Lia & Dor is a love letter to Romania, at the Firehall Arts Centre from October 9 to 13

Playwright Cristina Tudor takes a deep dive into her culture’s folklore

KIA Productions and Ensemble Theatre Company in association with Firehall Arts Centre present Lia & Dor from October 9 to 13

THERE IS A word in Romanian, dor, that has no English equivalent. Its meaning is akin to longing, encompassing melancholy, joy, and hope.

In Lia & Dor, that sense of yearning compels a young woman to take an emotional journey, tracing her family’s past and drawing power from her cultural traditions to carve a new path into her future.

Rooted in folklore, the work by Romanian performer and playwright Cristina Tudor is a love letter to her grandparents and her heritage. Lia & Dor weaves together the whimsy of a Romanian fairy tale with a scandalous family background as Tudor explores memories, the importance of homeland, and the stories we tell ourselves about our history.

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Gail Johnson

Gail Johnson is cofounder and associate editor of Stir. She is a Vancouver-based journalist who has earned local and national nominations and awards for her work. She is a certified Gladue Report writer via Indigenous Perspectives Society in partnership with Royal Roads University and is a member of a judging panel for top Vancouver restaurants.

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