welcome
FEBRUARY 2025 | VOLUME 248
Feb 10-23
We were very sad to hear of the death of Chris Wootten at the end of January. Chris was a prime mover in the development of Vancouver theatre in the 1970s and ‘80s, and a real bright light, just a wonderful man. He founded the Vancouver East Cultural Centre—The Cultch—as well as the Vancouver Children’s Festival. He was in charge of entertainment at Expo ’86, headed the Vancouver Playhouse, and produced the international tours of Billy Bishop Goes to War. Chris was 81. The family wishes to celebrate his life privately, but invites donations to cancer care at Lion’s Gate Hospital, the Ancient Forest Alliance, or the Savary Island Land Trust.
See our On Now page for everything running through late February. Be sure to look for the BUY TICKETS buttons. And plot your theatregoing into late March with the offerings on our Coming Soon page.
Theatre lovers, theatre students, theatre historians and casual readers are invited to browse our ARCHIVES pages. Read 1000+ reviews of what you may have seen or missed over the past two decades of Vancouver-area theatre.
Important Note: The BUY TICKETS Button on our PREVIEW and REVIEW pages is strictly a convenience for theatregoers. Click on the button and get direct access to the company’s box office for that show. Vancouverplays gets no cut or commission from your ticket purchase. 100% of the money goes directly to the theatre company.
Bard on the Beach invites you to join them for a trip to the Stratford Festival, Oct. 1-5. Hotel and meals, 4 performances, a tour,$500 tax receiptand more included in the price: $3750/person (double occupancy). To secure a spot, non-refundable 50% deposit is due by Feb. 15. Contact Taylar at tball@bardonthebeach.org
Eighth and Eight invites you to their Live Reading Theatre series, hosted by Allan Morgan at the Plaskett Gallery in New Westminster. Be a reader or watch the reading of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s The Visit, Feb. 19, 1:45. Free. https://www.eighthandeight.com/event/reading-theatre-the-visit/
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre Company (vACT) invites Asian Canadian playwrights and creators to apply to the vACT Creation Lab. For details see https://vact.ca/apply-now-for-the-2025-vact-creation-lab/. Application deadline Feb. 21.
The inaugural recipient of vACT’s Joyce Lam Award to support the work of a mid-career/senior Asian Canadian writer, Kamila Sediego has received a $5000 cash prize for her work Engkanto! Congrats, Kamila! https://vact.ca/announcing-the-inaugural-joyce-lam-award-recipient/
The Arts Club invites you to buy its 50/50 raffle. Five tix for $15. Draw Mar. 7. https://artsclub.rafflenexus.com/
Ruby Slippers Theatre invites applications from female-identifying and gender non-conforming IBPOC playwrights and directors for its 2026 Advance Theatre Festival. Apply by May 15. Details at https://www.rubyslippers.ca/call-for-submissions.
Theatre Replacement’s Panto Land &PantoTown summer camps are open for registration. Info and registration HERE.
GOTTA SING! GOTTA DANCE! intensive musical theatre summer camp is open for registration at https://jccgv.com/program-category/gotta-sing-gotta-dance/.
The Improv Centre is offering classes in improv at all levels. Info HERE.
Richmond’s Gateway Theatre Academy is offering acting and musical theatre classes for kids ages 6-7. https://gatewaytheatre.com/academy
Enjoy,
Jerry
THE ARTS ARE NOT SOMEHOW APART FROM OUR NATIONAL LIFE,
THE ARTS ARE THE HEART OF OUR NATIONAL LIFE.
— Barack and Michelle Obama, 2009
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Vancouver's arts and culture website providing theatre news, previews and reviews