A woman's exes come back to haunt her in Studio 58's Baggage, October 3 to 13
In Sarah Segal-Lazar’s play directed by Jessie Liang, main character Jill is plagued by her failed relationships as she tries to start a new one
Studio 58 presents Baggage from October 3 to 13 at Langara College
THE EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE of a woman in her late ’20s becomes a beast unto itself in Baggage, Sarah Segal-Lazar’s comedically cynical play coming to Studio 58, the professional theatre training program at snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College.
Opening the program’s 2024-25 season from October 3 to 13, Baggage stars Michelle Avila Navarro as unabashed main character Jill, who is in the early stages of a new relationship with her partner Ben (played by Filip Fufezan). But Jill has an extensive dating history—one that ranges from burnouts to fuckboys and back again—and it comes back to haunt her big-time in the form of the bags around her apartment, which transform into personified renditions of her exes.
Taiwanese-Brazilian theatre artist Jessie Liang, who’s a graduate of Studio 58, returns to direct this rollercoaster of a play that artfully touches on true-to-life themes like dealing with the heartbreak of failed relationships and processing unresolved trauma.
Audiences may recognize Navarro from Studio 58’s revamped production of Federico García Lorca’s tragedy Blood Wedding directed by director Carmen Aguirre last fall, in which she starred as the Girl. Stir praised her for the “restrained strength and concealed desire” she emanated in her passionate performance as a rebellious bride-to-be who gives in to forbidden love.
Baggage was created with support from Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal, and translated into French with the help of Théâtre Aux Écuries and Le Festival du Jamais Lu.
The play runs at Studio 58 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm; special runs include a Talkback Tuesday with the artists on October 8, and a Relaxed Performance—which involves softened lighting, reduced sound, and a half-capacity theatre, among other accommodations—on October 9. The show’s official opening night is on October 5.
Emily Lyth is a Vancouver-based writer and editor who graduated from Langara College’s Journalism program. Her decade of dance training and passion for all things food-related are the foundation of her love for telling arts, culture, and community stories.
Related Articles
In Sarah Segal-Lazar’s play directed by Jessie Liang, main character Jill is plagued by her failed relationships as she tries to start a new one
Nowadays Theatre production in association with Blackout Art Society and Presentation House Theatre tells the story of Iranian immigrant Homa in English and Farsi
In his one-man show, the theatre artist of Cree and Lakota heritage addresses empty land acknowledgements with unapologetic conviction
The 36th annual program also includes The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] (Again) and The Dark Lady
Play written by Sarah Segal-Lazar centres a cynical character in her 20s as she tries to start a new relationship amid the personified baggage of her exes
Running at Théâtre la Seizième, new play by French-Algerian artist Salim Djaferi goes beyond the history books
Contemporary dance piece choreographed by Arash Khakpour immerses viewers in themes of darkness, deception, and greed
At Arts Club’s Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Julie Tomaino helms a honed production that hits all the high notes of the Four Seasons story
The titular character in the show by 3 Crows Productions represents government agents who removed Indigenous kids from their homes to attend residential school
Franco-Algerian artist investigates his understanding of colonization by unravelling the thorny story of the French occupation of Algeria
Hit musical about Gander, Newfoundland’s heroic welcome to unexpected flights on September 11, 2001 still resonates
Until September 23, theatre performers, designers, stage managers, and other arts workers can apply to gain community and hiring connections
Kat Sandler’s hit comedy Yaga and Anosh Irani’s drama Behind the Moon are among the works on offer
Davey Samuel Calderon, Joanna Garfinkel, and Melanie Yeats to take over from Heidi Taylor
Four mainstage shows, a reading series, youth productions, and more mark the French-language theatre’s programming
Inaugural event is a project of Promethean Theatre in collaboration with the Arts Club Theatre Company’s youth committee and features three new comedies
B.C. tour visits 18 cities (six local) with favourites from the musical-theatre icon’s greatest shows, spanning Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, and beyond
Theatrical performance creates awareness of the intergenerational impacts of residential schools with a blend of storytelling and multimedia components
Bitches with Baggage sees two ex-friends reunite to mourn a high-school teacher, while A Man Walks Into a Bar emphasizes the importance of healthy communication
The ADHD Project, The Light Bringer, and The Kid Was a Spy among this year’s highlights
Three webinars with industry professionals unpack contemporary concerns faced by artists, from climate-crisis advocacy to navigating onstage boundaries