We are very pleased to write about this particular Opera for various of reasons. Over the years various members of the Vancouver Opera have stayed with us at the Sunset Inn and we look forward to them staying here in the future too, they really are a fantastic group of people who fit in very well here.

Also, the opera has been written by a very good friend to us all at the Sunset Inn, in the name of the Canuck spoken word artist Shane Koyczan. His face will likely be familiar to many as he became an overnight sensation due to his appearance at the opening of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics where he recited his incredible Poem to the whole world called ‘We are more’.

Website : http://www.shanekoyczan.com/

Watch Shane in person recite the poem here from Vancouver itself.
We are more by Shane koyczan

Another very good friend to the Hotel also features in the Opera himself, his name is Neil Weisensel. He is one of the most prolific Opera composers of this time, is a tireless worker and his work, composition and arrangements have been included in various feature films, stage works, documentaries and Animation to name but a few.

Website: http://www.neilmusic.com/html/about.php

The subject matter of this Opera is very heavy indeed but it is a subject matter that should be addressed, the opera is focused on the matter of Bullying and it is a frank assessment of Shane’s experience of being bullied and his role himself as a bully. It is a story of survival and that all of us have felt the experience that bullying has on people, whether it is themselves or others who have been subjected to this most common and terrible ordeal. We feel it is an incredibly moving story that is not only poignant but needs to be addressed to a wider audience – and there is no bigger stage than this.

The worldwide premier of this Opera takes place at the Vancouver Playhouse On October 23rd.
The dates are as follows:
October 23, 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30
November 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.vancouveropera.ca/tickets/

Shane was also invited to present a TEDtalk lecture at a TED Conference – the video has since gone viral on Youtube with well over 14 million viewers. Watch it here….
\"To This Day,\"

Bullying Helplines:
Youth in BC http://youthinbc.com/category/resources/bullying/

Stop a Bully: http://www.stopabully.ca/