From June 18 – August 30th, every Thursday and Sunday starting at 7:30 pm in the Dr. Sun Yatsen Garden, Seven Tyrants Theatre will present the exciting sequel to last summer’s outdoor roving hit. This historical fairy tale takes audiences of all ages through the beautiful Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown.

Starring Joann Liu, Minh Ly, Elwin Xie and Troy Anthony Young

Written and Directed by Daniel Deorksen and David Newham

Created by Daniel Deorksen, David Newham and Richard Sung

It’s the year 1701. Still solidifying its power in China, the Qing Dynasy now faces an unprecedented flood of European trade. Before long, the Chinese begin to realize these ships from the west have brought more than they bargained for.

In London, the East India Company faces the most tumultous time in its history. With its eastern monopoly threatened by interlopers who have gained the support of parliament, the Company’s directors will stop at nothing to ensure trade supremecy…

For more information on how to buy tickets, visit Seven Tyrants Theatre

From June 19 to June 21, UBC Literature Etc. will be presenting the Third Annual Taiwanese Film Festival. While the first annual TWFF led the audience onto a round-island trip exploring the beauties of Formosa, the second annual TWFF accompanied the audience to enjoy the taste of youth – its flight, adventure and realization. This year, the third annual TWFF “Only Human” will direct the audience into the lives of ordinary/everyday people and invite them to experience their struggles, disheartenment, happiness and tears. Within the cruel hands of fate and life’s adversities, we see their unyielding resilience and also the frailty and strength of human hearts that are seemly contradictory yet incredibly real. No matter what our status, background, race or culture are, we all have one same entity – We are only human.

For ticket and schedule information, please visit: Third Annual Taiwanese Film Festival.

This weekend in Stanley Park, the South Asian Family Association is pleased to present their annual cross-cultural extravaganza, Sawan Mela, occurring on the weekend of June 13 and 14. SAFA’s mandate is to create cross-cultural awareness as well as provide a platform for youth to showcase their talent.  The Sawan Mela originally began in 2002 in South Vancouver and now 7 years later, is set to take over Lumberman’s Arch in Stanley Park for two exciting days.

This free public festival is suitable for kids of ALL ages. There is sure to be something for everyone at the Sawan Mela.  Whether you enjoy your butter chicken or pine for tangy dosas…or perhaps desire a mini-makeover or mehndi, the marketplace is full of delights to tempt all of the senses:  delicious smells and aromas, bright and vibrant colours and an exhibition by local artisans as well as yoga classes.

On our mainstage under the Sawan Mela tent, local performers from the Lower Mainland will entertain for hours on end.  From Bhangra & Bolly to Filmi & Fusion to Giddha and Garba, the team at SAFA will turn Stanley Park into Little India.  Little India with a few visitors however…performers from the Violet Moore Irish School of Dance, Vancouver Korean Drummers, Bluesette, Steveston Taiko Drummers, Argentian Tango, Eagle Song Dancers will be sharing the stage with Punjab Cultural Arts Centre, Giddha Punjabna Da, Sitara Thobani, Sulochana Dance Academy, Surrey India Arts Club, Juggy Jag (Jugpreet Bajwa),  Jawani Bhangra, Duniya Dance Academy, Slumdog Millionaire Dancers and Karima Essa & Merlyn Prakash amongst others.  A full line-up is available at www.safa.ca.

Following the festival on Saturday night, there will be Bollywood movie starting at 7:30pm. The movie, “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (DDLJ) was produced in 1995 and just finished a 700 week run in Mumbai this past March.  Translated to “The Brave Heart will take the Bride”, it is one of the highest grossing Bolly films earning 580 crores INR in India and over 175 crores overseas.

The festival and movie screening is completely FREE!! So, come out and enjoy this festival as the weather will definitely be sunny!

WHAT:  SAWAN MELA 7

WHEN:  SATURDAY JUNE 13 AND SUNDAY JUNE 14, 2009, 2 – 8PM

WHERE:  STANLEY PARK, LUMBERMAN’S ARCH.  MAP, DIRECTIONS & SHUTTLE SERVICE INFO

WHY:  A FREE CULTURAL EXTRAVAGANZA FEATURING MEHNDI, MASTI AND MUCH MORE.  OVER 30 LOCAL PERFORMANCES CELEBRATING CULTURE AND HERITAGE. SHUTTLE SERVICE TO AND FROM BURRARD STATION.

The 2nd Annual New Asia Film Festival will be going on this week from May 7th to the 10th at the Richmond Cultural Centre (7700 Minoru Gate). This year, the festival is featuring 12 films from Canada, Japan, India, the UK, China and South Korea. Tickets are only $3 so be sure to check it out.

The schedule for the event is as follows:

TUESDAY MAY 5

18:30 – 21:30 DocuAsian Forum: A Chinese Documentary Night

Room 1800, Harbor Centre (SFU’s Downtown Campus)

Brave Father
Game Dream

Filmmaker in attendance

THURSDAY MAY 7

19:00 – 20:30 Opening Reception ( by INVITATION only)

21:00 – 22:20 Opening Film ( Ticket at door only)

A State of Mind ( UK / Doc)

FRIDAY MAY 8

14:00 – 16:00 Four Women (India / Drama)

16:30 -18:00 Who Killed Our Children (China / Doc)

19:30 – 22:30 CNEX Screenings

Hip-Hop Storm (Taiwan / Doc)
The District Councillor (HK / Doc)

Filmmaker in attendance

SATURDAY MAY 9

10:30 – 12:30 3XFTM (South Korea / Doc)

13:00 – 14:30 Mongolia, 30 Years Later (Canada / Doc)

Filmmaker and guest speaker in attendance

15:00 – 17:30 puujee (Japan / Doc)

Filmmakers in attendance

18:30 – 21:00 A Warrior’s Religion (Canada / Doc)

Filmmaker in attendance

21:30 – 23:30 Four Women (India / Drama)

SUNDAY MAY 10

10:30 – 12:30 A State of Mind (UK / Doc)

13:00 – 14:30 puujee (Japan / Doc)

Filmmakers in attendance

15:00 – 17:00 Mother’s Day Special Feature

Flower in the Pocket (Malaysia/ Drama)

18:30 – 21:30 Audience Choice Award Announcement
Award-winning Film Additional Screening

Writers Workshop is presenting a workshop hosted by Jen Sookfong Lee on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at the Richmond Cultural Centre (7700 Minoru Gate) from 7-9 pm. Jen Sookfong Lee is best known for her novel, The End of East. The novel explores themes of isolation, immigration, romance and sanity through the eyes of its narrator, Sammy Chan, a Chinese Canadian woman in her early 20s, and through the experiences of her parents and grandparents. The End of East is a novel with poetry at its heart, mixing character study, history, place and sexuality for a story that is both edgy and evocative. The novel is a terrific read and this workshop would be a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in writing that draws from family history of uses biographical information.

Admission is free but you must call 604-247-8300 in advance to reserve a spot.

May is Asian Heritage Month in the Lower Mainland and there is practically an event that celebrates the diversity of Asian culture every day this month. Asian Heritage Month is coordinated by explorASIAN which has endeavoured to explore the diversity of Asian Canadian life and culture and promote the discussion of relevant issues and concerns within and beyond the Asian Canadian community since 1996.

ACCO will be highlighting different events this month, so please be sure to check us out daily to find out about more upcoming events.

For the complete list of events happening this month, visit explorASIAN’s Festival Calendar.

Continuing to celebrate 10 successful years as the city’s premiere Asian Canadian theatre company, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (VACT) is excited to announce that it will be staging Rodgers & Hammerstein’s FLOWER DRUM SONG from May 29 to June 14 at The Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island.

This is the very first time that this Tony award-winning Broadway musical will be presented in Vancouver as a full production, during this, the 50th anniversary of the play.

Student Prices are only $20!!!

For complete details and ticket ordering information, check out http://www.vact.ca/