Nakai Theatre’s newest production, New Age Attitudes: Live in Concert plays in Whitehorse April 26 to 27 and in Dawson City on May 2
Nakai Theatre’s newest production, New Age Attitudes: Live in Concert originated as part of PushOFF (which has now become Hold On Let Go), Theatre Replacement’s annual festival of contemporary performance, in 2020. The show sees Amanda Sum, creator and performer, rearrange her debut album of the same name in order to craft a new narrative through a multimedia live performance.
“As the platform had pivoted to only online works, I created a ‘construction-paper performance’—a homemade and handcrafted book which was hand delivered or mailed by post to audience members across Vancouver, Canada, and around the world,” said Amanda Sum, the show’s creator and lead performer. “This project came out of a year when many artists turned to the digital, with livestreams and recordings. I was battling some sadness after releasing my first single, Groupthink.
“It excited me to share my work online, but it scared me that the digital release of something meant anyone could access my thoughts and secrets at any time. So, in tandem with making arrangements for a full-length studio indie-pop album, titled New Age Attitudes, I wanted to de-digitize the songs into something tangible and physical. Something to hold, and something to fold. This was a way to question and examine how [and] when we perform and how [and] when we attend during a very disconnected time.”
In 2021, Maiko Yamamoto, artistic director of Theatre Replacement, invited Sum to be the company’s COLLIDER Artist in Residence. Sum saw a perfect opportunity to further develop her book into a live performance piece.
“New Age Attitudes: Live in Concert combines and provokes my theatre and music practices,” said Sum. “I was interested in experimenting with where these disciplines intersect, while dissociating from the conventions of western ‘musical theatre.’ Now that the digital album is also out, I’m excited by the different forms that these songs and thoughts have taken shape to.”
New Age Attitudes uses collective reading as a backbone and is described as a Lo-Fi performance that prioritizes introvertedness and celebrates awkwardness. Each audience member will be given a personalized book to silently read together.
Sum said it has been a real treat for her to watch her project grow. The hardest part for her is being patient making all the books, but she admits it’s also the most-rewarding component.
“There’s something special about knowing that every single book involves a labour of love and craft,” she said. “It’s also really rewarding for me to connect with such vast varieties of audiences—some who know my music, some who know my acting work and some who don’t know me at all.”
New Age Attitudes: Live in Concert is brought to life by Director Maiko Yamamoto, Technical Stage Manager Vee Pho, Lighting Designer Alexandra Caprara Maquette, Installation Designer Cindy Mochizuki, and Lead Producer Katie Roberts of Theatre Replacement.
The show will be playing April 26 and 27 in Whitehorse at the Yukon Arts Centre and on May 2 in Dawson CIty at KIAC. To learn more about the show and to purchase tickets, visit nakaitheatre.com/new-age-attitudes.
“Audiences can expect something in-between a theatre show and a concert,” said Sum, adding, “Reading, awkward silence and devoted listening are all at play too!”
