Sunrise Betties — Jamie King

SUNRISE BETTIES

By Cheyenne Rouleau

Produced by Itsazoo Theatre

an immersive theatre event February 21st to March 10th, 2024
The Russian Hall (600 Campbell St.)

Directed by Jamie King

Featuring:
Gwen - Meaghan Chenosky
Beth - Kaitlyn Yott
Kate - Kelsey Kanatan Wavey
Suzy - Merewyn Comeau
Shirley - Patti Allan
Jim - Sebastien Archibald

Cultural Consultants:
Aaron Chapman, John Grywinski, Danny “Mouse” Williamson, Kim Brucker

Creative Team:
Jenn Stewart Set and Props Design
Jessica Oostergo Costume Design
Sophie Tang Lighting Design
Kate De Lorme Sound Design
Sarah Elizabeth SFX Design

Intimacy Direction: Sam Jeffery
Fight Choreography: Olivier Lunardi

Kayleigh Sandomirsky Stage Manager
Victoria Snashall Assistant Stage Manager
Technical Direction/Production Management: Matt Oviatt

The Story:

East Van. 1972. A girl gang. In trouble.
Set in East Vancouver, 1972, The Sunrise Betties is inspired by the street gang crisis of the era and the infamous Clark Park Gang – a sordid part of Vancouver’s history few know about. It explores the origins of drug trafficking and police corruption in the once notorious – and rapidly gentrifying – area.
The story follows the fictional Betties, a fiercely loyal, all-female street gang, run by a powerful matriarch, who operate a small-time drug trafficking operation. When the gang inadvertently starts a turf war with a prominent mobster, a corrupt Vancouver Police officer mysteriously shows up offering to-good-to-be-true promises. This challenges the gang’s loyalty, revealing their tight-knit “family” is on the verge of collapse.

The Buzz:

“I loved all the acting in this show... Each clearly individualized character has their moment, and the ensemble work is especially impressive. The dialogue frequently overlaps as the characters, fight, argue, scream or screw around. King’s direction is sterling and I never saw an actor miss a beat.” - Jerry Wasserman, VancouverPlays
“Under Jamie King’s direction, everybody in the cast is acting their socks off.” - Colin Thomas, Fresh Sheet
“Overall, there is not a single moment where the audience is lulled to boredom.” - Annapoorna Shruthi, Vancouver Arts Review

Production Photos:

Pictured (L-R): Meaghan Chenosky and Kaitlyn Yott Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Meaghan Chenosky and Kaitlyn Yott

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured: Patti Allan Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured: Patti Allan

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Kanatan Wavey and Merewyn Comeau Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Kanatan Wavey and Merewyn Comeau

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured: Merewyn Comeau Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured: Merewyn Comeau

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Merewyn Comeau and Meaghan Chenosky Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Merewyn Comeau and Meaghan Chenosky

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kaitlyn Yott, Kelsey Kanatan Wavey, Meaghan Chenosky and Merewyn Comeau Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kaitlyn Yott, Kelsey Kanatan Wavey, Meaghan Chenosky and Merewyn Comeau

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kaitlyn Yott and Sebastien Archibald Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kaitlyn Yott and Sebastien Archibald

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Sebastien Archibald and Meaghan Chenosky Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Sebastien Archibald and Meaghan Chenosky

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured: Kaitlyn Yott Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured: Kaitlyn Yott

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Kanatan Wavey and Merewyn Comeau Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Kanatan Wavey and Merewyn Comeau

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Sebastien Archibald and Patti Allan Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Sebastien Archibald and Patti Allan

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured: Merewyn Comeau Set by Jenn Stewart, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured: Merewyn Comeau

Set by Jenn Stewart, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured: Patti Allan Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured: Patti Allan

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Kanatan Wavey, Sebastien Archibald, Merewyn Comeau (above), Patti Allan, Kaitlyn Yott and Meaghan Chenosky (above) Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Kanatan Wavey, Sebastien Archibald, Merewyn Comeau (above), Patti Allan, Kaitlyn Yott and Meaghan Chenosky (above)

Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Meaghan Chenosky and Kaitlyn Yott Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kaitlyn Yott, Kelsey Kanatan Wavey, Meaghan Chenosky and Merewyn Comeau Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Kanatan Wavey and Merewyn Comeau Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Pictured (L-R): Kelsey Kanatan Wavey, Sebastien Archibald, Merewyn Comeau (above), Patti Allan, Kaitlyn Yott and Meaghan Chenosky (above) Set by Jenn Stewart, Lights by Sophie Tang, Costumes by Jessica Oostergo

Promotional photos by Chelsey Stuyt

Production photos by Pedro Augusto Meza