Call your friends and round-up the family, it's time to get into the holiday spirit!
Photo: Ballet BC
From theatre and musicals to adults-only puppetry, the city's seasonal spirit is in full-swing. Carve out some extra time for holiday fun at one of these festive live shows.
Day Before Christmas
Photo: Arts Club Theatre Facebook
Alex is a perfectionist who is desperately holding fast to her Christmas traditions. While juggling family and work—and a movie star—she loses control of her holiday plans, and her home becomes a disaster zone. Can she save the turkey from the dog and salvage a broken-down tree? Find out in this infectious comedic play that is sure to make the holidays bright.
When: November 16 – December 24, 2017
Where: Goldcorp stage at the BMO Theatre Centre (203 – 162 West 1st Ave)
Bah Humbug!
Photo: SFU Woodward’s
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol comes to life in modern-day East Vancouver. This imaginative all-ages production offers a bittersweet twist on a cherished classic that celebrates the transformative power of human redemption. In Bah Humbug! Dickens’ timeless story feels particularly relevant, especially in light of parallels between the economic disparities of Victorian London and Vancouver’s Downtown East Side.
When: December 7 - 16, 2017
Where: Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 West Hastings St)
BC Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Photo: Ballet BC
An absolute holiday classic! Whether you’re beginning a new holiday tradition, or revisiting an old favourite, you’ll be enthralled by Clara’s escapades with her Nutcracker Prince. When Clara’s Christmas gift comes to life and defeats the evil Mouse King, she’s whisked away to a magical kingdom, where the Sugar Plum Fairy reigns.
BC Ballet presents The Nutcracker
When: December 28 – 30, 2017
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre (630 Hamilton St)
Goh Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Photo: Goh Ballet
This heart-warming production is sure to delight audiences of all ages with more than 200 glittering costumes, dramatic sets and valuable lessons – all danced to Tchaikovsky’s memorable score performed live by members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra.
Goh Ballet presents The Nutcracker
When: December 14 – 19, 2017
Where: The Centre (777 Homer St)
Vancouver TheatreSports League’s Christmas Queen 4
Photo: Vancover TheatreSports League
She’s baaaaack! The Christmas Queen, in all her nasty glory is returning this holiday season with the latest instalment in the series, Christmas Queen 4 – Secret Santa. Confusion and hijinks ensue when the Queen and Santa exchange bodies in a Freaky Friday-style magical sleight-of-hand.
When: November 22 – December 23, 2017
Where: Improv Centre (1502 Duranleau St)
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s Traditional Christmas
Photo: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Hark! The Herald, O Holy Night, O Come All Ye Faithful… Let the gorgeous sounds of the VSO set the mood for a perfect holiday season. Yes, there will be plenty of opportunities to sing along.
When: December 8 – 17, 2017
Where: Various Locations
A Christmas Carol at the Gateway Theatre
Photo: Gateway Theatre Facebook
Another take on the Dickens classic. Ebenezer Scrooge is a greedy miser who despises Christmas. One Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of a deceased business partner and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Scrooge is given the opportunity to reflect upon his life, examine his heart, and be transformed by the spirit of the season.
A Christmas Carol at the Gateway Theatre
When: December 7 – 24, 2017
Where: Gateway Theatre (6500 Gilbert Rd)
Little Dickens
Photo: The Cultch
A raucous, adults-only holiday treat, Little Dickens features The Daisy Theatre’s most iconic and beloved character, Schnitzel, as Tiny Tim in a special event for The Cultch. Faded Daisy diva, Esmé Massengill, plays the role of miserly, drunken, bitter Esmé Scrooge, encountering all your Daisy favourites (as Dickens’ familiar characters!) on her journey to redemption.
When: December 5 – 22, 2017
Where: The Cultch Historic Theatre (1895 Venables St)
