Lasquirkus!

"During a long rainy winter on an off the grid gulf island with no car ferry, it's amazing what residents will come up with to pass the time. "

From riding unicycles, to experimental jazz, building mud houses, walking on stilts, making clothes and art, growing food, blowing in to big brass instruments and dancing just to keep warm, the locals of Lasqueti Island know how to keep themselves and others entertained. This spring an eclectic assortment of Lasquetians are travelling around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands to present "Lasquirkus -The Lasqueti Circus", all all-ages \event and the wackiest variety show this side of the Georgia Straight!

"We are catapulting ourselves out of the forest and in to other communities to make contact with the outside world and to show them what we've been up to", says event organizer and bass drum player Jen Gobby. "We aim to entertain and inspire our extended west coast community, with the sense of hope found through laughter, joyous music and the inventive, resourceful spirit that is Lasqueti Island "

Beginning at 4pm there is a slideshow and open circle discussion about "Building a Better World" hosted by the Mudgirls Natural Building Collective. The Mudgirls are a group of women building low cost sustainable housing here on the coast. A Potluck dinner follows the discussion at 6 pm - bring your own local homemade specialty! Dinner is accompanied with live jazz by Zygoat, and offers a time to browse and purchase some of the Lasqueti-made arts and crafts and fashions on display. At 7:30 pm, The mischievous duo Clever Trever and Mr P take over the stage with "The Suitcase Show", a magical, musical slapstick comedy show that surprises at every turn... At 8:30 pm the event switches into high gear as  kick off their set of boisterous songs of revolution, passion and the human struggle. The band will share the stage with stiltwalkers, unicyclists, jugglers, dancers and more! Then at 9:30, DJ beatfarmer keeps the energy going as he takes over the sound waves with global rythms as we dance the night away!

The cost of the event is 15$ per person or 30$ for the whole family. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more information contact Jen at lasquetimudgirls [at] yahoo [dot] ca

Join the quirky folks of Lasquirkus at :

• Errington Community Hall on Friday April 11th
• Beaver Point Hall on Saltspring Island on April 12th
• Hornby Island Community Hall on April 13th
• Lasqueti Island Community Hall on April 24th
• Nanaimo - The &Loan Gallery - 33 Victoria Crescent -April 25th

Bring a potluck item, your dancing shoes, and the whole family!