Theatre

Playwrights Jessica Schacht and Sam Young of Duncan and Burnaby, respectively, present an online reading of their play ‘You Are Not A Ghost’ June 8 as part of TheatreOne’s Emerging Voices series. (Photos courtesy Centric Photography/Sam Young)

West Coast playwrights turning viral advice column letter into experimental play

Nanaimo’s TheatreOne presents online reading of ‘You Are Not A Ghost’

 

Nicolle Nattrass and Michael Armstrong are presenting an online reading on May 9. (Photos courtesy Joni Marcolin/Heather Armstrong)

Nanaimo playwrights present online Mother’s Day script readings

Nicolle Nattrass and Michael Armstrong to read from in-progress plays

 

Nanaimo playwright Anne Nesbitt is presenting a staged reading of her play about Indigenous conservationist Gertrude Bernard, also known as Anahareo (from left). (Photo courtesy Andrew Nesbitt/Riding Mountain National Park)

Island playwright tells the story of Indigenous woman who ‘saved the beaver’

Anne Nesbitt presents ‘Anahareo’ as part of TheatreOne staged reading series

 

Strong support from the public for the Bridge The Gap campaign will keep the Chemainus Theatre going until performances can hopefully return to the stage in the fall. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Popular Island dinner theatre hoping fundraiser can Bridge The Gap

Chemainus Theatre patrons launch campaign to assist in filling the void until performances return

Strong support from the public for the Bridge The Gap campaign will keep the Chemainus Theatre going until performances can hopefully return to the stage in the fall. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Conversations with the Sea from Impulse Theatre during the 2020 SKAMpede in Victoria. (Courtesy Theatre SKAM)

Waterway theatre display seeks plays, actors for 2021 SKAMpede in Victoria

Second season set for physically distanced show going on the Gorge

Conversations with the Sea from Impulse Theatre during the 2020 SKAMpede in Victoria. (Courtesy Theatre SKAM)
The shadow cast of the Satyr Players production of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’: Linda Dohmeier as Dr. Scott, Olivia Erickson as Columbia, Brandon Caul as Rocky, Christopher Carter as Brad, Charlie Prince as Eddie, Branden Martell as Riff Raff, Jenna Morgan as Magenta, Megan Rhode as Janet and Adrien Kennedy as Dr. Frank-N-Furter (clockwise from left). (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)

VIU student actors go online for 25th-annual ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’

Satyr Players theatre company to broadcast pre-recorded shadow production

The shadow cast of the Satyr Players production of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’: Linda Dohmeier as Dr. Scott, Olivia Erickson as Columbia, Brandon Caul as Rocky, Christopher Carter as Brad, Charlie Prince as Eddie, Branden Martell as Riff Raff, Jenna Morgan as Magenta, Megan Rhode as Janet and Adrien Kennedy as Dr. Frank-N-Furter (clockwise from left). (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)
William Anderson’s Father Francis attempts an exorcism on Danni, played by Whitley Dunn, to remove demon Nicole Potvin (from left) in ‘Dispossessed, or Danni’s Inferno’ by local playwright Sean Enns at the 2019 New Waves Festival. This year’s festival is taking place online. (Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo’s Western Edge Theatre announces New Waves Festival lineup

Two-day event to feature online staged readings of plays by four area playwrights

William Anderson’s Father Francis attempts an exorcism on Danni, played by Whitley Dunn, to remove demon Nicole Potvin (from left) in ‘Dispossessed, or Danni’s Inferno’ by local playwright Sean Enns at the 2019 New Waves Festival. This year’s festival is taking place online. (Bulletin file photo)
Ty Wesley, Nicole Darlington and Cameron Macaulay (from left) performed in the Beholder Entertainment production <em>Gender Sucks!</em> in the 2020 Nanaimo Fringe Festival. (Video still courtesy Sam Wharram)

Nanaimo Fringe Festival artist lottery open to local and B.C. playwrights

Organizers hope to stage plays in-person at indoor and outdoor venues this summer

Ty Wesley, Nicole Darlington and Cameron Macaulay (from left) performed in the Beholder Entertainment production <em>Gender Sucks!</em> in the 2020 Nanaimo Fringe Festival. (Video still courtesy Sam Wharram)
Western Edge Theatre artistic director Brian March and local theatre artists Brianna Hamilton and Daniel Puglas (from left) make up Western Edge’s new team of “artistic associates.” (News Bulletin file photos/Courtney Harder)

Nanaimo theatre company adds younger, diverse voices to artistic team

Western Edge hopes new ‘artistic associates’ will help form new ideas, reach new audiences

Western Edge Theatre artistic director Brian March and local theatre artists Brianna Hamilton and Daniel Puglas (from left) make up Western Edge’s new team of “artistic associates.” (News Bulletin file photos/Courtney Harder)
The Chemainus Theatre Festival’s Playbill Dining Room reopened to host small musical performances. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Chemainus Theatre receives Island Coastal Economic Trust funding

Project will involve recording and live-streaming Playbill Presents series content

The Chemainus Theatre Festival’s Playbill Dining Room reopened to host small musical performances. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Bard to Broadway Theatre Society may stage shows outdoors next summer. (PQB News photo file)

Qualicum Beach’s Bard to Broadway group may stage shows outdoors

Theatre society plans smaller productions due to ongoing pandemic

Bard to Broadway Theatre Society may stage shows outdoors next summer. (PQB News photo file)
Hospice worker Glorie, played by Kim Rogers, cares for the dying Grace, played by Patricia Zogar (from right), in the Yellow Point Drama Group production of ‘Grace and Glorie.’ (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)

Hospice worker and patient butt heads in upcoming Nanaimo theatre production

Yellow Point Drama Group presents ‘Grace and Glorie’ at Cedar Community Hall

Hospice worker Glorie, played by Kim Rogers, cares for the dying Grace, played by Patricia Zogar (from right), in the Yellow Point Drama Group production of ‘Grace and Glorie.’ (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)
Barbara Metcalf and Brian March, seen here in rehearsal, star as crossword puzzle enthusiaists who meet on the San Francisco subway in ‘2 Across.’ (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo’s Western Edge Theatre returns to the stage in Port Theatre debut

Theatre group presents ‘2 Across,’ described as a ‘middle-aged romantic comedy’

Barbara Metcalf and Brian March, seen here in rehearsal, star as crossword puzzle enthusiaists who meet on the San Francisco subway in ‘2 Across.’ (Photo submitted)
Scott Rivers, Jennefer Laidley, Donna Deacon and David Innell (clockwise from top-left) star in ‘All and Nothing,’ a new play by Gabriola playwright T.J. Radcliffe. The play will be staged online via Zoom. (Image courtesy Ray Appel)

Gabriola theatre group live-streaming two new pandemic-themed plays

Gabriola Players to broadcast ‘All and Nothing’ and ‘Syd’s Cosmic Slump’ using Zoom

Scott Rivers, Jennefer Laidley, Donna Deacon and David Innell (clockwise from top-left) star in ‘All and Nothing,’ a new play by Gabriola playwright T.J. Radcliffe. The play will be staged online via Zoom. (Image courtesy Ray Appel)
Actors Rob Atkinson and David Bigelow (from left) rehearse a socially-distanced scene that involves an audience participant in the Nanaimo Theatre Group production of the one-person show ‘Every Brilliant Thing.’ (Josef Jacobson/The New Bulletin)

Live theatre coming back as Nanaimo Theatre Group will present one-person show

Theatre company staging COVID-19-conscious production of ‘Every Brilliant Thing’

Actors Rob Atkinson and David Bigelow (from left) rehearse a socially-distanced scene that involves an audience participant in the Nanaimo Theatre Group production of the one-person show ‘Every Brilliant Thing.’ (Josef Jacobson/The New Bulletin)
Lantzville playwright Nicolle Nattrass is presenting of reading of her latest play, Suddenly 50, via Zoom on Aug. 28. (Photo courtesy Joni Marcolin)

Lantzville playwright explores middle age in new solo show

Nicolle Nattrass to present an online reading of her latest play, ‘Suddenly 50’

Lantzville playwright Nicolle Nattrass is presenting of reading of her latest play, Suddenly 50, via Zoom on Aug. 28. (Photo courtesy Joni Marcolin)
Connor Runnings, Willem Roelants, and Beholder Entertainment’s Sam Wharram, Ty Wesley and Miles Kehoe (clockwise from left) have all had to modify their productions to suit the Nanaimo Fringe Festival’s online format. (Photos courtesy Connor Runnings, Willem Roelants and Sam Wharram)

Nanaimo Fringe Festival productions adapt to new online format

10th annual festival to be live-streamed due to COVID-19

Connor Runnings, Willem Roelants, and Beholder Entertainment’s Sam Wharram, Ty Wesley and Miles Kehoe (clockwise from left) have all had to modify their productions to suit the Nanaimo Fringe Festival’s online format. (Photos courtesy Connor Runnings, Willem Roelants and Sam Wharram)
Last month Frank Moher, Barbara Metcalf, Lorna McLellan and Brian March (clockwise from top-left) performed in Western Edge Theatre’s production of ‘Sandpiper Serenade,’ by local playwright Bill Miner, over the online videoconferencing platform Zoom. (Screenshot courtesy Frank Moher)

Nanaimo’s Western Edge Theatre staging online production via Zoom

Theatre company to present ‘The Shadow World’ by Island playwright Bill Miner

Last month Frank Moher, Barbara Metcalf, Lorna McLellan and Brian March (clockwise from top-left) performed in Western Edge Theatre’s production of ‘Sandpiper Serenade,’ by local playwright Bill Miner, over the online videoconferencing platform Zoom. (Screenshot courtesy Frank Moher)
Beholder Entertainment co-founders Miles Kehoe, production manager, Ty Wesley, writer and recipient of the inaugural Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre artist sponsorship, and Sam Wharram, director (from left) present ‘Gender Sucks!’ at the upcoming 2020 Nanaimo Fringe Festival. (Photo courtesy Sam Wharram)

10th annual Nanaimo Fringe Festival to be held online due to COVID-19

Festival will feature six productions by local, regional and international artists

Beholder Entertainment co-founders Miles Kehoe, production manager, Ty Wesley, writer and recipient of the inaugural Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre artist sponsorship, and Sam Wharram, director (from left) present ‘Gender Sucks!’ at the upcoming 2020 Nanaimo Fringe Festival. (Photo courtesy Sam Wharram)
Bonnie Catterson is closing Nanaimo’s Kismet Theatre Academy after eight years due to COVID-19 and her own health issues. Among the school’s productions was Rock of Ages in 2018. (Photos courtesy Vital Image/submitted)

Nanaimo’s Kismet Theatre Academy closes after eight years due to COVID-19

Bonnie Catterson founded the school in 2012 as ‘a place for the oddballs’

Bonnie Catterson is closing Nanaimo’s Kismet Theatre Academy after eight years due to COVID-19 and her own health issues. Among the school’s productions was Rock of Ages in 2018. (Photos courtesy Vital Image/submitted)