Derek Chan a Longtime Deviser and Theatre Artis
After an extensive search, Derek Chan will be stepping into the position of Managing Artistic Director at vAct in January 2022!
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An award-winning playwright, director, performer, translator, and producer, Derek brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and artistry to his new role with the company.
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A Statement from Derek Chan
Back in the 2016/17 season, I had the pleasure to work as the associate artistic producer at vAct under the tutelage of Donna Yamamoto, thanks to a BCAC early career development grant. Since then, Donna has remained a great mentor, friend, and champion of mine. When I first heard about the news that Donna is retiring and the job posting, I was overcome by a sense of responsibility. vAct is a company that has given me so much.
It is time for me to give back. I have dreamt of the day when I am ready to make the leap and continue to build on the fantastic foundation that Donna has so tirelessly crafted for vAct over the past handful of years – and that day is today.
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Coming from a new work/devising background with a multilingual and intercultural sensibility, I look forward to facilitating Asian Canadian theatre, addressing all the intersecting identities that reside within us: settlers on unceded and stolen lands, looking to tell stories close to our hearts and amplify the voices of the marginalized and forgotten. I am an artist and creator first and foremost.
Crafting and facilitating new work is where my passion lies. Nothing makes me happier than being a part of the ever-growing body of new, independent Asian Canadian work, telling stories that need to be told; stories that would otherwise be forgotten; stories that nobody else can tell but us; stories that nobody can take away from us.
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I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has helped me along the way – especially Pedro and everybody at rice & beans theatre – on my journey so far. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better decade spent.
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It is a huge honour to follow Donna’s footsteps in facilitating and presenting new work that is invigorating, captivating, and representative of the Vancouver Asian community as the incoming Managing Artistic Director. I look forward to guiding the company towards a bright, innovative future, while respecting vAct’s roots and the immense, hard work of those who have come before me.
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To everyone in the community: I will be reaching out in the New Year to get (re)acquainted with what you all are up to these days. In the meantime, please feel free to get in touch (derek@vact.ca) if you ever want to chat about anything – I will always make time for us.
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