National Geographic Live presents Life on Thin Ice at the Vancouver Playhouse October 9
Photographer Kiliii Yuyan will be live on stage for the film’s visually stunning exploration of the Arctic
Life on Thin Ice. Photo by Kiliii Yuyan
Vancouver Civic Theatres present National Geographic Live: Life on Thin Ice at the Vancouver Playhouse on October 9 at 7:30 pm
VANCOUVER CIVIC THEATRES’ National Geographic Live series is back on October 9 with a presentation of Life on Thin Ice with National Geographic photographer Kiliii Yuyan.
A visually stunning exploration of the Arctic, the film delves into the significance of sea ice to the region’s wildlife and to the Indigenous people who live there. The ice is crucial for transportation and the daily life of the 40 different ethnic groups of its human inhabitants, and for the polar bears, musk ox, whales, and caribou with whom they coexist. Yuyan, who is of Chinese and Nanai/Hézhè (East Asian Indigenous) descent, has a rare capability of capturing the human experience in some of the harshest environments around the globe. He gives an understanding of the Arctic’s Indigenous peoples and their relationship to the frozen region.
There are two other installments of Nat Geo Live this season. On February 12, there’s Wild Wolves of Yellowstone with wildlife biologist Doug Smith, and on April 2 it’s The Untold Story of Sharks with shark researcher Jess Cramp. Smith led the project that reintroduced gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s, and this series includes never-before-seen photos and videos of the quest to bring wolves back and the momentous changes that happened after they arrived. Cramp specializes in conservation policy and co-championed a grassroots campaign that resulted in the Cook Islands Shark Sanctuary in 2012, an area covering more than 770,000 square miles. She is the founder and executive director of Sharks Pacific, a non-profit organization that conducts research, outreach, and advocacy throughout the Pacific Islands region.
Individual tickets range from $35 to $60. New this season, a $60 premium seating package includes the best seats in the house and access to the post-show meet and greet. ![]()
Gail Johnson is cofounder of Stir. She is a Vancouver-based journalist who has earned local and national nominations and awards for her work. She is a certified Gladue Report writer via Indigenous Perspectives Society in partnership with Royal Roads University and is a member of a judging panel for top Vancouver restaurants.
Related Articles
The DEVO member—coming to town as part of the Vancouver International Film Festival—has built a second career composing music for TV cartoons, Wes Anderson movies, and everything in between
The multifaceted Vancouver-based musician and composer has worked with everyone from Aerosmith and Raffi to Pauline Oliveros and the Cranberries
Presented as part of the Vancouver International Film Festival’s live-performance series, the event is a collaboration between MUTEK Montreal and Vancouver’s Chapel Sound Art Foundation
Steeped in her faith, this new work by the Vancouver Chamber Choir’s composer in residence is a timely reminder of what human beings have endured and survived
Special program features the choir’s favourite mass settings, honouring the start of Paula Kremer’s final year as artistic director
The Winnipeg-based country-blues performer has more than just music in store for fans this time around—she also has her very own crop of garlic
Award-winning young string players champion their queer identities, performing both new commissions and canonical works
At VIFF Live, the experimental rock band’s Jamie Stewart and Angela Seo imagine what sights and sounds could exist beyond the edges of the writer-director’s debut feature
Vancouver New Music hosts the renowned Japanese percussionist’s quartet in tribute to the legendary minimalist composer
Emceed by drag artist Genesis, the fundraiser features live performances, club night pop-ups, clips from iconic films like Flashdance, and costumes galore
The concerts signal the beginning of a new era for the long-running local institution, with the 2026-27 season marking violist Hung-Wei Huang’s first as Vetta’s artistic director
Power, passion, and betrayal propel this emotionally charged co-production with Pacific Opera Victoria
More highlights include a collaboration with Montreal’s MUTEK festival and an intimate masterclass with Emmy and BAFTA–winning composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer
Fresh arrangements bring the enduring artist’s legacy to life at the all-new VanJazz festival
Montreal-based singer-songwriter talks about the dreamy layers of sound that went into her latest album—and stripping them away for her new EP and solo tour
Audiences can expect a heartwarming set, plus a merch table filled with homegrown garlic and handmade soap
The Mohawk musician’s career trajectory has taken him from bar shows to The Launch to Nashville, but he’s always stayed grounded in his Six Nations community
The pair of Grammy Award winners honour the jazz legend’s legacy in honour of his centennial
Program features the Canadian premiere of Tawnie Olson’s Missa Brevis, kicking off her tenure as Composer-in-Residence
The New York artist draws on everything from the guitar work of legends like Joe Pass and his own father to the unmistakable voice of Tony Bennett—the inspiration of his latest album
A new series of public performances and a cross-country collaboration with La Nef and Seán Dagher mark the choir’s 35th season
Japan’s Kuniko Kato Quartet opens the lineup as part of the VNM Festival: Open Frequencies, performing the music of Steve Reich
The singer-songwriter and Latin Grammy winner has collaborated with artists from all over the world, and she will perform with Vancouver’s own Black Dog String Quartet
Former artistic director Joan Blackman, esteemed pianist Jane Coop, and newly appointed artistic director Hung-Wei Huang join forces onstage
Singer-songwriter performs tracks off her latest album, playing guitar, piano, and autoharp
