Relationships, research and reasons for hope
Set in Victoria, As Above centres on Jo, eight years sober, and attempting to rebuild the life she destroyed. Once a prominent botanical researcher, she now lectures at a horticultural centre, while embarking on a new relationship with Rick, who may be too good to be true.
A mysterious phone call sends her on an urgent quest to find Ada, her estranged daughter, as her research bleeds into her complicated personal life in rich, unexpected, and life-changing ways.
Commissioned by the Belfry and written by a Jessie and Dora Award-winning BC playwright, As Above appeals to the hope in all of us.
“At the centre of As Above is the relationship between Jo and Rick—a relationship unlike any I have seen onstage before. This is a play full of compassion for humanity—with all our virtues, our flaws—and our desire for connection.” -Michael Shamata, Artistic Director
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World Premiere
Written by Christine Quintana
Directed by Meg Roe
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Playwright Christine Quintana
Born in Los Angeles to a Mexican-American father and a Dutch-British-Canadian mother, Christine grew up as a grateful visitor to the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people. Christine is an actor, playwright, and co-Artistic Producer of Delinquent Theatre. In these various capacities, she has worked with Tarragon Theatre, the Arts Club Theatre Company, Bard on the Beach, The Cultch, Neworld Theatre, Electric Company Theatre, Rumble Theatre, Boca Del Lupo, Zee Zee Theatre, Caravan Farm Theatre, Ruby Slippers Theatre, Playwrights Theatre Centre, Pi Theatre, Gateway Theatre, Nightswimming Theatre, Belfry Theatre, Stratford Festival, and Young People’s Theatre. Her writing has been translated and performed in Spanish, French, ASL, and German.
Creation/performing highlights include Espejos: Clean (translated and adapted by Paula Zelaya Cervantes), premiering with Neworld Theatre and South Coast Repertory; Never The Last (co-created with Molly MacKinnon), produced by Delinquent Theatre, recipient of 5 Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nominations including Outstanding Production and Outstanding New Script and winner of Significant Artistic Achievement; Selfie (commissioned by Théâtre la Seizième in French, and Young People’s Theatre in English, Governor General’s Award nominee, winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding TYA Play, the Sydney Risk Prize for Outstanding Script by an Emerging Playwright, and the Tom Hendry award for TYA); Good Things To Do (rEvolver Festival and FoldA).
As an actor, Christine has recently played in Made In Canada (rice & beans theatre), Anywhere But Here (Electric Company Theatre), The Coyotes (Caravan Farm Theatre), Marine Life (Ruby Slippers Theatre), Yoga Play (Gateway Theatre), East Van Panto: The Wizard of Oz (Theatre Replacement and The Cultch). She was honored with the 2017 Siminovitch Protege Prize for Playwriting from Marcus Youssef, and holds a BFA in Acting from the University of British Columbia.
