October is one of the busiest months in theatre locally with productions to suit everyone; music seasons are also in full swing. Whether you are a seasoned fan or a relative neophyte, there is an abundance of arts opportunities.
Impulse Theatre celebrates its fifth birthday with a cabaret Oct. 2, featuring vignettes of previous works and performances from Paper Street, Broken Rhythms, SNAFU/Zopyra, and more. impulsetheatre.ca
Join Pamela Bethel of Hush Money for October’s YOU Show, Message Memories, Oct. 3. Part confessional, part story, part show-and-tell, Message Memories uses forgotten voice recordings from Pamela’s teenage “private” phone line.
Gotta Getta Gimmick returns with the ever-popular and often sold-out chorus line cabaret Oct. 5 featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Weber. gggarts.org
Well-known for their interpretation of Broadway show tunes, Bob Leblanc and Variety Fare take the stage with An Enchanted Evening at the opening of the Ambrosia Centre Dinner Theatre. Running Thursdays and Fridays in October. TicketRocket.co
For over 30 years, William Head on Stage (WHoS), with the help of members of the local theatre community (this year, the Prison Arts Collective) has workshopped and produced plays for the public. Here: A Captive Odyssey Oct. 9 to Nov. 6 is inspired by Peter Johnson’s book Quarantine and true stories of William Head Peninsula. You must purchase tickets in advance. 19+ only. Whonstage.weebly.com
One of Victoria’s oldest community theatre companies, St Luke’s Players, begins its 68th season with Opening Night by Norm Foster Oct. 14-25. stlukesplayers.org
The Phoenix Theatre always places the Spotlight on Alumni for their October production. Join Kate Braidwood (BFA’03) and Andrew Phoenix as the WonderHeads present Loon October 14-24. finearts.uvic.ca
Paper Street Theatre celebrates its fifth season and invites you to Improv’s for Closers (an improvised David Mamet) at Intrepid Theatre Club, October 14-16. Paperstreetco.ca
Fans of the “Castle shows” will be pleased to note that LaunchPad Productions returns with another moody and dark tale for the spooky season. Arkenham Abbey is a psychological horror comedy that will be sure to have you jumping with fright in the many corners of Craigdarroch Castle. Oct. 15-31. Thecastle.ca
Chelsea Hotel, a tribute to Leonard Cohen, conceived and directed by Tracey Power, is the second production of the Belfry Theatre’s 40th season. Oct. 20-Nov. 15. Belfry.bc.ca
Join students of the Canadian College of Performing Arts Company C for Marat/Sade by Peter Weiss. Oct. 22-25. ccpacanada.com
It’s about to become an annual tradition as RKO (Random Knockout Productions), a collective of some of Victoria’s finest young artists, returns with Rocky Horror Show: Live! 2015! directed by Britt Small Oct. 22-31. Rkoproductions.com
Victoria’s newest theatre company, Bema Productions, presents The Grandkid, a fast-paced and engaging comedy about a grandfather and granddaughter. Oct. 24/25/31 and Nov. 1 at Congregation Emanu-el Synagogue. BemaProductionsVic on Facebook.
Jarvolution presents The Weir, by Conor McPherson, an evening of haunted stories you won’t forget, in the beautiful historic setting of The Guild Freehouse. Oct. 20-21 & 27-28.
Atomic Vaudeville Hallowe’en Cabaret Oct. 23-31 and Kaleidoscope’s Little Shop of Horrors (Oct. 31-Nov. 1) round out October’s theatre offerings.
A Place to Listen, Victoria’s newest experimental music and listening series, begins its fourth season with a concert by Toronto composer, cellist, and improvisor Nick Storring. aplacetolisten.ca
