photo by Tanja-Tiziana

photo by Tanja-Tiziana

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“Pearle is ascendant… nearing the top of her game as a host and monologist.”
-- Gracing The Stage

Award-winning drag tragicomedienne Pearle Harbour presents her cabaret spectacular Agit-Pop! – musical meditations for the pre-post-apocalypse. Developed over five years of live performance, Agit Pop! is an ever-changing collection of Pearle’s favourite, best, and most heart-wrenchingly hilarious short acts.

Weaving her signature acid wit and demented storytelling through the day’s headlines, Pearle takes on the world, from our mounting ecological anxiety, to nuclear tensions (past, present, future), from the well-trod tactics of strongmen, to digital escapism. 

With live accompaniment by musical director Steven Conway, Pearle serenades audiences with new arrangements of old classics and little known gems by David Bowie, Judy Garland, Tom Waits, and many more.

 
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NNNN, Critic’s Pick, NOW Magazine:
"Pearle is a wise, frank dispenser of truths. She's like Greek tragedy's Cassandra, as played by Eve Arden...
in only two full-length shows, Miller's Pearle has emerged as one of the most engaging, thoughtful performance artists around. True to this show's title, she agitates us – in a good and necessary way."

BEST OF STAGE 2020, Tapeworthy:
”a haunting rumination on death and life in this apocalyptic world, with some biting zingers…
all as a method to calm us with her charms and soothing personality.”

Toronto Life Magazine:
"part deliciously retro, part very much here and now... blends spiky sociopolitical humour with smooth renditions of classics by the likes of David Bowie and Judy Garland."

Times Colonist:
OUTstages has a star-in-waiting on its hands with Pearle Harbour… one of the country’s next hot artists…
This is one of those artists you want to see now, while you can.”

Gracing The Stage:
“A cabaret exploring our collective 21st century anxiety, that uses 20th century imagery and pop songs to soothe our jangled nerves, and point out that apocalyptic fears aren’t new, and can be managed. Justin Miller’s coutured and coiffed alter-ego Pearle is ascendant as a host and entertainer, nearing the top of her game as a host and monologist.”

Vancouver Magazine:
“One crazy-cool show… expect to be ‘part of the fun,’ so yeah, bring your shiest friend.”

Life With More Cowbell:
"There’s some truly frightening stuff happening out in the world right now—but, ultimately, Pearle’s message is one of awareness, engagement, hope and love. Let’s do better. Let’s reach out to each other. Let’s turn back that clock."

Mooney On Theatre:
Underneath a warm and glamorous persona, Pearle Harbour delivers social commentary
that is incisive [and] biting… Conway’s accompaniment is terrific. They move from keyboards to guitar to drums seamlessly, all while providing haunting harmonies and back-up vocals.”


 
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Next Stage Theatre Festival, Factory Theatre — Toronto, ON (2020)
Club PuSh, PuSh International Performing Arts Festival — Vancouver, BC (2020)
Yukon Arts Centre — Whitehorse, YT (2020)
OUTstages — Victoria, BC (2020)

Holy Smokes Music Festival — Guelph, ON (2019)
In the Soil Festival — St. Catherines, ON (2019)
Theatre Passe Muraille — Toronto, ON (2018)

book Agit-Pop! pearleharbour@gmail.com

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directed by Rebecca Ballarin
musical director and live accompaniment Stella Conway
video design by Adam Miller
lighting design by Logan Raju Cracknell

Development on Agit-Pop! was made possible thanks to the Toronto Arts Council.

 
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Photos by Michael CooperAgit-Pop! at Theatre Passe Muraille;

Tanja-Tiziana — Agit-Pop! at Next Stage Theatre Festival, Factory Theatre;

Mike Thomas —Agit-Pop! at the Yukon Arts Centre.