The How & The Why

ABOUT THE SHOW

Evolution, Feminism and Destiny collide in Sarah Treem’s (House of Cards,The Affair) poignant play about science, family, and the difficult choices that women face.  Why do women menstruate? Modern science has supplied us with the “How”, but no one seems to have answered the “Why”. Rachel, a young grad student in Evolutionary Biology visits Zelda, a pioneer of the field.  She posits a radical new hypothesis to answer this very question, which just happens to challenge Zelda’s own ground-breaking work. As the two brilliant women spar over their contrary views on science, career and generational divides, the ulterior motives surrounding their intense meeting slowly begin to unravel… 

This production was nominated for a 2019 Jessie Richardson Award.

Join us for a post-show talkback with the creative team after Wednesday’s performance!

 ABOUT THE ARTISTS

“ZELDA” – Bronwen Smith [she/her] | Born in Toronto and raised in North Vancouver, Bronwen fell in love with acting at an early age. Her talent and dedication has led to more than two decades of notable film, television, and theatre roles. Stage credits include Marjorie Prime (Ensemble Theatre) Much Ado About Nothing (Classic Chic) The Cherry Orchard (Smoking Gun Collective), The Learned Ladies (Western Gold Theatre), Vincent River (Osimous Theatre), Problem Child (Squidamisu Theatre), Twelfth Night (What You Will Equity Co-op), and ‘Night, Mother (The Good Company Collective). She has been busy in front of the camera too with over 90 film, television, and commercial credits to her name. When not acting, Bronwen loves teaching acting and mentoring new actors.

Connect with Bronwen on Instagram @bronwenrules and www.bronwensmith.com

“RACHEL”- Annie Arbuckle [she/her] | Annie Arbuckle is a graduate of the BFA Acting program at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Los Angeles. She is so happy to be remounting The How and The Why after a rather lengthy hiatus from the stage. Some favourite past credits include Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (Vagabond Players), Agnes in Agnes of God (Alchemy Theatre), Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (AMDA), Dorcas in The Winter’s Tale (Classic Chic), and of course, Aenigma Theatre’s production of Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit in which she played the role of Estelle.

PRODUCER/DIRECTOR- TANYA MATHIVANAN [she/her] | Tanya is a Singapore-born Canadian Director, Producer, Stage Manager, and Founder/Artistic Director of Aenigma Theatre. She has a Double Honours BA in Theatre and English Literature from The University of British Columbia and has completed an MFA in Directing (UBC). Selected Directing credits include The Turn of The Screw, The How and the Why (2018), VIVA, COPENHAGEN, Dying City, RED, Blackbird, The Zoo Story, No Exit (Aenigma Theatre), The Frontliners (by Zahida Rahemtulla; Playwrights Theatre Company), Coriolanus (UBC Theatre), Cost of Living (Assistant Director- Arts Club Theatre Company), We Will Rock You (Assistant Director- Theatre Under The Stars). She is grateful for the opportunity to revisit this incredible play with such a talented cast and crew.

SET DESIGNER- KIMIRA REDDY [she/her] | Kimira is an accomplished Artist, Set Designer and Creative Director gratefully creating and practicing her art on the unceded Coast Salish Territories. She has worked on a variety of creative projects including virtual reality experiences, exhibition design, art installations and set designs for film and theatre. Kimira has collaborated with companies such as Go2 Productions, UBC, Vancouver Opera, Indian Summer Festival, Canada Wild Arts Society, Greenthumb Theatre, The Arts Club, Zee Zee Theatre and Foolish Operations. 

Connect with Kimira at www.kimirareddy.com 

LIGHTING DESIGNER- CHENGYAN BOON [he/him] | Chengyan is a Vancouver-based theatrical designer. One of his goals in life is to add to the collection of Aenigma Theatre shows he has worked on, which currently includes: Red, Viva, The How and the Why and Turn of the Screw. Other recent credits include: Instantaneous Blue, Snowflake and Lungs (Mitch and Murray Productions), Rebel Grace (Dumb Instrument Dance), Wakey Wakey, The Mountaintop and The Messiah (Pacific Theatre) and Mad Forest (Douglas College). Chengyan has a BFA in Theatre Production and Design from UBC and is a member of IATSE ADC 659.

View his design portfolio at chengyanboon.com

SOUND DESIGNER- SCOTT ZECHNER [he/him] | Scott is a Toronto-hailing, Vancouver-based sound and lighting designer and technical director. Scott has designed multiple shows for Aenigma Theatre including doing both Lighting and Sound for The Turn of the Screw, COPENHAGEN, Dying City, Blackbird and The Zoo Story. Scott has also worked with Touchstone Theatre for multiple seasons, including Late Company, The Best Laid Plans: A Musical and In Tune. Other select credits include The Post-Mistress and Bakersfield Mist (Arts Club), The Duchess AKA Wallis Simpson (Ruby Slippers), Foreign Radical (Theatre Conspiracy), Made of Stone (Prohibition Theatre). The Concierge of Vancouver (Matchmaker Productions). Scott holds a BFA in Theatre Production from UBC and has received two Jessie nominations for sound design and an Ovation nomination for lighting design.

COSTUME DESIGNER- MELICIA ZAINI [they/them] | Melicia (they/them) is a costume designer and textile artist. Born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia to a family of Chinese ancestry, they are grateful to be living and creating on unceded Coast Salish Territories, colonially known as Vancouver, BC. They are very happy to work on another Aenigma Theatre production, after previously designing Turn of the Screw. Most recent theatre credits include costume design for My Little Tomato (vAct & ZeeZee), Courage Now (Firehall Arts Centre), and assistant costume design for Forgiveness (Arts Club & Theatre Calgary). Melicia’s passion lies in telling visually impactful stories through striking colours, and in uplifting the stories of marginalized voices through their art. meliciazaini.com

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SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE!

Adults: $45 | Seniors: $38 | Students: $16