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BACKSTAGE IN BISCUIT LAND Presented by PuSh International Performing Arts Festival

RELAXED PERFORMANCE

VISUAL STORY ABOUT THE VENUE ROUNDHOUSE COMMUNITY ARTS & RECREATION CENTRE The show will take place in the Performance Centre at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre (the Roundhouse). The Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre is located at the corner of Davie Street and Pacific Boulevard in Vancouver. Here is a picture of the Roundhouse from Pacific Avenue.

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Here is a picture of the Pacific Avenue entrance. The double doors pull open and there is an automatic push plate to the right.

Directions & Parking View Map and Get Directions Walking: From Granville Street, head east five blocks down Davie Street. Skytrain: The Yaletown – Roundhouse Canada Line Station is 200 metres from the Roundhouse Bus: Buses C21 & C23 stop within a few metres of the Roundhouse. Driving/Parking: Metered parking is available on the street in front of the Roundhouse and on surrounding streets. Underground pay parking is available, access off Drake Street (south of Pacific Boulevard):

Monday to Friday 7am–6pm: $3.25/hour, no daily max Monday to Sunday, holidays 6–11pm: $4 flat rate The parking machine accepts credit cards and coins. No change is given by the machine. (Parking rates may change from those posted above. Please check the EasyPark website for current pricing.) The parking lot has a 6 foot maximum height for vehicles. There are 2 designated accessible parking spaces close to the elevator.

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INSIDE THE BUILDING Here is a picture of the lobby from the Pacific Avenue entrance.

Here is a picture of the lobby from the elevator.

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Here is a picture of the entrance to the Exhibition Hall.

To get to the Performance Centre, you will go past the Information / Registration desk and through the Exhibition Hall. The entrance to the Performance Centre is at the back left hand side of the Exhibition Hall. Here is a picture of the entrance to the Performance Centre.

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A table will be set up at the Performance Centre as a box office, where you can pick up your tickets. There will be banners for the PuSh Festival that look like this: FRONT OF HOUSE / USHERS PuSh Front of House volunteers / Ushers will be available to show you into the Performance Centre and provide assistance to find a seat. Here is a picture of some of the Ushers:

As you can see the Ushers will be wearing PuSh t-shirts and will be in the Performance Centre throughout the show if you require assistance.

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INSIDE THE PERFORMANCE CENTRE When you enter the Performance Centre you will see the floor level stage. Here is a picture of the stage area.

The audience will sit in raised seats. Here is a picture of the audience s eating area.

The front row will be reserved for people with mobility issues and their companions.

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When booking your seats you should advise PuSh Festival Audience Services of any special requirements. You may ask to be seated early if you have special seating requirements. Dim lighting will be maintained during the show. This will allow audience members to leave the Performance Centre at any time, and to return to their seats. CHILL OUT AREA A “Chill Out Area” will be available in the Exhibition Hall, outside of the Performance Centre. It is a quiet place where you can go to if you wish to take a break from the performance. If you wish to see the Chill Out Area before the performance, one of the ushers will be happy to show it to you. WASHROOMS There are two sets of washrooms in the lobby area. The set near the dance studio has a wheel chair accessible washroom. There is a second set of washrooms across from the games room. FOOD/BEVERAGE There are two water fountains inside the centre. One is located outside the gym and the other is outside the dance studio. There are two vending machines in the lobby. Food and beverages are not allowed in the Performance Centre.

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ABOUT THE SHOW BACKSTAGE IN BISCUIT LAND The show will be 60 minutes long, with no intermission. There are two performers: Chopin who is on the left in the picture, further back. And Jess Thom, in the front on the right.

VISUAL STORY (SPOILER ALERT: The following information is for audience members who prefer to know everything that happens in the show beforehand.) The stage is set very simply. You will see a variety of props around the stage area. The show begins with a short welcome from Chopin. Chopin welcomes Jess (Touretteshero) to the stage and some music will play. Jess will introduce herself and briefly explain her condition, Tourette syndrome. During this introduction, Chopin will hold up signs that repeat words that Jess says.

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Jess will explain her ticcing fits and what will happen if she has one during the show. Chopin acts out some of Jess’s vocal tics. Jess and Chopin will explain some of the props you see laying around the stage. Chopin may perform actions with some of these props. Jess talks about misconceptions about Tourette syndrome. Jess will ask you to play a game with the person next to you. The game is a staring competition. Chopin then lays some props on the floor, to look like a duck pond. Jess then explains what tics feel like. Chopin clears away the pond. Chopin puts on a dolphin hand-puppet and talks to Jess. Jess tells the dolphin what tics feel like. The dolphin puppet acts out Jess’s explanations. Chopin puts away the dolphin puppet. Jess explains what it was like growing up as a child with Tourettes. Her tics started as a squeaking noise, and Chopin may make one of these noises suddenly. Chopin then brings on a small table with a snack on it. Jess eats the snack. Meanwhile, Chopin reads out some comments from Jess’s school teachers. Chopin removes the table. Jess explains how her condition developed as she grew into a young woman. Chopin brings a chair onstage. Jess and Chopin then play a game called “Fingers on Buzzards.” The Buzzard is a stuffed toy. The Buzzard makes a loud squeaking noise when squeezed. Chopin acts as the quizmaster and Jess answers. Chopin removes the Buzzard and the chair. Jess explains the different types of her vocal tics and gives examples. Chopin will pick up a prop and Jess will have a series of vocal tics about that prop. Jess and Chopin then sing a song about a sheepdog. Jess then asks the audience to do an “echolalic wave.” When you hear the person next to you say “biscuit”, you then say “biscuit”, and after that the next person in the audience says “biscuit”. Some people might wave or stand up when saying “biscuit”, like a Mexican wave. Jess explains copropraxia, which is making obscene or unacceptable movements. She asks you to join in, and swear at different things in the room with your fingers. Chopin describes a daily routine. Jess joins in by adding in examples of some of her tics during her daily routine.

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Chopin brings a cardboard cut out tree to the front of the stage. Jess puts a blanket over herself. Jess tells a story of a windy night in autumn. Chopin waves a board to make the tree move in the wind. Jess then moves to the centre of the stage. The lights dim slightly, and she is lit up with a spotlight. She talks about one of her trips to the theatre. The lights come back up. They then play another game of “Fingers on Buzzards.” This time Jess is quizmaster and Chopin answers. The game ends. Chopin brings on a table. Jess then explains her fits. She will ask someone in the audience to read from a script. That person sits in Jess’s wheelchair, and Jess sits in the audience. Chopin controls a puppet called “Mini-Touretteshero,” who acts out a fit. The audience applaud. Jess returns to her wheelchair and the audience member returns to their seat. Chopin clears away the puppet. Jess talks about her support workers. She uses toothbrushes to describe each person. She also holds up a toilet u-bend. When Jess talks about Bunny, an emergency buzzer will sound briefly. Biscuits are passed out to the audience and Jess and Chopin play a game of “I Spy” inviting the audience to join in. Jess moves to the centre of the stage. The lights dim slightly, and she is lit by a spotlight. She tells another story about a visit to the theatre. The lights come back up. Jess then talks about her wheelchair. She reads love letters to wheelchairs. Chopin lays on the floor and reads a love letter from a wheelchair to Jess. Chopin stands up. She explains about how she met Jess. They then perform Chopin’s “Emergency Show Plan”. Chopin reads the script and Jess holds up props. At one point the lights flash. Chopin reads faster and faster. The audience applaud. Chopin asks for 2 volunteers from the audience. The volunteers hold up a banner with song lyrics on. Everyone sings. That’s the end of the show. Some background music plays.