May signals the beginning of the arts festival season with Kaleidoscope Theatre’s Family Theatre Festival and Intrepid Theatre’s UNO Fest on the bill, as well as a wide variety of theatre, music, comedy and art.
For the third annual Family Theatre Festival, Kaleidoscope has joined forces with Puente Theatre/The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, Theatre SKAM and Intrepid Theatre May 2/3 and will be staging shows at the Metro Studio (corner of Quadra and Johnson).
Victoria is a city of choirs, and one of the more recent additions is the Victoria Mendelssohn Choir, conducted by Maestro Simon Leung. The VMC Spring Concert May 2 at Oak Bay United Church and May 3 at Sidney’s St Elizabeth Church features guest soloists, Anna Shill, soprano, and Joshua Lovell, tenor, in a program of music that includes J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn and Schubert. Tickets available at the door and at Long & McQuade, Russell Books and Ivy’s Bookshop in Victoria; Tanner’s Books in Sidney.
Canadian photographer John Taylor, owner of Eclectic Gallery in Oak Bay, is one of 12 artists across Canada to be inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) in Montreal this May. His photographic focus is architecture. The John Taylor Retrospective May 4-June 6 covers 40 years (from 1975-2015). Of local interest, Taylor was site photographer on St. Ann’s Academy, Victoria Memorial Arena and the Blue Bridge projects, among others. Opening exhibition May 9. eclecticgallery.ca
Theatre Inconnu, Victoria’s longest running alternative theatre company, presents Cockfight, a witty and sensitive examination of the confusion around sexual identity, by acclaimed young British playwright Mike Bartlett. May 5-23. ticketrocket.org
“Something wicked this way comes.” Legions of English students have studied Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Now, Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre, under the direction of artistic director Brian Richmond brings this timeless classic to the stage in a text-first adaptation featuring Jacob Richmond, Celine Stubel and Shauna Baird. May 5-24 ticketrocket.org
You’ve seen the film and cheered with your children or grandchildren when the monster Shrek prevails. Now, join Four Seasons Musical Theatre in celebration of their 40th season for SHREK the Musical May 21-31 at Isabelle Reader Theatre in Langford. fsmtheatre.ca
The Reader’s Theatre Festival, at Langham Court Theatre May 23 is a unique opportunity to see four short plays, including the world premiere of local playwright Pippa Catling’s The Steam Room, presented as staged readings by Monterey Middle School Drama Group, Target Theatre and Langham Court Theatre. Admission by donation Langhamtheatre.ca
The penultimate episode of the Derwin Blanshard Show’s third season is May 24. Expect hilarity and topical guests as you become part of a live studio audience at this meta-theatrical (fake) TV variety show.
Gotta Getta Gimmick’s chorus line cabaret 14 at the Belfry Theatre (Studio A) May 25 highlights the music of composer Leonard Bernstein. Tickets are highly prized for this fun-filled evening. Watch the curated Act 1, then stay for Act 2 with sing alongs, jump-ups and Diva Tag. Belfry.bc.ca
Janis La Couvée is a community builder, writer and arts advocate.