Western Gold Theatre

Inspired by the motto “Creativity has no expiry date”, Western Gold Theatre was founded with the aim of supporting, nurturing, and providing opportunities for senior artists and audiences.

It is one of only two professional theatre companies in Canada solely devoted to centring the voices and stories of seniors and Elders 55-and-up across cultures and communities. Committed to producing plays of the highest quality and relevance to audiences of all ages, Western Gold presents both theatre classics and newly commissioned Canadian works that reflect and illuminate the rich experience of seniors and the senior community.

The company was founded in 1994 by Joy Coghill O.C. in response to the dearth of roles for veteran professional artists in the Vancouver area. WGT has been helmed for the majority of its time by a number of Canada’s leading theatre artists, including founder Coghill and artistic directors Pamela Hawthorne, Colleen Winton, Anna Hagan, and general manager Glenn MacDonald—trailblazers all. Tanja Dixon-Warren was appointed artistic director in 2019.

In the early days, Western Gold toured seniors’ centres. A partnership in 2010 with PAL Studio Theatre allowed them to take up residence in the intimate, Coal Harbour theatre-in-the-sky location, and build from there.

Today, the company is actively engaged in ongoing projects aimed at addressing and mitigating ageism by presenting works that engage, entertain, inform, and reflect the rich experience of this rapidly growing demographic. Annual programming includes:

        • One to two mainstage productions of established and/or commissioned works.

        • On Our Feet (OOF!) Staged Reading Series: a highly popular series that includes a minimum of two plays per year; each with all the hallmarks of a full production.

      • Have a Senior Moment Festival: a curated, multidisciplinary series celebrating the performing arts for old folx and/or by old folx.

There is much more. Now in its third decade, Western Gold is a force to be reckoned with, with a focus on everything “golden”: from text-based classics to newly commissioned works by senior artists; intergenerational knowledge sharing; and ongoing professional development, WGT is unique in the region. Its reputation for excellence has earned the respect of audience, critics, and colleagues.