Articles — Stir

Illyes Ferfera’s Tawazûn brings North African melody to jazz quartet, November 13 at Alliance Française

Rising French-Algerian saxophonist opens new routes through the traditional musical map

MUSICJanet SmithNovember 6, 2025Alliance Française Vancouver, jazz

UBC Opera stages Mozart's The Magic Flute at the Old Auditorium, November 27 to 30

Fantasy-filled production featuring members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra offers a timeless story that resonates with audiences of all ages

MUSICStir VancouverNovember 6, 2025Partner Content, UBC Opera, UBC

Stir Cheat Sheet: 5 cliffhangers to catch at the 2025 Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival

From Everest Dark’s story of a sherpa’s heroic journey to an all-female project to tackle Spain’s La Rubia, docs dive into adventure

FESTS, SCREENStir VancouverNovember 5, 2025Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival, VIMFF

Maple soap to spruce tips, Circle Craft Holiday Market returns with all-Canadian roster, November 11 to 16

This year’s 300-plus artisan offerings include wood tree ornaments in the shape of provinces and hoodies with hand-painted West Coast vistas

ART & DESIGN, FESTS, WHAT'S STIRRINGJanet SmithNovember 5, 2025Circle Craft Christmas Market, Holiday 2025

Stir Q&A: Between Breaths tells the true story of a Newfoundland man who rescued over 500 whales

Artistic Fraud production at the Firehall Arts Centre centres on conservationist Jon Lien’s powerful work and eventual battle with dementia

THEATREJanet SmithNovember 5, 2025Firehall Arts Centre, FIREHALL

Whistler Film Festival unveils full, Canada-strong program for 25th anniversary

Out of 106 features, more than 60 percent are Canadian; plus, Jay Kelly, a new Knives Out, and more

FESTS, SCREENJanet SmithNovember 5, 2025Whistler Film Festival

Alliance Française Vancouver hosts Audrey Gaussiran’s vibrant MOSAÏCO, November 20

Production explores identity as the dancers’ movements influence a highly reactive digital projection onstage

From contortion to krumping, OUROFEST shines a spotlight on form-pushing street dance

OURO Collective’s second annual festival features mainstage performances at Massey Theatre by the likes of TARANTISM and RubberLegz

DANCE, FESTSJanet SmithNovember 4, 2025Ouro Collective, OUROFEST, Massey Theatre, Homepage feature

Stir Vancouver wins first Webster Award for Excellence in Arts and Culture Reporting

At ceremony last night, prize went to Janet Smith’s investigative article on touring funding; Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Keith Baldrey, the Bill Good Award to Sean Holman, and Shelley Fralic Award to Laura Palmer

NEWSJanet SmithNovember 4, 2025Jack Webster Awards

Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival closes with Rhythms of Thunder: An Evening of Taiko, November 8

Thrilling evening features performances by Uzume Taiko, GO Taiko and Taiko 55, and Onibana Taiko

Chor Leoni sings of healing and hope in The Songs Will Remain

The Vancouver choir reflects on war and peace in its annual Remembrance Day concerts, featuring works by Kate Bush and former composer in residence Don Macdonald

MUSICJanet SmithNovember 4, 2025Chor Leoni, Remembrance Day, Kate Bush

Shadbolt Centre hosts the Nightcrawlers with jazz vocalist Ale Avery Nunez, November 28

Quintet highlights the lively sound of the Hammond B3 organ, while Toronto-based singer draws on soul and swing

MUSICStir VancouverNovember 4, 2025Partner Content, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Shadbolt Centre, Cory Weeds

Arts Club and Touchstone Theatre lead winners at Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards

Casey and Diana, Burning Mom, Behind the Moon, and Yaga shared the spotlight with prizes for Bard on the Beach’s The Dark Lady, Theatre for Young Audience category’s Otosan, Small Budget dominator The Sound Inside, and much more

Dance Nation traces vulnerability and narcissism of preteen competitive dancers, November 13 to 23

The Search Party’s hilariously offbeat theatre production gets a remount at the Anvil Theatre

THEATRE, WHAT'S STIRRINGJanet SmithNovember 3, 2025Anvil Theatre, The Search Party

At Chutzpah! Festival, 8 Gays of Channukah sparkles with songs and stories of togetherness in troubling times

Performers Gila Münster, Yan Simon, and Sarah Freia bring their diverse talents and individuality to a glittering celebration of queerness and representation

THEATRE, FESTSJanet SmithNovember 3, 2025Chutzpah! Festival, Homepage feature

Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs hosts a festive weekend of winter concerts, December 6 and 7

Offerings include Bach’s jubilant Christmas Oratorio and annual favourite Christmas With the Bach Choir, featuring nearly 500 singers

Julietta Singh speaks about history, home, and matriarchs at Beyond Siloed Stories, November 5 at the Chan Centre

Event screens The Nest, the writer’s form-pushing NFB documentary re-animating her childhood home’s past, co-directed with Chase Joynt

WHAT'S STIRRING, SCREENJanet SmithNovember 2, 2025NFB, National Film Board, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, UBC

At TRANSFORM Festival, cellist Cris Derksen brings Indigenous classical musicians to centre stage

Ahead of Where the Rivers Meet, the Juno-nominated artist reflects on a multifaceted career as performer, composer, and advocate

MUSIC, FESTSJanet SmithOctober 31, 2025Transform Festival

Stir Q&A: Dark thriller The Effect probes the crossover between authentic feelings and chemical manipulation

Presented by Rumble Theatre and ITSAZOO Productions, Lucy Prebble’s play is about two people who fall in love after testing a dopamine-regulating drug

THEATREJanet SmithOctober 31, 2025RUMBLE THEATRE, Rumble Theatre, Homepage feature