For Immediate Release: Roger Blenman, Writer/Director 604 253 6337 info@rogerblenman.

com Bev Cheung, Production Manager 778 883 8129 bevc@sfu.ca The Opposite of Innocence: Writer/Director Roger Blenman (rogerblenman.com) steps away from his own Spoken Word performances to present an engaging, intense work on youth, sexuality, and violence.

Set in a suburban basement in 1993, this play looks at a group of teens and their fascination with historical violence and non-conformity. Their vicious toying with a nave classmate unbalances their own relationship. The results are disastrous. This production features some of Vancouvers best, up -and-coming young actors: newcomers Aly-Khan Jamal from Alberta; and Sinad OFlynn an excitingnew to Vancouvertalent from New Zealand; Nick Rose, fresh from Bunked! and Theatre Under the Stars; and veteran actor Nelson Wong, (TV: Fringe, V, The L Word and others, Film: Alvin and Chipmunks, Third Man Out, and others.)

Roger Blenman (Director/Playwright) is a spoken word artist, actor, author and educator. His work attacks concepts of culture, sexuality, race, spirituality, social issues and place. In his free time he teaches mathematics and science. He is Barbadian born but Vancouver living.

Beverly Cheung (Production Manager) is a 3rd year Theatre Performance Major at SFU School for Contemporary Arts. She had a role in the SFU spring Mainstage production of Picnic, directed by Bill Dow. This is her first attempt at the production side of theatre. She is a dance teacher at the Langley branch of Stage Coach Theatre Arts and a professional roving performer.

Aly-Khan Jamal (Michael) is currently a student at the University of Alberta, studying Computing Science and Drama. An upcoming actor, he has appeared in a number of stage productions, recent credits include; Fame, Heads and Tails of the Arabian Nights, and Mad Forest. He has also written and acted in a short film The Following, which screened at The Pacific Cinematheque Theatre in Vancouver.

Sinad O'Flynn (Katherine) is a bright new talent from New Zealand. She moved to Canada in 2012 to pursue a career in acting and to study at Vancouver Film School in the Intensive Acting Program. Sinad is a driven and passionate performer. She has acted in various short films and other indy projects, most recently taking the starring role of Persephone in Compendiun X: Hades.

Nick Rose (Randy) is a graduate of the Vancouver Film School and classically trained singer, Nick most recently starred in the Canadian premier of BUNKED!: A Camp Musical with Awkward Stage. He is planning to attend the musical theatre program at Grant MacEwan University and thrilled to include this play into his last Vancouver summer.

Nelson Wong (Garret) was a regular on The Donald Strachey Mysteries as Kenny Kwon and has appeared in over 50 stage and screen productions. Recent credit include American Mary (feature film), Falling In Time (stage: Screaming Weenie), and Once Upon A Time (TV). See him at Vancouver Fringe 2013 in Assaulted Fish: Sacred & Profane.

Interviews and production/cast photos available! The Opposite of Innocence: A Dramatized Reading. Synopsis: Teenaged Garret, Michael, and Katherine have created a space for themselves in a world they nearly despise. The balance of their love and friendship is upset when they lure lonely, nave Randy into their circle. Repressed sexuality emerges and violence surfaces. Not recommended for unaccompanied minors. The Opposite of Innocence will be presented Saturday July 27 at 8 pm PAL Studio Theatre. 581 Cadero Street 8th floor Vancouver, BC V6G 3L3 Advance tickets are $12 and are available from brownpapertickets.com 1 800-838-3006 http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/418458 More information/press tickets: info@rogerblenman.com

Authors Website: www.rogerblenman.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/603921172972659/ Twitter: @oppositeofI -30-