The Tempest Project Page

The Tempest Project 

The Tempest Project is an ambitious and deeply collaborative roving production that brought together a team of musicians, composers, designers, and theatre practitioners in a unique fusion of contemporary performance practices. It premiered July 17, 2024, at the Vancouver Playhouse.

More than five years in the making, the project was led by Artistic Director David Pay and Artistic Planning & Operations Manager and Producer Shayna Goldberg. Its creation process drew on devised theatre, intercultural collaboration, and contemporary music composition, alongside workshops in history and the social sciences.

The work featured commissioned pieces by Gabriel Kahane, Nancy Tam, Alfredo Santa Ana, and Saina Khaledi, along with improvised arrangements inspired by Solange’s Things I Imagined.

The Tempest Project was brought to life by by an eclectic and unconventional assemblage of extraordinary musicians, including: Julia Úlehla, vocals; Paolo Bortolussi, flute; Aram Bajakian, guitar; Saina Khaledi, santour; Dailin Hsieh, zheng; Julia Chien, percussion; Jonathan Lo, cello; and Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa, piano. The team also included Dramaturg Melanie Yeats and Production Manager Alexis Douglas.


A beguiling sense of fun, wonder, and magic

Vancouver Sun

It’s one of those rare instances where coming back for a second, third, or even fourth watch is not only craved, but without a doubt deserved.

STIR

A monumental creation

Audience member
  • Aram and other performers in The Tempest Project, circled by many candles while performing.

A roving musical adventure like you’ve never seen.

Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Music on Main’s The Tempest Project is a music-filled journey through a theatre enveloped in sound and light. Explore themes of revenge and forgiveness, love, magic, freedom, and betrayal as you plunge into this musically audacious production, which stands as a poetic response to universal challenges.

Led through the Vancouver Playhouse, audiences embark on a roving musical adventure, witnessing performances in unexpected places. Musicians weave intricate melodies into a rich musical fabric filled with mystery and beauty. As new spaces and sounds are discovered, new depths of meaning unfold.

The Tempest Project brings together leading musicians, composers, designers, and theatre-makers under the direction of David Pay.

RBC is The Tempest Project’s Presenting Sponsor.

This production is supported by Vancouver Civic Theatres and the City of Vancouver; Michael Joy & Judi Hess; The McGrane-Pearson Endowment Fund, held at the Vancouver Foundation; the Deux-Mille Foundation; and the Hamber Foundation.

Program

The Tempest Project Company
Improvisation on Solange’s “Things I Imagined”

Saina Khaledi
Conversation (world premiere)

Gabriel Kahane
In the Commonwealth (world premiere)

Nancy Tam
An Evaporating Sigh (world premiere)

Alfredo Santa Ana
Ye elves