SECRET INGREDIENTS
Coming up at HOLD ON LET GO 2025
Tuesday, February 4 @ 7pm
Saturday, February 8 @ 7pm
Russian Hall (600 Campbell Ave, Vancouver)
BUY TICKETS
Tuesday, February 4 @ 7pm
Saturday, February 8 @ 7pm
Russian Hall (600 Campbell Ave, Vancouver)
BUY TICKETS
Image description: A cake sitting on top of a bright pink tablecloth. The picture is taken from above. The cake is decorated, covered in white icing, with light coral icing flowers and yellow sprinkles. There are real lavender sprigs around the outside of the cake, as well as pomegranate seeds. In blue icing, is written: “I broke + threw out your ceramic knife sorry for lying.”
Secret Ingredients is a theatre project created by Keely O’Brien that uses cake to explore the intricacies of human relationships. Leading up to the performance, the public is invited to consider messages that they find too difficult to express directly to someone in their life, and submit them via an online form. These messages are translated into beautiful, subversive, and delicious cakes, which are delivered to the intended recipients as an edible form of communication. The project culminates in a live performance and cake tasting, inspired by the cakes and the stories behind them.
Like overhearing tantalizing gossip at a neighbouring cafe table, Secret Ingredients satisfies a human itch to peek into intimate and relatable details of other people’s lives, while also inviting reflection on our own unspoken feelings. The project pairs sweet flavours with challenging messages: the dark chocolate of embarrassment, the citrus zest of annoyance, the tart cherry jam of grief. Secret Ingredients takes a playful and intentionally inefficient approach to the challenges of honest communication, and provides a window into the quirks, nuances, joy and heartache of real relationships.
Creator and Performer: Keely O’Brien
Sound Design: Alex Mah
Projection and Lighting Design: Andie Lloyd
Access Consultant: Veronique/V West
Production and Stage Manager: Robert Azevedo
Props Builder/Buyer: Jesse Orr
Mentor: Maiko Yamamoto
Secret Ingredients is developed through Theatre Replacement’s COLLIDER Artist Residency.
Information for Presenters: Available for touring. View touring information package here.
CONTACT: [email protected]
ACCESS INFORMATION
-Full accessibility practices are listed in the access guide.You can download it here:
PDF VERSION / WORD DOCUMENT VERSION
-Content warnings: mention of parent’s life threatening illness, psychiatric hospitalization.
-A pre show audio note is available to increase access for blind and partially sighted audience members. You can listen to it at this link.
-Visual elements of the show will be described, but sections of the show with audience participation have not been tested for accessibility for blind and partially sighted audiences. We recommend using the companion ticket program, as attending with a buddy could make these sections more accessible. If you require an extra ticket for a companion, please email: [email protected]
-PLEASE NOTE: Cakes are served to the audience as part of the show; eating the cake served is optional. The cakes are vegan, contain gluten and nuts, and may contain trace amounts of dairy and eggs. We will have to-go containers ready if you prefer to remain masked and enjoy your cake later at home. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
-Full accessibility practices are listed in the access guide.You can download it here:
PDF VERSION / WORD DOCUMENT VERSION
-Content warnings: mention of parent’s life threatening illness, psychiatric hospitalization.
-A pre show audio note is available to increase access for blind and partially sighted audience members. You can listen to it at this link.
-Visual elements of the show will be described, but sections of the show with audience participation have not been tested for accessibility for blind and partially sighted audiences. We recommend using the companion ticket program, as attending with a buddy could make these sections more accessible. If you require an extra ticket for a companion, please email: [email protected]
-PLEASE NOTE: Cakes are served to the audience as part of the show; eating the cake served is optional. The cakes are vegan, contain gluten and nuts, and may contain trace amounts of dairy and eggs. We will have to-go containers ready if you prefer to remain masked and enjoy your cake later at home. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.