conversations — Theatre that can only be made here
A forum for local and international artists and arts leaders that fosters creative exchange and meaningful conversations beyond the scope of day-to-day interactions. Each year the topic responds to needs in the community. The 2021 conversation will focus on “Theatre that can only be made here” and how that looks different and the same in the Yukon. A meeting of Pivot artists and folks across the country will deepen and enrich the conversations around future local work, along with promoting Whitehorse artists broadly.
Gathering: January 21, 2020, Online
Sun Room
Soak in some rays at the Old Firehall in Whitehorse. The Old Firehall will be transformed into an oasis of light and green during the many dark hours. Depending on COVID safety measures, Nakai may host free drop-in sessions during the day, and will co-host evening performances in partnership with Something Shows, Gwaandak, Yukon Arts Centre – plus a night of karaoke.
Drop-in: January 27-30, 2020, 7:30-9 a.m., 11:30-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Free
Performances: Details and tickets to be announced in January
About Pivot Theatre Festival
Pivot 2021 will be the 13th iteration of the festival in Whitehorse. The theatre festival is a chance to connect with people close to home and from around the world. We surpass assumptions by mixing inspirational creations, crowd favourites, and opportunities for the community to join in the creative fun. Pivot brings lightness and connection in the dark days of winter.
About Nakai Theatre
Nakai Theatre, based in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, is dedicated to contributing to a thriving Yukon Territory through remarkable theatre and uncommon events.
We are proud to be part of a Yukon Territory where Indigenous peoples, settlers, and newcomers share the land, interpret our connections to the landscapes, and share our knowledge and experiences through theatre with each other and with the world.
For information on the theatre company, please visit nakaitheatre.com
Pivot Festival Public Funders
Government of Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, Yukon Arts Operating Fund, Department of Tourism and Culture, with support from the Yukon Lottery Commission, and the City of Whitehorse.
Pivot Festival Sponsors and Partners
Northern Vision Development; Yukon Arts Centre, Gwaandak Theatre, Ryerson University, Air North, Yukon News, What’s Up Yukon, RBC Emerging Artist Project, and CKRW The Rush.
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For questions or comments please contact:
Kathleen Napier, Marketing Coordinator
867-689-6052
kathleen@render.ca