Vancouver International Children's Festival shows range from a zany comedy to a book bonanza, May 26 to June 1
Among the theatre offerings in store are Same Same Different, I Wish I Was a Mountain, and The Libravian
The Myrtle Sisters’s Same Same Different.
This year’s Vancouver International Children’s Festival will take place on Granville Island from May 26 to June 1, with a total of 79 performances by 11 artists and groups in store.
Among the highlights is The Myrtle Sisters’s all-ages comedy Same Same Different at the Waterfront Theatre. These three sisters have always dressed, sung, danced, and even eaten in perfect sync while getting up to zany antics. But when a series of unexpected mishaps unfolds, their secret uniqueness is revealed, prompting questions around whether they will still be a trio if their differences are discovered. Expect plenty of shenanigans, surprises, and outrageous fun at Same Same Different, paired with live music, tap, and swing.
All the way from the U.K., Toby Thompson of The Egg at Theatre Royal Bath will bring I Wish I Was a Mountain to Performance Works. On the day of the annual fair, the town of Faldum gets an unexpected visitor—a mysterious wanderer who offers to grant anyone’s wildest wish. But as two townsfolk soon discover, getting exactly what a person wants can lead to surprising consequences. One vanishes into his own music, while the other becomes a lonely mountain. Written and performed by Thompson, who is a Poetry Slam Champion, I Wish I Was a Mountain is a bold reimagining of Hermann Hesse’s classic tale, blending rhyme and jazz with a sprinkle of philosophy. This show invites audience members ages seven and up to explore big questions with curiosity and an open heart.
Toby Thompson in I Wish I Was a Mountain. Photo by Jack Offord
Performance Works will also host another international show, The Libravian by Ireland’s Brú Theatre, in association with Zee Zee Theatre. Meet Lynn, a loveable “libravian” quietly minding her own business—until she’s unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight, doing the one thing she swore she’d never do again. In The Libravian, actor James Riordan leads audiences on a lively book bonanza, bringing stories to life with big-hearted physical comedy. Featuring whimsical costumes, clever soundscapes, and plenty of laughs, this interactive adventure for ages seven to 11 celebrates the magic of storytelling.
To purchase tickets and learn more, visit the Vancouver International Children’s Festival.
Post sponsored by Vancouver International Children's Festival.
Related Articles
The show, produced by Theatre Conspiracy in association with Pi Theatre, finds contemporary resonances in Eugène Ionesco’s 20th-century works
Wug, Kravga, and Moog deliver a take on Sophocles’ Greek tragedy that, in addition to copious amounts of crude humour, has its share of chillingly effective moments
Ensemble Theatre Company taps into the humid haze of a Tennessee Williams classic where love and self-deception mingle
Standout performances and design bring infectious energy to Disney’s tale of love and self-discovery
Bold update by Kate Besworth brings mythic figures closer to us while continuing to ask the ancient questions posed by Sophocles
Fierce company transforms characters by committing to the popular musical’s blend of disco, soul, and gospel
Presented by the fest and Boca del Lupo, the multifaceted one-woman show carries long-standing reflections on workout culture and the life-altering effects of a pandemic
Now streaming on Knowledge.ca, John Bolton–helmed movie stars Niall McNeil, Marcus Youssef, Veda Hille, Nathan Kay, and more, in a mix of artists with and without Down syndrome
With live music and innovative touches, a collective of established Vancouver stage artists brings eco-horror play about disappearing bees to life at the Vines Den
Part of Ensemble’s summer festival, Jiehae Park’s play references Macbeth as it takes on the power dynamics of U.S. college admissions
Great performances and impeccable set design and stage management ensure that the comedy about a hapless theatre company is a chaotic mess in all the right ways
In playwright Kate Besworth and director Ming Hudson’s adaptation, contemporary language highlights the continuing relevance of Sophocles’ 5th century BC tragedy
Bold and bloody new take on “the Scottish Play” speaks effectively to an era of intense societal fears, with postapocalyptic atmosphere to burn
The Vancouver performer straps on the platform shoes and readies her powerhouse voice for musical based on the movies she grew up watching
Homage to Eugène Ionesco is presented by Rumble Theatre and produced by Theatre Conspiracy in association with Pi Theatre
In a shamelessly fun update, the comedy’s colourful schemers, lovers, and busybodies are regulars at a Vancouver community centre during World Cup fever
WUG, KRAGVA, and MOOG return to the Shakespeare festival for a hysterical take on the titular Greek tale
The Arts Club director says the smash-hit U.K. show is one of the most technically demanding comedies ever written
At The Cultch’s York Theatre, wonderfully weird characterizations meet gravity-defying feats in a raucously unpretentious banger that has “hit” written all over it
Whether you’re looking for a quick drink and snack, conversation, reflection, or people-watching, these airy meeting places hit their marks
Playwright Kate Besworth and director Ming Hudson team up for a contemporary adaptation of the classical Sophocles tragedy
