Vancouver Moving Theatre is dedicated to art creation that celebrates the power of the human imagination and spirit; builds shared experiences that bridge diverse cultural traditions, social groups and artistic disciplines; and gives voice to residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and beyond.
Vancouver Moving Theatre
Now celebrating its 34th Anniversary, Vancouver Moving Theatre (VMT) is a multiple award-winning Downtown Eastside-based professional arts company with the mandate to create innovative, accessible arts based activities that bridge cultural traditions, social groups and artistic disciplines.
Founded in 1983 by Terry Hunter (Executive Director) and Savannah Walling (Artistic Director), VMT is recognized for its leadership role and significant contributions to the development of interdisciplinary arts practice and arts-based community engagement; garnering local, provincial, and national praise for the quality, originality, impact, accessibility and transformative power of its unique programs and productions.
Production History
VMT has created over fifty original interdisciplinary creations; originated four community residency templates; co-produced twenty annual inter/multi-arts festivals, two national community play symposiums, five contemporary adaptations of classical literature, and two public art installations by Indigenous artists.
VMT completed sixteen tours of B.C., six tours of Western Canada, five Canadian tours and seven international engagements (Australia, Korea, Indonesia, Europe and USA).
Since 2003, VMT has focused on interdisciplinary arts and community building projects in their inner city community. Selected co-production highlights:
In the Heart of a City: The Downtown Eastside Community Play
“The community play stands as a shining example of how arts and culture are making a positive impact in this community.”
– Mayor Larry Campbell, City of Vancouver
Crime and Punishment w/Neworld and PuSh Festival
“The simple power of it all is enough to make you weep.”
– Georgia Straight
We’re All In This Together: The Shadows Project – Addiction and Recovery
“…nothing short of stunning…hypnotic and moving.”
– Georgia Straight
Against the Current
“...at once a great piece of art and a reminder of the dispossession and reclamation of culture common to First Nations and Japanese Canadians...Two interwoven cultures, both with a common love of the sea; unbowed by past historic injustice; standing together in song, dance, drumming and spoken word.”
– The Bulletin
VMT also produces the annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival (2004 - ), which typically features over 1,000 artists performing in 120 events at over 55 locations throughout the Downtown Eastside.
Awards
VMT co-productions are recipients of Jessie Awards including Outstanding Production (The Good Person of Setzuan and Crime and Punishment) and Significant Artistic Achievement in Spectacle Design. Vancouver Moving Theatre was honoured with the City of Vancouver Cultural Harmony Award (2008), and co-awarded the TELUS Innovation Award (2016) with the Indigenous arts organization imagi’NATION Collective.
In recognition for their contributions to arts and community in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, VMT founders and directors Hunter and Walling have been honoured with the British Columbia Community Achievement Award (2008), Vancouver Mayor’s Award - Community-engaged Art (2010) and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013).