Community News & Opportunities

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The Curious Cats Theatre Collective Presents

Time Stands Stil, by Donald Margulies

Oct 14 - 25, 2026

After being seriously injured in an overseas roadside bomb, Sarah, a photojournalist, has returned home to her long time partner, James, a foreign correspondent, who is navigating his own war-induced emotional trauma. Together they attempt to adjust to a new domesticated life, alongside their editor and mentor Richard and his younger girlfriend, Mandy. A gritty and compelling examination on the emotional and moral consequences of war, love, humanity and whether certain desires and images can ever really be erased.

Jericho Arts Centre - 1675 Discovery Street, Vancouver 

https://www.curiouscats.ca/

The 39th Annual Vancouver Writers Fest begins this weekend!

We know that booklovers engage in reading for many reasons: some to learn; some to be transported to another world; some to spark empathy. Whether you’re a reader of fiction or nonfiction, poetry or horror or romance, you’ll find something that speaks directly to you in our lineup of 94 Festival Week events. 

Program / Tickets HERE!

 

Pivot’s 5th Annual Halloween Staged Reading!

This year, we visit Tarrytown and the tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. TWO SHOWS ONLY – October 31st and November 1st at Progress Lab.

Details & Tickets HERE!

The Browning Version by Terence Rattigan

Directed by William B. Davis

The play is set in an English boarding school shortly after the second world war. In this, his second last day at the school, a brilliant scholar and unsuccessful teacher is forced to confront the failures of both his personal and professional lives. Something totally unexpected happens to give him a new sense of purpose and meaning. A tightly focused drama, surprising in its apparent simplicity.

Wednesday – Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm

Matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm

Ticket price: $37 general admission, $32 for seniors, $25 for students

More about the play and for tickets: www.williambdavis.com

 

A New Canadian Musical, written by Amy Newman, music/lyrics by Jim Hodgkinson

Vancouver premiere inspired by true events

1918. France. Two Canadians meet amid the chaos of World War I: a VAD nurse and a bandmaster. He vows to help in the search for her brother, missing at the Front. Both “of a certain age”, they are serving in a war they don’t have to fight. Together they bring music to aid the war effort and unearth clues to the disappearance of her brother. There is camaraderie, laughter, love and loss and through it all, the music that draws them together – as they experience the most exciting chapter in their lives when they least expect it.

Nov 3rd - 6th - FireHall Arts Centre, Vancouver, BC

Nov 7th - Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby, BC

Nov 8th - Nanaimo Museum, Namiano BC

Nov 9th - Arts Spring, Salt Spring Island, BC

Nov 10th - Gabriola Theatre Centre, Gabriola Island, BC

Nov 13th - St. Andrews and St. Mary’s Church, Lillooet, BC

Nov 14 - The Clarke Foundation Theatre, Mission, BC

Tickets & More Information: HERE!

VSFF is coming back for 2027!

We are looking for Submissions from BC & Canadian filmmakers!

We accept all formats and genres of short-form content (other than VR/AR content), including but not limited to: Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Experimental, Music Video, Web Series episodes, Drama, Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Fantasy, Noir, and more.

Selected eligible films can qualify for awards and prizes. In 2025, VSFF handed out $40,000 worth of in-kind and cash prizes!  
Extended deadline is coming up October 30, 2026.

For full terms and details, please visit our FilmFreeway page at https://filmfreeway.com/vsff

We’re thrilled to announce that Gladwell will be in conversation with Stephen Quinn, host of CBC Radio One’s The Early Edition. Be sure to book your tickets soon to hear the New York Times bestselling author discuss his powerful latest work of nonfiction: The American Way of Killing.
 

Tuesday, November 24 at 7:30 pm 
Standard tickets start at: $45  |  Youth under 25: $25
Vancouver Playhouse
600 Hamilton St, Vancouver

Get Your Tickets HERE!

Tightrope Theatre 1330 Napier Street, Vancouver

Our mission is to elevate the art of improvisation while providing joy and laughter to our community. Check out our classes & show schedule at our website, below.

Schedule & Tickets: HERE!

Maestro is a Tightrope Friday night staple! An elimination style improv show that brings twelve skilled performers together for a crash and burn competition to crown the best improvisor of the night! Your vote determines which players are eliminated until only one remains victorious, the Maestro champion!

We’re delighted to shout-out CRS regular Deb Sears, [[second from the top, right side!]] who’s been good enough to share a Complimentary tickets code below!!

Promo Code ME2526 or 2526VOUCHER - if the code doesn’t work, comp allotments for that night have been met!T

Tickets: HERE!

Ongoing Resources & Friends…..

Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver (GEMS) is a member-based organization committed to furthering gender equity in film and television. Previously named Women in Film and Television Vancouver (WIFTV), GEMS incorporated in 1989 as a not-for-profit society registered in British Columbia.

By addressing systemic barriers, GEMS works towards supporting more inclusive, representative media.

The Genre Film Lab / Coffee Chats - past chats available to view online!

gemsvancouver.org

BIZ Books

Your online source for film, television, and theatre books. We invite you to browse through our online store where you will find thousands of titles. Let’s make your creative dreams come true!

Sign up for our newsletter with notices of sales, workshops, blogs & special events at bizbooks.net

GVPTA is a non-profit charitable organization whose membership includes theatre companies, theatre makers and artists, and other organizations and individuals that support theatre. We provide services, promotion of member news and community events, opportunities to connect and network, and hold an annual theatre conference. 

Show Listings Here!

First Saturday Open Studios

First Saturday is a public monthly artist-run open-studio event in Vancouver, North Vancouver, New Westminster, Victoria & the Gulf Islands. Each month a new artist opens their doors to the public to share their work & chat…

Website & details here!

For Reviews of local & international performances & arts events, Colin Thomas [award winning playwright, Theatre Reviewer & Critic for almost four decades] offers thoughtful & insightful gems to consider in the world of theatre & art. Highly recommend!

Fresh Sheet Subscribe!

 

Short Play Challenge Winners!

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Come see the winners of the Short Play Challenge!

Come see the winners of the Short Play Challenge!

 

Yup, it’s that time. The Cold Reading Series is pleased to (finally!) announce the winners of the Short Play Challenge.

These seven writers will have their plays produced in 6 weeks. Yes, that’s right. We’re bringing four plays to life in the next six weeks, and you get to come see them. So mark it down on your calendar if you haven’t already. 

The winners of the short play challenge are:

High School Diplomacy by Cookie Boyle

Out & About by Mairy Beam, Dick O'Connor, Neila Lem, Michel Crete

Kidnappees by Annahis Basmadjian

Legless by Colette Nichol

Thank you for coming out to the shows and voting. Thank you for submitting your scripts. Thank you for supporting local creativity.

Without the support of the actors, writers, and audience members who came out and watched, clapped, laughed, cried, and voted, this wouldn’t be happening. 

We’re very excited to be bringing you three World Premiere’s and one West Coast Premiere this coming May at Studio 16.

Dates: May 9th, 10th, 11th @ 8 pm

Tickets go on sale on April 9th, so watch for that link. 

Collaboration with UBC's Top Screenwriters

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There can be a lot of waiting when you're an actor. Waiting for your agent to call. Waiting to land the perfect role. Waiting to meet the right people.
If you're tired of waiting, and you're craving a community of like-minded artists, actors, writers, filmmakers and directors who want to make their own work, come down to the Cold Reading Series' next event. 
The Cold Reading Series' next event: a collaboration between UBC's top screenwriters and the CRS.
Meet the four writers who are coming from all across North America to share their scripts with you. Part of the UBC Creative Writing Program, these early career writers are looking to hone their material and test it on a live audience. And we need you to bring their characters to life!

What's On?
Bees Are Dying by Michael Glasbourg
edu.Kate (pilot) by Peter Lockyer
Like a Thief in the Night by Kyle D'Odorico
Peace and the Good by Merril-Ann S. Phare

Stop waiting for your phone to ring.
Come out and cold read.
Sit back and enjoy the show.
Meet like minded artists who want to make their own work and take their art into their own hands.
 
January 30th at The Backstage Lounge on Granville Island
Casting at 6:30 pm Show at 8:00 pm
We look forward to seeing you there!

P.S. If you've been wondering who won the Screenwriting Prize...you'll find out soon!  Winners will be announced at the January Episode. 
P.P.S. The last scripts of the Short Play Challenge will be going up in Feb, so keep your eye out for that. 

Dramaturgy for the Short Play Challenge

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JUST ANOTHER REASON TO SUBMIT to the SHORT PLAY CHALLENGE:

If having your short play mounted by the CRS weren't reason enough to submit to the CRS this year, all winning playwrights will receive dramaturgical support from long-time story editor, dramaturg, director, teacher, actor, and CRS host LORI TRIOLO.

Lori's work as an artist, actor, mentor and coach led her to becoming involved in theatre and film as a director and producer. She has directed numerous plays ranging from student to professional to solo show productions. Lori most recently acted as producer and casting director for the Canadian independent feature film Lost Solace directed by Chris Scheuerman - a project which is now on the festival circuit.

With over 15 years as a dramaturge and story editor for countless projects, your work will be in good hands.

SUBMIT YOUR SCRIPT

Short Play Challenge & Screenwriter's Prize

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The CRS is excited to be offering two new development opportunities to storytellers in Vancouver.

The Short Play Challenge is a chance for both emerging and established writers to experiment with a short play format and have their works produced on stage by The Cold Reading Series as part of the 2017 Short Theatre Festival.

 
Short Play Challenge Vancouver
 

 

Any original unproduced play of 20 pages or less may be submitted throughout the season. Semifinalists will be decided by the CRS team, and the final winners will be voted on by the audience.

Open to playwrights in the Lower Mainland who can attend a live cold reading of their play this year, the Short Play Challenge has been created to provide opportunities for development to local storytellers and to strengthen the creative community.

Playwrights are welcome to submit more than one play. Each submission is $5.00 and can be submitted via the General Submission Page. 

Keep in mind that since the CRS audience will be voting in the final winners over the 2016 season, there is a clear advantage in submitting your play earlier rather than later. This will give the audience more opportunities to vote for your entry.

Votes cost $1.00 per vote, and audience members can vote as many times as they like. Playwrights can vote as well, just not for their own play. All voting must be done in person at the CRS.

Once voting commences, a leader board with the rankings will be on the Cold Reading Series Facebook page, so you can follow along as the challenge progresses.

Voting will come to a close in November at the last episode of the year.

Winners will be announced on November 15th. The last day to submit for the Short Play Challenge is November 1st at midnight PST.

For full details please go HERE >>