Community News & Opportunities

PRIDE Season continues!…

Pride Season continues, check out the wide range of Pride events that take place over the summer (June to September) when 2SLGBTQI+ communities and allies come together to spotlight the resilience, celebrate the talent, and recognize the contributions of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Although special attention is put on the Pride events during the summer months, they happen throughout the year in many communities.

More Resources HERE!

Gathering Place Community Centre

609 Helmcken Street - Fitness Room, 2nd floor

Show thou Gathering Place Players!

Mondays, Aug 4 & Aug 11 - 3:30pm-6pm

Thursdays, Aug 7 & Aug 14 - 12:30pm-3pm

Drop in to get ready for a performance at the Saturday August 16 Block Party!

Theatre games and improvs; we’ll show what we do

Everyone welcome! No experience necessary.

6 Takes on American Screen Acting

Film Studies | Presented by Harry Killas

June 11 - Aug 20th, every other Wednesday

We look up at them and to them. We desire them, dream about them. The movies have been built on the people who perform in them. We call them stars. But the story of screen acting in American cinema is not only about beauty and glamour. It arcs towards exploration, psychoanalysis, realism and authenticity.

This Film Studies series charts the changing fashions and styles in screen acting in the wake of World War Two under the influence of The Method, certainly, but also wider social and political currents.

VIFF - Vancity Film Centre, $18, $84 for the Series

DETAILS/TICKETS HERE!

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Extended Deadline! Aug 28th!

We're excited to share that The Writers Lab Canada is coming back in January 2026 for its second year. Created for women and nonbinary screenwriters over 40, the lab is designed to support and elevate voices that too often get overlooked in the screenwriting world.

TWL Canada offers a four-day Intensive followed by six months of mentorship and industry connection. It’s an opportunity for emerging and mid-career writers to refine their projects, expand their craft, and build lasting creative relationships.

Feedback from participants has been powerful — many described the experience as transformational, not just for their scripts, but for how they think about their careers.

If you’re a screenwriter over 40, or know someone who is, now’s the time to get your pages in order!

Go to Website for more details: HERE!

Theatresports at Tightrope Theatre!

Friday August 29th & Saturday August 30th

Let the games begin!
Tightrope Theatre kicks off our 5th season with two nights of Keith Johnstone's world renowned Theatresports™! Get ready for competitive improv at its finest, with performers challenging each other to create scenes on the spot and evil judges scoring their every move. Each night of Theatresports™ will include 3 different matches featuring our Conservatory Students, Maestro Ensemble, and our Senior Performance Ensemble. See you there!

Doors at 7:30PM / Show at 8:00PM

2343 Main St, Vancouver, BC
This show runs roughly 90 minutes with an intermission.
General Admission $25

Student Tickets $15 - For BC students attending post-secondary education. Please bring valid student ID to box office at check in. The discount code is vanstudent.

Website: HERE!

Somewhere in the back of your closet gathering dust and turning yellow with age is comedic gold: those old journals, poems, and essays you wrote as a teenager when you thought you could do no wrong. If you were to read them today you’d probably cringe at your former feelings . Now, imagine sharing them in front of an audience (or live streamed to the Internet). That’s exactly what happens at Teen Angst Night.

The show will be back in late September/ October. On pause due to summer in Vancouver!

Want to be a reader for the Fox Cabaret shows?

More infomation HERE!

Thanks to all who Participated in our 2025 Event!!

Run N Gun is Vancouver's wildest filmmaking competition. Established in 2015, over 1100 films have been created through Run N Gun (& our sister competitions Shits N Giggles, Blood N Guts & Vancouver Quarentine Performance Project), and it has become the biggest filmmaking event Vancouver has to offer!

Run N Gun website HERE!

Next Celluloid Social Club Event - TBD

Celluloid Supper Club, presented in association with Celluloid Social Club and Shamshiri Caveman Restaurant.

Keep in touch with local screenings happening online at our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/18306091376

https://celluloidsocialclub.com/

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

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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

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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!

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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!

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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!

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Short Play Challenge Winners!

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

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

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.

Story Editors Announced!

The CRS is excited to announce the two story editors who have generously donated their time to the Cold Reading Series as part of the Screenwriter's Prize this year.

JUST CONFIRMED: two of Canada's top Story Editors have donated their time to the CRS Screenwriter's Prize this year. Two lucky writers will receive a story editing session with one of two industry veterans: LINDA COFFEY or DENNIS HEATON.

Submissions are open until November 1st, and all general submissions to the CRS of finished feature scripts and short scripts will be eligible to win.

LINDA COFFEY, STORY EDITOR & GUEST MENTOR, WIDC

Linda Coffey is one of the very few story editors in Canada to have worked successfully in every aspect of both film and television development and production. She has story edited and consulted on hundreds of hours of television and feature film projects and has been a Guest Mentor with Women In The Director's Chair since 2006.

DENNIS HEATON, SCREENWRITER & SHOW RUNNER

Dennis Heaton is a multiple award-winning screenwriter, show runner and executive producer. Currently executive producer and show runner for CTV’s “Motive,” he’s also worked on “Call Me Fitz” for HBO, CTV’s “The Listener”, and Lifetime’s “Blood Ties”. In 2015 he won two Leo Awards - one for his work on “Motive” and the other for “Are you Gonna Eat That?”

Short Play Challenge & Screenwriter's Prize

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.

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 >>