issue 25 // volume 40 Rest in peace, intergalactic brother » In memoriam of legend Dave Brockie Taylor Pitt Columnist D*: Brockie has been an inspiration to people of all walks of life since 1986, when the band Gwar was formed, featuring Brockie as stage persona Oderus Urungus. Popular with metalheads, punks, and even regular kids, there seemed to be no place these intergalactic barbarians could not reach. Now the Brockie. 50, passed away in his home on March 23. Known and popularized for over-the-top, satirical shock rock, Brockie as Oderus was at one time the poster-beast for how rock was made witha Satanic influence. During the cynical, strange, and socially conservative world of the late 20th century, Gwar struck fear everywhere. Although Brockie was compared to many other shock rockers at the time, he and Gwar weren't there to offend for the sake of offending. He headed up a satirical theatre act that had a real socially conscious message behind it. Their music and performance : satirized celebrity culture, : politics, and the entire mythos : of the metal scene itself. Their : unique blend of psychotic : thrash metal and crass : performances not only granted : them lifelong fans from many : different scenes, but also two : Grammy nominations for Best : Metal Act and Best Long Form : Music Video. However, Brockie’s : influence wasn't just limited to : the stage. He appeared on talk : shows including Fox News’ Red band’s future is in question after : Eye, The Jerry Springer Show, : and even on The Joan Rivers : Show. He made people laugh : and did his best to convince the : worried parents of his fans that : he wasn’t there to offend, but : was there to have fun. Brockie’s passing hasn’t : just marked the loss of a : talented musical artist; we're : now missing one of the most : beloved icons in subculture in the hearts of prudent parents : history—a comedian, a talented : visual artist, and a revolutionary : who held up a mirror to the : whole of Western society. It’s no : wonder that GWAR managed : to survive 30 long years, with : Brockie’s passion for music, art, : and culture. Gwar may manage to find a : new lead singer, but it can never : truly replace Dave Brockie. ILM §. y = = arts // 7 David Brockie of Gwar // By www.iwantpop.com Crockpot project explores theatre program stigmas » Students, graduates produce play in 48 hours PF julia Siedlanowska | Staff Writer t Rumble Theatre’s 8-Hour Crockpot event, six students from six different post-secondary institutions came together on March 21- 23 to create a theatre piece in 48 hours and explore the connections and differences between Vancouver’s post- secondary theatre training programs. I was lucky enough to represent Douglas College in this project that fostered some discoveries and discussions that every department head of theatre in a local college or university should hear. I met students and recent graduates Julie Casselman (Trinity Western), Deneh Thompson (SFU), Patrick Mercado (Langara College's Studio 58), Julian Legere : (Capilano University), and : Alen Dominguez (UBC). We : were expected to devise a play : in two days where we would : portray complete strangers : collaborating on a theatre : piece for 48 hours. The only : parameters of the challenge : were that the finished piece : was to be no longer than 20 : minutes, it must address the : question, “How did you get : here today?” and we could only : spend the $50 given to us asa : collective. We were asked to not prepare anything and simply : bring ourselves—a task that : was much more exciting than : daunting and which left me far : more sentimental than I had : anticipated. On Friday, we began discussing the different stigmas : associated with our institutions, : such as which institution : was academic or artsy and : which programs were better or : worse. Not taking any of this : personally, we moved on to : discuss where these stigmas : were perpetuated and if they : bore any truth. On Saturday, we shared the : seeds of what would become : our 20-minute piece. We each : shared our answers to the : question, “How did you get : here today?” As we spoke, we : brought up themes that would : prevail throughout our finished : product. We were visited by theatre : professionals over the course : of the three days, including : actors Bob Frazer, Dawn : Petten, Alessandro Juliani, : Dave Deveau, and Cameron : Mackenzie, who gave us advice : and answered any questions we : had about the business. On Sunday, we finalized the piece we were to show that : night at 8 p.m. We spent our $50 : on muslin and draped it over : the scaffolding in the space, : which would form most of our : set. We lit the space ourselves : with lamps found around the : building, offering a certain : unique aesthetic to the piece. The piece held themes : of identity, of our pasts, our : present, and our anticipations : for the future as performers. : However, it was only a : manifestation of the many : discussions its production : generated. With an audience made up primarily of theatre students, : the post-show conversation : included an open discussion of : stigmas, and of students’ desires : : and complaints. While the : stigmas and minor perceived : rivalries between theatre : schools are juvenile, they do : exist and may have an impact : on students as they move into : the working world of artists. When Frazer came to visit us in the workroom, he said : that every student is trapped : in their training when they : first leave school, but they : must break out of it to find We were expected to devise a play in two days where we would portray complete strangers collaborating on a theatre piece for 48 hours. : themselves and their own : methods. The consensus was : that once you left school, the : only thing that mattered was : that you had been to school. I was grateful for the : opportunity to collaborate with : other artists during the 48-Hour : Crockpot and to discover that : we had more similarities than : differences. It was the most : vibrant gathering of emerging : artists I had seen ina while.