Pacific Theatre hosts final Christmas Presence at its home of more than three decades, to December 23

Annual holiday variety show hosted by founder Ron Reed wraps up the company’s programming for the foreseeable future

Christmas Presence continues at Pacific Theatre from December 19 to 23

PACIFIC THEATRE HAS been putting on an annual holiday offering of songs, stories, and poetry since 1992. So it feels fitting that this year’s edition of the enduring variety show will mark the end of an era for the company.

After Christmas Presence wraps on December 23, Pacific Theatre will leave its home of more than three decades—the basement of the former Chalmers Presbyterian Church, now owned and operated by Holy Trinity Anglican Church—as the building requires more than $500,000 worth of major structural upgrades. The company will pause all programming for the foreseeable future to focus on determining a path forward, whether that entails awaiting Chalmers upgrades, reimagining its operational model, or seeking a new home.

Christmas Presence is hosted each year by Pacific Theatre’s artistic director emeritus, Ron Reed, who founded the company with a group of fellow artists back in 1984. He’s joined this time by Jessie Award–winning music director and drummer Rick Colhoun, who appeared at last year’s Christmas Presence and has worked with the company for many years on shows like Best of Enemies and How the World Began. Expect an air of thoughtful celebration at the show in the intimate alley-style theatre, which has festive fairy lights strung over the stage.

Pacific Theatre’s staff will scale down to just artistic director Kaitlin Williams and executive director Jennie George during its transition period.

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Emily Lyth

Stir editorial assistant Emily Lyth is a Vancouver-based writer and editor who graduated from Langara College’s Journalism program. Her decade of dance training and passion for all things food-related are the foundation of her love for telling arts, culture, and community stories.

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