I have to admit Vancouver is no London, New York, or even Toronto when it comes to live theatre, but we are lucky to have some amazing community theatre’s that produce some amazing performances. Here are a few theatres to check out!
1. Gateway Theatre in Richmond
This past December, my family and I had the the pleasure to go to Gateway Theatre in Richmond to watch their production of Anne of Green Gables. We fell in love with Anne Shirley in this musical adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s timeless classic. Anne of Green Gables – The Musical™ follows the poignant and charming story of Anne Shirley, a freckle-faced, red-haired orphan who captures the hearts of her newfound family and neighbours in Avonlea.
Anne of Green Gables – The Musical™ is written by Donald Harron with music by Norman Campbell and adapted from the novel by L. M. Montgomery. Directed by Barbara Tomasic, this musical adaptation of the beloved book was a treat for audiences as it featured talented actors who were singing, dancing, and playing instruments on stage led by Music Director Sean Bayntun and choreography by Nicol Spinola. Kyra Leroux returned to Gateway Theatre as Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables – The Musical™. Gateway audiences will remember Kyra from Gateway’s Music Man in 2016. A performer since she was seven years old in theatre, film and television, Kyra is also known by Riverdale fans as Britta Beach.
If you missed Anne of Green Gables, Gateway theatre has a new production coming out on March 9th called Prophecy Fog. From award-winning Indigenous artist Jani Lauzon, Prophecy Fog takes us on a beautiful and intimate journey about relationships with land, family and sacred spaces. The journey begins in the Mojave Desert in search of Giant Rock, armed with the question: can a site still be sacred if it has been desecrated?
2. Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam
Described by the City of Coquitlam as the “cultural jewel in Coquitlam’s Town Centre”, Evergreen Cultural Centre is the Tri-Cities premiere venue for live arts events, exhibitions, and experiences.
They offer a thrilling season of performing arts presentations in our Studio Theatre, contemporary art exhibitions in the Art Gallery at Evergreen, and arts education programs in a variety of disciplines. They are dedicated to creating an inclusive and accessible community gathering place and invite visitors to immerse themselves in the magic of live performance and visual art.
Coming up: Quebecois band OKTOPUS brings their major presence in the Canadian world music scene. With over 250 performances to their name at home and abroad, Oktopus is a major presence in the Canadian world music scene. Formed in 2010 at the initiative of Gabriel Paquin-Buki (clarinet, composition, arrangements),
Oktopus features virtuosic musicians who offer festive, high-energy performances sprinkled with humour and spiced with storytelling, including: Guillaume Martineau (piano), Matthieu Bourget (bass trombone), Maxime Philippe (drums, percussions), Noémie Caron-Marcotte (flute), Francis Pigeon (trumpet), Madeleine Doyon (tenor trombone), and Veronica Ungureanu (violin). The passion of the group comes through in each song and their original compositions meld seamlessly with skilled improvisation in a way that can only be described as spectacular.
3. Carousel Theatre for Young People
A community theatre in Granville Island that produces many shows with a young audience in mind. From 3 Little Pigs to Clementine, the line-up is a crowd pleaser for the young ones.
Coming up: Carousel Theatre for Young People (CTYP), in partnership with Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People, presents the Canadian premiere of Oz, at Granville Island’s Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright St), from March 1-26, 2023. Set in 1899 Chicago, the play is a whimsically imagined backstory for how L. Frank Baum’s best selling children’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, might have been written. Oz invites audiences to witness the unfolding of the classic children’s story, as Baum – with the help of his housekeeper, a playful young girl, and a collection of everyday objects – develops the characters and story we all know and love.
These are just a few of the local theatres that are worth visiting. Next time you’re looking for something to do, check out what’s on at your local theatre or one nearby!
