The Or Festival 2020-2024

The Or Festival annually produces a showcase of 10-minute plays that are written, dramaturged, directed and performed by local Vancouver artists. Each play, selected anonymously by our panel of curators, receives a full production, complete with dramaturgical support, direction and presentation at a local theatre.

I’ve had the privilege of being asked to participate in The Or Festival since it’s inception. Creator and producer, Olivia Etey, is a force to be reckoned with. Her passion and support of new playwrights is demonstrated by her dedication. Fabulist Theatre, another Vancouver local theatre company that I’ve worked with, has recently joined forces, making The Or Festival even stronger. https://orfestival.com/wp/

“Louisa Phung is a game-changing Director and Dramaturg. Their mind is an ever-flowing fountain of brilliant ideas. A brain that runs as fast as the frames of a film. Their play EMBERS is a masterpiece. Louisa knows how to talk to every human on the planet and how to create a safe artistic environment. I have seen artists they have worked with transform and go on to have powerful professional careers in the arts as writers and actors. Louisa is a champion of artists and people and an asset in every room. I vouch for them with all my being. We are so lucky to have had them as a part of every single Or Festival (for which I am the producer), as either a director or dramaturg. The actors and playwrights they have worked with have gone on to have extemded runs of plays in Toronto to screenwriting credits in film. The Or Fest would not be the same without them, nor the lives of those involved. They are a dramaturg in demand!! A must-work-with human!!”

- Olivia Etay

Or Festival 5

“Turbulance” (2024)

Written by Jessica Lemes Da Silva. Dramaturgy by Louisa Phung. Directed by Shane Leydon.

An anxious passenger must confront buried emotions while on a turbulent flight to visit her pilot- brother in recovery.

“Louisa’s dramaturgical skills are precise and on point. When rewriting my short play, Turbulence, her attention to character motivation, narrative arc, and plot structure sharpened the clarity and tightened the dramatic tension. Louisa’s eagle eyes elevated my piece to the next level.”

-Jessica Lemes Da Silva

Or Festival 3

“The Funeral Plot” (2022)

Written by Nicholas Guerreiro. Dramaturgy by Louisa Phung. Directed by Garvin Chan.

A Portuguese couple celebrates their anniversary in front of friends and family while also trying to kill one another once and for all.

“Louisa will help you polish your script until it shines! That’s what she did for mine. Louisa is kind, wise, and witty. She helped me make sure every joke landed, asked insightful questions about characters, and even pointed out a very long, very boring section that weakened the piece, but that I really did not want to cut for some reason. When I finally listened to her and let it go, the script just sang! After just a few sessions of dramaturgy with Louisa, my play was stronger, sharper, and funnier. Obrigado, Louisa!”

-Nichola Guerreiro

That’s Not Canon Productions

Golden Ash Podcast (2020)

Written by Mary Littlejohn. Dramaturgy by Louisa Phung.

A detective suspects that an accidental death and a missing person’s case are somehow linked. Through a series of interviews and character studies, two mysteries unfold and the secrets of the Hazel Street are revealed.

“Louisa provides insightful and actionable feedback, delving into the work and getting to the heart of it. She clearly puts time and effort into presenting feedback in a way that is comprehensive, well-thought out, organized, and clear. She helped me figure out how to sharpen my script while maintaining the themes, characters, and substance of the piece. Thank you Louisa!”

-Mary Littlejohn

Or Festival 4

“Qi Pao” (2023)

Written by Kenneth Tynan. Dramaturgy and Directed by Louisa Phung

A young girl confronts herself about being mixed race and what it means to be Chinese.

“Louisa is a great director and dramaturge whose vision not only helps but also elevates scripts to a place where people can truly appreciate the work being done on stage.”

-Kenneth Seto Tynan

Or Festival 1

“Gramophone” (2020)

Written Zahida Rahemtulla. Dramaturgy and Directed by Louisa Phung

A father and son share a joint after radiation therapy and talk about family, life, and “superfruits.”

“Louisa Phung is an amazing dramaturg. She has a special skill for giving notes that cut to the heart of the matter, and has a keen sense of structure, character, and overall story tightening. She was able to see things I wasn't able to see. I was lucky to have her as the dramatrug for my play, Gramophone, for the Or Festival. Beyond insight and helpful notes, Louisa is also a fun, generous, and lovely collaborator to work with. She has a rare talent of being kind while remaining rigorous, and direct while always remaining a supportive collaborator. She is very generous with her notes, and I always felt she was rooting for and believed in my work, while simultaneously giving direct, constructive, and ample feedback. HIghly recommend!”

- Zahida Rahemtulla

Brave New Playwrights Festival 2021

Siren Song (2021)

Written by Sydney Marino. Directed and Dramaturgy by Louisa Phung

Siren Song is a play about a mythical Siren and the fisherman who falls under her spell. They must fight against her enchanting song in hopes of saving his life and freeing her from her murderous curse.