The Places We Go is a live graphic novel and a story for everyone – a visually and theatrically charged portrayal of Winnipeg-Filipino culture about a young girl’s desire to reunite with her mom.
As a multimedia and new-creation work, The Places We Go will take you through Metro Manila following Grace as she attempts to raise enough money for the perfect gift – a plane ticket home for Nanay. Grace (Manila, Philippines) lives apart from her mother, Nanay (Winnipeg, Canada). The Places We Go provides an occasion for story telling, which reflects the history of migration in Canada and serious play around the current reality of long-distance relationships, family separation and the power of hope.
Oro and Venzon – Venzon, a theatre artist, Oro, an illustrator and graphic artist – are thrilled to bring audiences a unique and innovative work to everyone who knows what it’s like to dream.
About the Artists
Hazel Venzon is a first-generation Canadian with Filipino ancestry who has spent the last seven years focusing her theatre arts practice towards the investigation of Canadian identity and migration. Her practice and process for developing work involves listening to personal stories and igniting conversation with new Canadians. The personal stories and conversations are used as inspiration for her solo work and projects with communities. This research process parallels her personal journey to recognize her heritage. Venzon has come across stories from mothers and children who have endured family-separation and the complex after-math of reunification. It is through these stories that inspire Venzon and how they alter and impact Canadian culture and identity.
David Oro is a Winnipeg artist, born and raised in Metro Manila Philippines, who migrated to Winnipeg at the age of seventeen. Migration has, undoubtedly, played a massive role in Oro’s work, which has impacted both his life and his art.
When approached by theatre artist, Hazel Venzon, with this project, Oro immediately knew he wanted to use this opportunity to retell parts of his life which reflect his childhood; when he lived apart from his father (Saudi Arabia) for over ten years. He will use this performance as an opportunity to tell his story and to share memories of his neighbourhood and surroundings growing up in Metro Manila. Oro’s talent and long history of digital design – a graphic artist, painter, illustrator and animator – make him the best fit to support this theatrical feat.
(Im) migration has played a significant role in both collaborators’ lives. They are thrilled to use The Places We Go as an opportunity to retell parts of their lives, reflecting how many Canadians, too, have lived apart from their parents and loved-ones spanning the majority of their formative years.
We will have a sign language interpreter (Mon July 24 – 15:30, Fri July 28 – 19:15, Sun July 30 – 17:15).
